NEBiker51
XS650 Member
Would love to see pictures of any XS's made to look like vintage British bikes. Thinking about doing one after I finish my Street Tracker.
-
Enjoy XS650.com? Consider making a donation to help support the site.
XS650.com receives a small share of sales from some links on this page, but direct donations have a much greater impact on keeping this site going.
Yamabrits
- Thread starter NEBiker51
- Start date
littlebill31
Smells of Raw Fuel
There was a cool looking Royal Enfield on ebay for sale. A real Enfield, but XS650 powered. Looked really cool too. Guy was trying to pawn it off as an all original though.
Purplezinger
XS650 Addict
I built one back in 88/89. It was mix of several years of 650's I tried to copy styling touches that were common to British bikes in the 60's. I was able to acquire a front fender licence plate and installed English style numbers that said XS650 on each side. The bike was painted British green and was a standout wherever I rode it. I did not try to hide the identity by removing Yamaha's name. I rode it for several years eventually someone made me an offer and I sold it. I may have some pictures, if I can find them I'll post.
NEBiker51
XS650 Member
fancyketchup
Condiment Enthusiast
My 76... Ive got some gordon scott side pipes getting ceramic coated!
Here is a link to my build... http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1254
Here is a link to my build... http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1254
Last edited:
Dogger
XS650 Addict
Looks like some nice iron in that last pic!
What about the xs650b, xs650d, xs1 and xs2? More or less copies of the brits, but run better and leaks less (at least that's what they say).
Recently I've thought about going to the british side. Lately they've been going down a little in value and the earlier xs's are going up almost equal around here. I'd have to sell my xs though and I've grown attached to it these last several years.
What about the xs650b, xs650d, xs1 and xs2? More or less copies of the brits, but run better and leaks less (at least that's what they say).
Recently I've thought about going to the british side. Lately they've been going down a little in value and the earlier xs's are going up almost equal around here. I'd have to sell my xs though and I've grown attached to it these last several years.
manofsteele
XS650 Addict
I just noticed what your fender plate says, that's awesome.
fancyketchup
Condiment Enthusiast
My wife gave me serious 
when I made the vinyl.
when I made the vinyl.
NEBiker51
XS650 Member
Love the color combo of dark green and black.
tonyc
XS650 Guru
fancyketchup
Condiment Enthusiast
The color is british racing green from a 98' jag and everything that is black is satin black powder coat. I love the bike so much that Im now building a 78' cafe!
This is from Omar's customer gallery. To me, it is the perfect modded XS.
rwingsfan
Xs 650 Dummy
Here is my take, not nearly as cool as these others, but I think it has some brit style
fancyketchup
Condiment Enthusiast
Im diggin that, its original xs with a touch of brit styling! Love it!
pa23driver
XS650 Addict
fancyketchup, how do those tires ride? i love the look of em, but was concerned about the ride and performance
hmusket
CBMMA Member
When I saw the title of this thread Yamabrits, it reminded me of a pretty inspiring build. It was done a few years back by a fellow by the name of Ray Thornton ( jdcrawler@yahoo.com ). I watched his progress on the XS650twins group on yahoo. This is what he wrote at the time he started posting:
"This is a bike project that is quite different from what you normally
see. I have this posted on other motorcycle sites and wanted to post
it here because I'm using some 650 Yamaha parts. .. Photo album is:
Stuck in the 50's .
I have owned several motorcycles when I was younger and had 3-with
a side car attached. I haven't had a bike since I sold my Sportster
in 1980. Lately, I've been getting the itch for another bike. So I
started digging thru all the junk stored up in the barn.
I have always liked the looks of the old bikes from the 40's and
50's, so that is what I wanted to make mine look like.
I use to have a 1956 BSA that got hit in the rear and still have the
frame and title.
Other BSA parts in the barn included: gas tank, 2-tool boxes,
19-inch front wheel, 18-inch rear wheel and a pair of mufflers. Also a
girder front forks, brake pedal and rear luggage rack for a 40's
military bike.
There was also a side car fender for a URL Russian motorcycle, and
part of a 1949 Simplex Servi-cycle frame.
My son gave me a 1976 Yamaha XS650 frame, engine and rear wheel
that he picked from some where. So with this pile of parts, I started
building my bike.
Used the steering neck from the BSA and the engine cradle from
the Yamaha to build the frame. The hard tail is made with steel tube
and the axle ends off the Yamaha swing arm.
I laced the 18 BSA rear wheel to the Yamaha rear hub.
Bought a 21-inch Suzuki front wheel, speedometer & speedometer
cable off ebay. Also got the front & rear fenders, handle bars, seat,
head lite & tail lite bracket and foot boards off ebay.
I'm using a fiberglass nose off a go cart to build a side car to go
on this bike. I will use the 19-inch BSA front wheel and the URL
fender on the side car.
I'm intending to paint the frame, forks and engine side covers
simi-gloss black. The gas tank, tool boxes, fenders, chain guard and
side car will be bright red. The head lite is chrome. I'm thinking of
having the exhaust powder coated in a light gray.
Just wanted to show off my project so far. .. Ray"
I thought you folks might enjoy seeing it too, so I contacted Ray and got his permission to post some pictures and his description.
Harvey
"This is a bike project that is quite different from what you normally
see. I have this posted on other motorcycle sites and wanted to post
it here because I'm using some 650 Yamaha parts. .. Photo album is:
Stuck in the 50's .
I have owned several motorcycles when I was younger and had 3-with
a side car attached. I haven't had a bike since I sold my Sportster
in 1980. Lately, I've been getting the itch for another bike. So I
started digging thru all the junk stored up in the barn.
I have always liked the looks of the old bikes from the 40's and
50's, so that is what I wanted to make mine look like.
I use to have a 1956 BSA that got hit in the rear and still have the
frame and title.
Other BSA parts in the barn included: gas tank, 2-tool boxes,
19-inch front wheel, 18-inch rear wheel and a pair of mufflers. Also a
girder front forks, brake pedal and rear luggage rack for a 40's
military bike.
There was also a side car fender for a URL Russian motorcycle, and
part of a 1949 Simplex Servi-cycle frame.
My son gave me a 1976 Yamaha XS650 frame, engine and rear wheel
that he picked from some where. So with this pile of parts, I started
building my bike.
Used the steering neck from the BSA and the engine cradle from
the Yamaha to build the frame. The hard tail is made with steel tube
and the axle ends off the Yamaha swing arm.
I laced the 18 BSA rear wheel to the Yamaha rear hub.
Bought a 21-inch Suzuki front wheel, speedometer & speedometer
cable off ebay. Also got the front & rear fenders, handle bars, seat,
head lite & tail lite bracket and foot boards off ebay.
I'm using a fiberglass nose off a go cart to build a side car to go
on this bike. I will use the 19-inch BSA front wheel and the URL
fender on the side car.
I'm intending to paint the frame, forks and engine side covers
simi-gloss black. The gas tank, tool boxes, fenders, chain guard and
side car will be bright red. The head lite is chrome. I'm thinking of
having the exhaust powder coated in a light gray.
Just wanted to show off my project so far. .. Ray"
I thought you folks might enjoy seeing it too, so I contacted Ray and got his permission to post some pictures and his description.
Harvey
Attachments
PetesPonies
XS650 Addict
So how did you leave mine out??????????
fancyketchup
Condiment Enthusiast
Tires ride great! I'm not a super experienced rider, but they are much better than the dunlops that came on the bike or any other tire Ive used(usually cheap brands). They are a 90% on road tire so there is not much compromise for the street.
