Salt Flats XS650

[cb550]

Hi every one. New to the list but been playing with bikes since the 60's, mostly building cafe racers and restoring bikes. Thinking seriously about building a bike for the salt now. (Yes I know but if it was easy every one would do it, LOL) Comments, helpful suggestions, loud laughter any one? BTW bike is a 77 XS650 bone stock and barely running now so basically starting from scratch.

 

[halfmile]

A salt flat bike certainly sounds like a worthwhile project to me. This pic is from the Mike`s XS gallery and billed as a Salt Flats bike but I just can`t see it myself. More on the Cafe side I`d say. Did set a record for a short time though. I see that your new to this site so welcome and check out the talents of fellow site member Signal from New Zealand. If his builds don`t inspire you nothing will.

 

[Mailman]

A salt flat bike certainly sounds like a worthwhile project to me. This pic is from the Mike`s XS gallery and billed as a Salt Flats bike but I just can`t see it myself. More on the Cafe side I`d say. I see that your new to this site so welcome and check out the talents of fellow site member Signal from New Zealand. If his builds don`t inspire you nothing will.

This bike hit 113 mph , running on alcohol. It set a record , running in a 1980 and older class 750 modified running on alternate fuel, that stood for three days before being broken by a Honda 750 that hit 143 mph.

 

[Mailman]

This was an interesting early streamliner. Don Vesco 1969 , ran a twin XS650 engine, twin super chargers, 275 hp,
It hit 175 mph but had stability issues and crashed.

https://nationalmcmuseum.org/featured-bikes/1970-vesco-engineering-yamaha-twin-streamliner/

• Twin Yamaha OHC XS650 Engines
• Twin Pepco Superchargers
• Horsepower: Est: 275
• Gear Primaries/Chain Final Drive
• Exhaust: Hooker Headers
• Full Tubular Steel Frame
• Wheelbase: 108 Inches
• Roll Cage
• Stability Struts
• Telescopic Fork
• Swing Arm/Dual Shocks
• Wheels/Tires: 3.5/22-15″ Cast Magnesium
• Brakes: Airheart Disk/Parachute

 

[Mailman]

This page has a lot of interesting reading regarding XS650 engine race bikes. Everything from turbos, super chargers, twin engine, backward heads, you name it !

https://thexscafedotcom.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/xs650-cowboy3669-dragracer/

 

[cb550]

Lots of good stuff here. Right now I'm waiting on the rule book to arrive from Bonneville so I can get a idea what I can do to the bike for what class. May just run the Run What U Brung class just for fun.