YOURADHERE
07-20-2010, 08:20 AM
So a little back story as to how I came to own this XS. I first became interested in the XS a couple years back when bored at work, browsing ebay. My coloring book was full, so I had to occupy my time elsewhere. It was a hardtailed XS that caught my attention, so I read up on them and had no idea such a huge following existed for them. Over the next couple years I always kept my eye out for one but was never really serious about it. Fast forward a couple years....
So about a month ago my dad went out and bought a brand new, shiny Harley Street Glide. Not that I dont have love for the Harleys, but I told him I could build something way cooler for a fraction of the cost. The search was on. I looked EVERYWHERE. Ebay, Craigslist, local classified ads, under rocks, searching from Houston, TX to Mississippi, from far South Louisiana to Northern LA. It seemed everything I found was no. The ones I could find were junk, the ones that weren't junk sold QUICK. So I expanded my search a little, I figured I was willing to travel, what's a couple more hours?
Within 10 minutes of expanding my search I found one on Friday. The ad read...
"yamaha xs650 - $1000 "
"72 xs650 Bike looks, sounds, and runs great.Just about everything on it new or rebuilt, top end, forks, carbs, electronic ignition,ect. About the only thing that hasnt been replaced or rebuilt is the lower end and the front tire. It has developed shift problems. It is inspected and I have a clear TX title in hand. The price is firm and I will not answer emails with a lower offer."
However the ad had been posted for a couple weeks, surely it had been sold, right? I quickly emailed the guy and it was still available. We emailed back and forth over the weekend and I called him on the 4th. He had a guy coming to look at it the next day but he wasnt going to be there until the afternoon. I asked if he had a problem with me coming earlier and he said as long as I was there before the other guy left to head that way he was cool with it. So I jumped in the truck that night and headed up to Tyler, TX and was at his house at 7am. It was perfect for what I wanted. I had intended to find a stocker to build myself but this one already had most of what I wanted done and it was priced right. Hardtailed, sportster tank, spoke wheels, pretty fresh engine. I was so excited I forgot to even try to negotiate and just handed him the money. While we were loading up the guy that was supposed to come called. Needless to say he wasnt happy, oh well. The seller got his money, and I got my XS.
So my plans, hints the wording "Sorta Build". It's already got about 90% of the modifications I wanted. So my first intention is to diagnose and fix the shifting problem. Which, can either be as simple as a broken spring under the clutch cover or worn shift drum. When the motor is out of the frame Im going to paint the frame, fenders, and tank for sure. Although Im not 100% decided on colors. Kinda waiting on the pile of parts to get bigger before I get started. So far Ive got TC Bros forward controls and linkage, a nice fender mounted tail light, G&L Choppers battery box/oil tank combo, and a custom exhaust being built. Everything else will be decided as I go. On the list of possibilities...
Ditching the sissy bar....definately
Ape Hangers
white walls
black wheels
HID headlight
And various other smaller things as I go
It should be a fun project and Im really looking forward to it. I plan to take my time and not rush anything that way it's done right the first time.
And since I know everyone loves pics here's some as well as a start up video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PYWULMgWNs
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/100_0428.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/100_0427.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/100_0500.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/100_0503.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/100e0421.jpg
Here's the taillight being fitted...
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/IMG00044-20100715-1902.jpg
And here's what the exhaust will look like....
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/CIMG5512.jpg
So about a month ago my dad went out and bought a brand new, shiny Harley Street Glide. Not that I dont have love for the Harleys, but I told him I could build something way cooler for a fraction of the cost. The search was on. I looked EVERYWHERE. Ebay, Craigslist, local classified ads, under rocks, searching from Houston, TX to Mississippi, from far South Louisiana to Northern LA. It seemed everything I found was no. The ones I could find were junk, the ones that weren't junk sold QUICK. So I expanded my search a little, I figured I was willing to travel, what's a couple more hours?
Within 10 minutes of expanding my search I found one on Friday. The ad read...
"yamaha xs650 - $1000 "
"72 xs650 Bike looks, sounds, and runs great.Just about everything on it new or rebuilt, top end, forks, carbs, electronic ignition,ect. About the only thing that hasnt been replaced or rebuilt is the lower end and the front tire. It has developed shift problems. It is inspected and I have a clear TX title in hand. The price is firm and I will not answer emails with a lower offer."
However the ad had been posted for a couple weeks, surely it had been sold, right? I quickly emailed the guy and it was still available. We emailed back and forth over the weekend and I called him on the 4th. He had a guy coming to look at it the next day but he wasnt going to be there until the afternoon. I asked if he had a problem with me coming earlier and he said as long as I was there before the other guy left to head that way he was cool with it. So I jumped in the truck that night and headed up to Tyler, TX and was at his house at 7am. It was perfect for what I wanted. I had intended to find a stocker to build myself but this one already had most of what I wanted done and it was priced right. Hardtailed, sportster tank, spoke wheels, pretty fresh engine. I was so excited I forgot to even try to negotiate and just handed him the money. While we were loading up the guy that was supposed to come called. Needless to say he wasnt happy, oh well. The seller got his money, and I got my XS.
So my plans, hints the wording "Sorta Build". It's already got about 90% of the modifications I wanted. So my first intention is to diagnose and fix the shifting problem. Which, can either be as simple as a broken spring under the clutch cover or worn shift drum. When the motor is out of the frame Im going to paint the frame, fenders, and tank for sure. Although Im not 100% decided on colors. Kinda waiting on the pile of parts to get bigger before I get started. So far Ive got TC Bros forward controls and linkage, a nice fender mounted tail light, G&L Choppers battery box/oil tank combo, and a custom exhaust being built. Everything else will be decided as I go. On the list of possibilities...
Ditching the sissy bar....definately
Ape Hangers
white walls
black wheels
HID headlight
And various other smaller things as I go
It should be a fun project and Im really looking forward to it. I plan to take my time and not rush anything that way it's done right the first time.
And since I know everyone loves pics here's some as well as a start up video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PYWULMgWNs
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/100_0428.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/100_0427.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/100_0500.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/100_0503.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/100e0421.jpg
Here's the taillight being fitted...
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/IMG00044-20100715-1902.jpg
And here's what the exhaust will look like....
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w25/YOUR-AD-HERE/XS650/CIMG5512.jpg