Seat and tail light sources

[FirstXS]

Greetings. I recently purchased my first XS. She's a 1983 Heritage Special. Around 10k miles. Hasn't been run for about 4 years. Turns over and able to get it fire. Tank and petcock need to be replaced but other than that she has a ton of potential. I strongly dislike the seat and grab bar and would love to find an alternative to replicate the form follows function of the brat styles with still having short two up riding. Thanks in advance for any knowledge going forward. Excited about getting my knees in the breeze again.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Apparently, you don’t like a Special. @Kevin Werner converted a Special into a standard. Some of what he did is exactly what you’re looking for. I expect he’ll chime in.

Welcome to XSdom! Post some pictures please.

 

[grouchie77]

'59 Caddy El Dorado taillight repos from Speedway Motors, on a homemade bracket.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1959-Cadillac-Tail-Light-Kits,19763.html

 

[Raymond]

Hi @FirstXS, welcome to the forum, I think you must be a near neighbour of our gggGary?

 

[gggGary]

Hi @FirstXS, welcome to the forum, I think you must be a near neighbour of our gggGary?

Who do you think coerced him into coming here?
Mike's only taken the abbreviated tour of the SOIR, so far.

PS there are two petcock bolt centers used on XS650 gas tanks. the later (1978 up vacuum petcock) tank's mounting Hole Distance (Center To Center) is 46mm apart
The early 70-77 (manual petcock) use a 42.5mm (Mounting Hole Distance)

 

[jetmechmarty]

View attachment 347933

'59 Caddy El Dorado taillight repos from Speedway Motors, on a homemade bracket.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1959-Cadillac-Tail-Light-Kits,19763.html

Put that bike in the light so we can see it. Don’t be a tease.

 

[FirstXS]

Hi @FirstXS, welcome to the forum, I think you must be a near neighbour of our gggGary?

Yes indeed. Gary has been a great resource. So fortunate to have hooked up with him. Thank you.

 

[FirstXS]

Who do you think coerced him into coming here?
Mike's only taken the abbreviated tour of the SOIR, so far.

PS there are two petcock bolt centers used on XS650 gas tanks. the later (1978 up vacuum petcock) tank's mounting Hole Distance (Center To Center) is 46mm apart
The early 70-77 (manual petcock) use a 42.5mm (Mounting Hole Distance)

Thanks Gary. I'll have to measure that tank I got from you before I order my petcock. Gonna start stripping the tank today.

 

[FirstXS]

Apparently, you don’t like a Special. @Kevin Werner converted a Special into a standard. Some of what he did is exactly what you’re looking for. I expect he’ll chime in.

Welcome to XSdom! Post some pictures please.

It's not that I didn't want the Special It's more about that's what she is when I found her. My riding will be 90% solo with occasional short runs with my wife or grandkids as passengers. I really don't like the ugly hump of the stock wannabe HD seat. I've seen some pictures of sorta brat styles that are appealing.

 

[FirstXS]

View attachment 347933

'59 Caddy El Dorado taillight repos from Speedway Motors, on a homemade bracket.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1959-Cadillac-Tail-Light-Kits,19763.html

Looks cool from what I can make out of the picture.

 

[FirstXS]

This is all I have for pics so far.

 

[Raymond]

You're thinking about swapping the seat? Can make a big difference WRT losing that 'special' profile.

https://www.xs650.com/threads/before-and-after.55250/post-607102

Miss November is 1978 SE and I don't know if your frame attachments are the same - I expect not - but IMO the std seat certainly fits well with the similar shape of the special frame.

 

[gggGary]

https://yamahaxs650.com/product/cafe-sport-seat-assembly-80-84/
I wouldn't wait the vultures round here will snap em up. heck I'm tempted....

 

[JJames]

This is all I have for pics so far.

Wow. That's a nice clean example.
P.S. I am in the market for a set of stock rear indicators if you should ditch yours.

 

[gggGary]

unknown quality ebay late model petcock.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2963759053...UeGcul0WYugxlpixIacOEQzQ==|tkp:Bk9SR7SYt4LGZQ

 

[grouchie77]

Looks cool from what I can make out of the picture.

I don't have better pics of that setup unfortunately. I may have the whole assembly on a shelf somewhere out in the garage. If I find myself out there and see it I will take some better pictures.

 

[FirstXS]

View attachment 347966
https://yamahaxs650.com/product/cafe-sport-seat-assembly-80-84/
I wouldn't wait the vultures round here will snap em up. heck I'm tempted....

I love this but would it work for the occasional passenger?

 

[gggGary]

I love this but would it work for the occasional passenger?

Cough size matters, It's bolt on so you could swap back to the stock seat for those couples cruises?

 

[FirstXS]

Cough size matters, It's bolt on so you could swap back to the stock seat for those couples cruises?

Got it! Thanks

 

[Raymond]

Cough size matters, It's bolt on so you could swap back to the stock seat for those couples cruises?

Will never forget ferrying mate Calum from Inverness to St Andrews on a Z1B with a 2:4 sports seat, looked a lot like that. Two grown blokes,we was so cramped up close, rider sitting almost on the tank, pillion squished up against the seat hump, swapped rider/pillion at each cigarette / cramp relief stop. And as Calum smoked a ciggie at each stop, we was probably stood a little bit further away from each other than usual.