[whizzerick]

1976 - 32 000 miles - 875$CDN (725$US)

I like the spoked wheels - are they alloy or chrome?
It would make a good first bike for me. No radical mods for the moment (except paint).

What'd you guys think?

...

 

[Scorcher]

Those are excellent bikes!! They even sound pretty good.

-Jason

 

[singledownloop]

for the price if it runs i'd be jumping on it,they have a bit of a cult followind and make sweet chops.Some people call them the poor mans triumph due to the similiar looking motors,go for it.

 

[Dirk_Laguna]

great bikes....gobs of aftermarket parts available and plenty of internet support

if you do get it and it still has the original fuse panel under the seat, get rid of it and replace it with any generic auto parts store one

go to this link http://www.yamaha650society.com/Buyers%20Guide.htm

it's a pretty good XS650 buyers guide...

 

[Richie]

Why do I get the feeling you already bought this thing Mr. Mini-Hatch?

It is a cool bike though....I dig it.

 

[BigDdy31]

Let me put it this way...if you don't want it, I do! LOL

All kidding aside though, they're good, solid bikes and that one looks to be in great shape for the price. Especially for us old school type guys, getting the wires with the discs instead of those ugly factory mags is an excellent plus.

On the alloy v. chrome question: On a '76 I think they are alloy hoops but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[Django]

YES. Don't ask, BUY BUY BUY.

 

[Nappy]

Looks like a nice clean bike for a decent price.

What, is this one of those "Does this outfit make my ass look fat" trick questions?

I'd say go for it.

The front wheel's an alloy. I believe mine had a 19 on front and 18 out back. I have good rubber lying around and a small pile of the shit I stripped off of mine- if you get it and need anything it's yours.

 

[Nappy]

I wonder if the Orange/Black sticker on the tank and cover was a deliberate knockoff of the Harley/AMF logos?

 

[Dirk_Laguna]

Orange/Black sticker on the tank and cover

that's actually orange/brown....ugly ugly 70's color combo....and that bike was in direct competition w/Triumph at the time....the way all the Jap companies now make HD clones

 

[TRIUMPH TERROR]

Terrible choice do not buy this, as I am sending a team of my men in to Canada to retrieve this and dispose of it properly........


Just kidding its going to make a nice scooter....


Shoe

 

[HackAsaw]

is that original paint? looks like a very original bike. me? I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Detail it and make it as correct as possible in an effort to conserve what is there, and then roll it across any decent international live auction block if you can't get hooked up with a serious bucks up collector.... most likely in Japan.

and then take what should easily be double your money..... if not more

and buy yourself a Brit, HD, or Jap chopper close enough to what you want and perhaps far enough away to easily make it your own

not much is sacred in my world but good dollars and sense is just that

that appears to me to be a very original collector grade XS650..... and if that paint in original.... I kinda don't think it is but I'm far from an XS expert....... it's sure an oddball somebody serious wants to have

I've been doing it long enough to watch many commonly regarded as disposable bikes come into their own and actually be worth money

I recall not too long ago..... sending a really clean 500 dollar CB400F to Germany for 3400

such numbers sure take any questions out of "to cut or not to cut"

my two fwiw

and I hate doing restorations and I love cutting stuff up

 

[tom]

i agree with all, buy it if you like it; also it would also be a great learner. i think its cool just the way it sits.

 

[ratrodshrum]

Thats a good price for that bike! And it will be a dependable bike. Ofcourse if it were mine I would cut that frontend off and make it way to long to be safe!!

 

[Irritant]

i say cafe it. they're perfect for that.

 

[Dirk_Laguna]

what I think is the coolest thing about the XS650's is they are a blank canvas...they make killer chops, bobbers, cafe's, street trackers, daily commuters, slap on a full fairing and some bags and you have a decent touring bike....they have a legit racing petigree ("King" Kenny Roberts) so go-fast stuff is still readily available...the engines are bone simple to work on....once you learn the ins and outs of what to look for, the possibilities are endless. There are so many websites full of info and support you can't go wrong

you could make the argument they are "Everyman's" bike...I'm sorry I had to sell all mine ( Good luck XCabbieS ! ! ! )