Toast
Addict
Well, here it goes, another build thread!
I've loved these bikes for a long time, finally started looking for a project bike two years ago, then some health issues got in the way, and long story short, I am back and looking to fill a need to create. I have respectfully lurked around this and other forums (also been involved on the roadstarclinic), and have appreciated all the knowledge that has and continues to be shared. Anyways....
Here we have my 1981 XS650 Special II. Scored it on craigslist for an unbeatable price. Note: do your searches for "650 yamaha" instead of "XS650" yes you will have more crap to search through, but there are often some really great parts/bikes/etc hidden in there.
Clean, Running bike, with title, and all kinds of PO paperwork and service records, and a Saddleman trunk to boot (for sale, Shameless plug
). Time to have fun! The plan at present is to do a hardtail (Thinking an ardtail), springer seat, rephase from Hugh, and put anything other than a sportster tank on it and ride the piss out of it. 
The thread is called the long haul because 1) Cash isn't free 2) my wife will kill me if I complete it in anything less than a year to a year and a half. She is looking to go back to school, and I need something that I can spend some time on while she is studying. As such, I need to drag it out a bit (not ideal but hey it works). Besides, nothing good comes quick or easy. I also know this is a much larger project than I have ever done in the past. I have typically kept to repair work, motor swaps, a few brat bikes in the past, as well as tricking out newer bikes, but a full on build is something I have never done. I figure if I am going to do this, I am going to take my time and do it right.
And now, with the forum, I can document the hell out of it!
So here we are at the beginning: below is a pic the PO took last fall, so you know where I am starting from.
The second pic is new years eve day when I picked it up. Holy crap: the transmission on my SUV went out the day before I had committed to drive 2.5 hours away to go get the thing, so in a pinch I borrowed my father-in-laws beater Buick....Bad idea. It made it, but it's a death trap. I almost torched the damn thing when I got home just so nobody else would ever drive it again.
Lastly you see pictures of work done to date. nothing fancy so far, just stripping stuff off.
Few notes so far:
1) I would love to meet the Yamaha engineer that thought putting the ignition control box under the battery was a good idea.
2) When faced with a low build, and a back that has been thrown out more than a few times: get creative! Spare wood goes a long ways to build a lifted work table, and a cherry picker works AWESOME to move the thing around. And I put the whole thing on wheels so we always have a place to park in the garage (Minnesota winters can be brutal). Besides, who knew an XS dangling in mid air could look so cool.
Long story short, I hope you all enjoy the build as much as I will.
Toast (AKA Jason)
I've loved these bikes for a long time, finally started looking for a project bike two years ago, then some health issues got in the way, and long story short, I am back and looking to fill a need to create. I have respectfully lurked around this and other forums (also been involved on the roadstarclinic), and have appreciated all the knowledge that has and continues to be shared. Anyways....
Here we have my 1981 XS650 Special II. Scored it on craigslist for an unbeatable price. Note: do your searches for "650 yamaha" instead of "XS650" yes you will have more crap to search through, but there are often some really great parts/bikes/etc hidden in there.
Clean, Running bike, with title, and all kinds of PO paperwork and service records, and a Saddleman trunk to boot (for sale, Shameless plug
). Time to have fun! The plan at present is to do a hardtail (Thinking an ardtail), springer seat, rephase from Hugh, and put anything other than a sportster tank on it and ride the piss out of it. The thread is called the long haul because 1) Cash isn't free 2) my wife will kill me if I complete it in anything less than a year to a year and a half. She is looking to go back to school, and I need something that I can spend some time on while she is studying. As such, I need to drag it out a bit (not ideal but hey it works). Besides, nothing good comes quick or easy. I also know this is a much larger project than I have ever done in the past. I have typically kept to repair work, motor swaps, a few brat bikes in the past, as well as tricking out newer bikes, but a full on build is something I have never done. I figure if I am going to do this, I am going to take my time and do it right.
And now, with the forum, I can document the hell out of it!
So here we are at the beginning: below is a pic the PO took last fall, so you know where I am starting from.
The second pic is new years eve day when I picked it up. Holy crap: the transmission on my SUV went out the day before I had committed to drive 2.5 hours away to go get the thing, so in a pinch I borrowed my father-in-laws beater Buick....Bad idea. It made it, but it's a death trap. I almost torched the damn thing when I got home just so nobody else would ever drive it again.
Lastly you see pictures of work done to date. nothing fancy so far, just stripping stuff off.
Few notes so far:
1) I would love to meet the Yamaha engineer that thought putting the ignition control box under the battery was a good idea.
2) When faced with a low build, and a back that has been thrown out more than a few times: get creative! Spare wood goes a long ways to build a lifted work table, and a cherry picker works AWESOME to move the thing around. And I put the whole thing on wheels so we always have a place to park in the garage (Minnesota winters can be brutal). Besides, who knew an XS dangling in mid air could look so cool.
Long story short, I hope you all enjoy the build as much as I will.
Toast (AKA Jason)
Felt like somebody threw sand in there just for texture, and the seals were not in that bad of shape
