Second try!

[joeshmoe_13]

I had a 77 XS650 engine that I rebuilt years ago with the intent to do a chopper build but handed off to my FIL once I got married and had kids due to not having any time to work on it. Finally my son (not in picture) is getting old enough that I got another one for us to work on together. I believe this is an 78 XS650e standard. The goal is for us to get it running together and then tune it and clean it up. Maybe one day years from now I'll be able to build a chopper out of it. I paid $400, has all the parts, oil looks good, has compression, cycles through all the gears, kicks well, etc. I've got a battery coming for it and if I'm really lucky it will turn over. Thought I'd share with you all.

 

[mike in idaho]

Looks to be complete and relatively unmolested, seems like kind of a shame to hack it up for a chopper. It's your machine, do what you want with it.

 

[nj1639]

Depending on its condition, the tank alone could fetch your $400 investment......the rare green model.
Find a Special to chop, you might be on a streak of luck!

 

[jetmechmarty]

Yes, you could possibly triple your money on that one. Maybe even more. In 1978, for every one of those, Yamaha sold seven Specials!

 

[joeshmoe_13]

Depending on its condition, the tank alone could fetch your $400 investment......the rare green model.
Find a Special to chop, you might be on a streak of luck!

So it's a bit rare? The tank has a fair amount of rust.

 

[joeshmoe_13]

Yes, you could possibly triple your money on that one. Maybe even more. In 1978, for every one of those, Yamaha sold seven Specials!

Oh wow, really? Man that definitely gives me second thoughts about chopping it.

 

[JOHNDADDY]

Keeper.

 

[Its been a long time]

Oh wow, really? Man that definitely gives me second thoughts about chopping it.

There's loads of stuff out there to chop, that one's too nice?

 

[jetmechmarty]

So it's a bit rare? The tank has a fair amount of rust.

Rare enough that this community wants it.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Oh wow, really? Man that definitely gives me second thoughts about chopping it.

Yes. In about 1978, Specials, or California factory customs in general, became all the rage. Yours is the last flat seat standard XS650. It is a desirable model among the faithful, particularly among those who ride them. ‘79 saw the last standard. Specials continued through 1983.

 

[5twins]

I have a '78 Standard and it's a wonderful bike .....

Eventually, I picked up a Special as well, but even though I've done pretty much all the same mods to it, it just doesn't ride and handle as nice as the old Standard does. Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice bike as well, just not quite as nice, lol .....

 

[Kevin Werner]

So it's a bit rare? The tank has a fair amount of rust.

Yes it is a rare bit compared to Specials. Many feel the '77 to '79s were the most developed of the standards and when Yamaha started marketing the Specials those specials sold 7:1 in '79 as Marty pointed out. The specials are abundant and cheaper than a Standard and you have a pretty nice standard there. Do what you like but you will be $$$ ahead by not chopping it.

 

[joeshmoe_13]

I have a '78 Standard and it's a wonderful bike .....

View attachment 332900

Eventually, I picked up a Special as well, but even though I've done pretty much all the same mods to it, it just doesn't ride and handle as nice as the old Standard does. Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice bike as well, just not quite as nice, lol .....

View attachment 332901

View attachment 332902

Thank you for sharing