Orion61
XS650 Addict
Hi There My name is Larry Beach (aka Orion61)... probably the only "Son of a Beach" you will hear from today.
I just ran across this site when looking for "shorty" mufflers for my '75 stock 650.
I cut my teeth with Yamaha in the 70's with my first bike a 100 Twin, Blue and White.
Man I put a lot of miles on that thing! It would blow a Kawasaki 100 away off the line but not in the top end.
This sold me on Low end Torque and drive ability.
BTW I was WAAAY too young to drive it, Legally but I lived on a Farm so I had a Million open miles of dirt road.
Since I learned to ride on Gravel, pavement driving was a snap. Even today 4" of fresh gravel doesn't even phase me, just go with it and don't fight it too much!
I bought my First 650 a 73' when I saw it sitting on the side of the road for sale.
I have always been a Horse Trader so a Mossberg Shotgun out of my collection and I owned it.
MAN I fell in love with it.
It had been rode hard and put up wet, it only had 12k on it but I don't think the oil had ever been changed, or it ever saw an indoor Winter!
The filter was plugged up and a hole had worn into it. I rode it for 2 years. Holy Cow I loved that Sapphire Sparkle Blue!
BTW I have found a very close match in a Powder coat for it if you need it, PM Me.
Driving down the road one day, I was cruising along when the motor lugged, 3 seconds later before I knew it the rear wheel was locked..
Seems the previous owner tightened the cam chain tension WAAAY down and it ground off the tension head and froze up the cam... I bought a Honda CB 550, that HIDEOUS burned Orange.. even worse it had a matching fairing... I couldn't wait to get rid of it! It was smooth but a Dog for Torque
I wanted another 650. I traded it for another 73' this one was MINT! I put on 4" over forks on it, it had 6" over and I could hardly touch the ground (tippy toes)and I am 6'1" tall.
I found a Chrome German Cross Sissy Bar and Chrome Spike pegs for the front.
Rode it to the New Mall to see a Movie, came out and it was GONE! never to be seen again.. I still miss that bike, lots of custom Chrome!
The next used oil but was all I could afford, still rode it to over 40k miles..
after that there was a Yellow beauty that had no low end torque, never did figure that out.
There were a few more here and there owning a couple at a time.
I even overhauled a TX750, If you know how to tune them and keep the counter Balance chain the correct tension they are a really nice hifhway bike.
I found my current Bike when I wasn't looking for one. I stopped by Viking Sports looking for a part and I saw it, a trade in a couple days earlier from the Orig. owner a Dr
that babied it, never parked it outside. One issue, a flasher dimple in the gas tank.
That is how I got it, he bought a used CB350 he could handle putter, putter...
That was 30 years ago.. I got hurt at work and she has been sitting for a few years,
"clean stored" This year she will see the road again!
The Girlfriend made a comment about parking it outside, because it was taking too much room in the garage.. I told her I'd move it, but I'd be selling the Queen size bed, replacing it with a single and My 650 would have HER side of the bedroom
I've had the XS for 30 her for 5..
The Bike is still in the Garage. Funny she backed right down....
I have posted a few times here and want to thank you for your help in tracking a few things down.
Larry
I just ran across this site when looking for "shorty" mufflers for my '75 stock 650.
I cut my teeth with Yamaha in the 70's with my first bike a 100 Twin, Blue and White.
Man I put a lot of miles on that thing! It would blow a Kawasaki 100 away off the line but not in the top end.
This sold me on Low end Torque and drive ability.
BTW I was WAAAY too young to drive it, Legally but I lived on a Farm so I had a Million open miles of dirt road.
Since I learned to ride on Gravel, pavement driving was a snap. Even today 4" of fresh gravel doesn't even phase me, just go with it and don't fight it too much!
I bought my First 650 a 73' when I saw it sitting on the side of the road for sale.
I have always been a Horse Trader so a Mossberg Shotgun out of my collection and I owned it.
MAN I fell in love with it.
It had been rode hard and put up wet, it only had 12k on it but I don't think the oil had ever been changed, or it ever saw an indoor Winter!
The filter was plugged up and a hole had worn into it. I rode it for 2 years. Holy Cow I loved that Sapphire Sparkle Blue!
BTW I have found a very close match in a Powder coat for it if you need it, PM Me.
Driving down the road one day, I was cruising along when the motor lugged, 3 seconds later before I knew it the rear wheel was locked..
Seems the previous owner tightened the cam chain tension WAAAY down and it ground off the tension head and froze up the cam... I bought a Honda CB 550, that HIDEOUS burned Orange.. even worse it had a matching fairing... I couldn't wait to get rid of it! It was smooth but a Dog for Torque
I wanted another 650. I traded it for another 73' this one was MINT! I put on 4" over forks on it, it had 6" over and I could hardly touch the ground (tippy toes)and I am 6'1" tall.
I found a Chrome German Cross Sissy Bar and Chrome Spike pegs for the front.
Rode it to the New Mall to see a Movie, came out and it was GONE! never to be seen again.. I still miss that bike, lots of custom Chrome!
The next used oil but was all I could afford, still rode it to over 40k miles..
after that there was a Yellow beauty that had no low end torque, never did figure that out.
There were a few more here and there owning a couple at a time.
I even overhauled a TX750, If you know how to tune them and keep the counter Balance chain the correct tension they are a really nice hifhway bike.
I found my current Bike when I wasn't looking for one. I stopped by Viking Sports looking for a part and I saw it, a trade in a couple days earlier from the Orig. owner a Dr
that babied it, never parked it outside. One issue, a flasher dimple in the gas tank.
That is how I got it, he bought a used CB350 he could handle putter, putter...
That was 30 years ago.. I got hurt at work and she has been sitting for a few years,
"clean stored" This year she will see the road again!
The Girlfriend made a comment about parking it outside, because it was taking too much room in the garage.. I told her I'd move it, but I'd be selling the Queen size bed, replacing it with a single and My 650 would have HER side of the bedroom
I've had the XS for 30 her for 5..
The Bike is still in the Garage. Funny she backed right down....
I have posted a few times here and want to thank you for your help in tracking a few things down.
Larry