XS650 Model ID/Year/VIN, Workshop Manuals, and Other Information. Including XS750/850

[650Skull]

What is classed as verifiable information?
I'm an owner of some so I assume that is more verifiable than information sourced on the web.
Anyhow I went over and took some photos from 2 of them; one starting with s650-2178xx, one starting with s650-2179xx.
View attachment 195612View attachment 195613

Sorry i didn't reply or get back to you in this txxs, That's great info and yes that's how i got verification on all the other ones. It has been done through all members that have been on here.

There has bee a couple i got off Fleecebay on a couple of Japanese models. (78 Specials) One ended up in WA and i got it reconfirmed and some interesting differences between the japanese models compared to the res of the world


Cheers

 

[Hench]

Thank y'all for all this info! You helped me identify my bike.

 

[gggGary]

Hey @650Skull
seen on FB

Claim is it was a low volume factory 72 color in Europe.

KoMi MiKo
"yes, it's factory paint - the rarest of the 3 available ones.
it's not even shown in the folders collection on the dutch XS club's website"

 

[650Skull]

Saw the same pic on AV Rider in the Aussie regional section. Thought it had been seen over here and posted. I will ask where the poster got the pic from. Geof Bamford has been selling painted sets of this colour for the XS2, and figured it might have been one of his restores. Has orange rear indicators, don't know if that was just a US thing, pretty sure the red rear indicators were never allowed here. They aren't now even on old bikes. Don't know if the red indicators were allowed in Europe

Geofs painting advert

https://www.geoffsxs.com.au/OpenCart/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=10

 

[650Skull]

Hey @650Skull
seen on FB
View attachment 344328
Claim is it was a low volume factory 72 color in Europe.

KoMi MiKo
"yes, it's factory paint - the rarest of the 3 available ones.
it's not even shown in the folders collection on the dutch XS club's website"

Here is a factory brochure of the Red/Black XS2 paint job. Not as dark as the pic. From the ID thread

 

[Its been a long time]

Saw the same pic on AV Rider in the Aussie regional section. Thought it had been seen over here and posted. I will ask where the poster got the pic from. Geof Bamford has been selling painted sets of this colour for the XS2, and figured it might have been one of his restores. Has orange rear indicators, don't know if that was just a US thing, pretty sure the red rear indicators were never allowed here. They aren't now even on old bikes. Don't know if the red indicators were allowed in Europe

Geofs painting advert

https://www.geoffsxs.com.au/OpenCart/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=10

Red indicators definitely not allowed ever in the UK. I can't be 100% certain but I don't think red turn signals were ever legal anywhere in Europe.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Red indicators definitely not allowed ever in the UK. I can't be 100% certain but I don't think red turn signals were ever legal anywhere in Europe.

Ever?

Red signal lens remains legal in the US and some new vehicles still have them.

 

[Its been a long time]

Ever?

Red signal lens remains legal in the US and some new vehicles still have them.

Yes ever*. The only time I have seen red indicators in the UK they were fitted to bikes imported from the USA and were not yet registered in the UK. Even before flashing indicators were fitted (to cars) the flip out (semaphore style) direction signals of the time were always orange. UK construction and use regulations say that only the rear side light, rear fog light and brake light can be red.

* the requirement appears to have been made part of the regulations in September 1965. I have seen white indicators for sure. I can't ever remember red indicators but I accept they may actually have been legal before September 1965!

 

[gggGary]

Ever?

Red signal lens remains legal in the US and some new vehicles still have them.

I think 75? was the last red rear turnsignal XS650 in the USA?
You made me look.
https://www.acarplace.com/2018/01/index/
I guess we're just stupid here.....

 

[jetmechmarty]

I think 75? was the last red rear turnsignal XS650 in the USA?

My ‘81 has them because I got the bike with them. I left them because it doesn’t seem to make a significant difference. Many states don’t enforce having any turn signals at all. The license plate illumination is what matters.

I’m not sure, but the United States may be alone on the red signal lights. I do wonder about Canada and Mexico as American cars are still popular there. I suppose I could look it up.

 

[Raymond]

Shorely not another example of American exceptionalism?

 

[2xs]

Hi all, it’s been a long time since I posted in this thread but I thought someone might like seeing my finished first restoration. For someone not mechanically inclined it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions but I have come to love this old bike.