The start of my XS650 journey

[Stuntheavy]

Well, I’ve been looking at these bikes for years. Admittedly, well over a decade.

Somewhere along the way I saw some hard tail XS in traffic one day and it spoke to me. I’ve owned just about every other kind of bike other than a Harley, and a death trap XS seems like a logical addition.

The time was finally right and I found an 81 model from the original owner, original title, 12k miles with original grips, air filters, chain, and just about everything else. Turns out he had ridden it, taken it to England and back during his military days and then parked it. In 2004 or so he started to bring it back to life, threw new tires on it and tried to get it running, but my understanding is it never made it back on the road.

I picked it up a couple weeks ago, and been looking forward to seeing if I can get proof of life out of it before spending much money.

 

[John Regular]

I think in the classified thread there might be a Mr Lucky's frame for sale. I almost bought it but it's in New York I believe and I had already defiled a numbers matching 1977 by chopping it. Now doomed to roam these threads handing out unsoliceted warnings take heed lest you end up like me. Kust kidding truth is I'm just not much of a fabricator and I get distracted easily and lost interest. I blame "The Horse BC" and a mild TBI but seriously I spent more fixing that frame than I would have on the Mr Lucky's which were available in 2009. I do like the TC Bros hardtail on Yoshi now that it's fixed (the first chopp/hack shop followed none of the instructions and welded it on crooked), Anyways sorry I didn't even ask if you planned on making it a chopper,, just my 2 cents, I just got an 81 with 5K on it and it's going to be my one original, So to try and not make this whole post about me, I loved Phoenix in 2001 and had a blast working out of town there. Somewhere I have a smileyface bar seat taken from the "have a nice day cafe" on a drunken dare. I wonder if that place is still therte? Nice bike!

 

[5twins]

I think your front tire is mounted backwards, lol. Check the direction arrow on the side .......

 

[grouchie77]

 

[Stuntheavy]

Probably is I’m more concerned with the 24yr old DOT date. The compound is rock hard after all those years!

 

[jetmechmarty]

I have an ‘81. Great bike!

 

[grouchie77]

Probably is I’m more concerned with the 24yr old DOT date. The compound is rock hard after all those years!

Your best bet is to get new ones, front and rear, and fill the old ones with dirt and some plants. Instant pepper garden.

You're welcome.

 

[JOHNDADDY]

They make a good tree swing for the kiddies too.