Comments on: XS650 Cafe Racer and Street Tracker Conversions http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/11/18/xs650-cafe-racer-and-street-tracker-conversions/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:15:18 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: MotoCasa http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/11/18/xs650-cafe-racer-and-street-tracker-conversions/comment-page-1/#comment-270532 MotoCasa Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:02:52 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=3196#comment-270532 I have 9 of these right now and always loking for more. I love them for 2 reasons. 1 is the parts access is the best for any vintage bikes worth working on. 2 is the motor is bulletproof. The down side is the are very heavy and not well proportioned for some builds. They look okay in cafe from but too top heavy and awkward to really be considered a great cafe performer. Many other bikes work better in that format. I wish I could find a cherry totally stock mid 70s one for a fair price. They look great that way. They make great bobber bikes. Frame takes hardtails very easy. Lots of torque and they can sound good with the right open pipes. Many Yamaha parts interchange and most everything can be found easy. The frame has lots of metal that can be removed but will require your brain power to lower it somehow. Very tall frames, seat height. A popular mod is the street (dirt) tracker look. Lots of after market body parts and advice for this. They look cool done right. Not fast, not agile, not high tech. I still love them though and will buy yours at the right price. I have 9 of these right now and always loking for more. I love them for 2 reasons. 1 is the parts access is the best for any vintage bikes worth working on. 2 is the motor is bulletproof. The down side is the are very heavy and not well proportioned for some builds. They look okay in cafe from but too top heavy and awkward to really be considered a great cafe performer. Many other bikes work better in that format. I wish I could find a cherry totally stock mid 70s one for a fair price. They look great that way.

They make great bobber bikes. Frame takes hardtails very easy. Lots of torque and they can sound good with the right open pipes. Many Yamaha parts interchange and most everything can be found easy. The frame has lots of metal that can be removed but will require your brain power to lower it somehow. Very tall frames, seat height. A popular mod is the street (dirt) tracker look. Lots of after market body parts and advice for this. They look cool done right. Not fast, not agile, not high tech. I still love them though and will buy yours at the right price.

]]> By: G.Scotland http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/11/18/xs650-cafe-racer-and-street-tracker-conversions/comment-page-1/#comment-269233 G.Scotland Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:41:45 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=3196#comment-269233 Hi there. I was just looking through the web and came across this sight. I myself have a xs650se. I would like to say i have had a FJ12 FJ11 ZX10 Z750 Z650 Z550 GSX750es EN500 FZX750 Z440(chop) GS650(chop) BMW75s and a few others im sure, but my little XS give more class, more street cred than any bike i haved owned. Fitted with RAM airfilters , up Jetted, Triumph Mega pipes (Legal) and earth shaking. and she will hit a ton no problems and still have a bit but the down side is that when doing this on my local dual carraigeway (Highway) the bike sounds like thunder straight from hell. So verdict... The XS650 the origanal rebel. Hi there. I was just looking through the web and came across this sight. I myself have a xs650se. I would like to say i have had a FJ12 FJ11 ZX10 Z750 Z650 Z550 GSX750es EN500 FZX750 Z440(chop) GS650(chop) BMW75s and a few others im sure, but my little XS give more class, more street cred than any bike i haved owned. Fitted with RAM airfilters , up Jetted, Triumph Mega pipes (Legal) and earth shaking. and she will hit a ton no problems and still have a bit but the down side is that when doing this on my local dual carraigeway (Highway) the bike sounds like thunder straight from hell. So verdict… The XS650 the origanal rebel.

]]> By: charlieyam http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/11/18/xs650-cafe-racer-and-street-tracker-conversions/comment-page-1/#comment-269068 charlieyam Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:52:32 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=3196#comment-269068 Lots of good advice given already thought I'd give my thoughts having owned one for 30yrs. Best platform to start with is a B or C modelfrom 1975 till 1978. These had bronze swinging arm bushes and grease points from factory. I prefer the spoked wheels and the double disc was standard fit and gave good brakes. Engines are bullit proof but you need to change oil every 1500miles. Use a good quality mineral oil, no need for synthetics . I always found the clutch heavy, lots of people convert it to hydraulic and this gets rid of the need to readjust when hot because of the slack in cable, caused by the plates expanding. Performance is 110mph on a good day from 50bhp. Bike is heavy,especially engine, getting rid of the electric start and buying a blanking plate is a good idea as they were prone to failing (cause £2 spring on starter clutch). Best upgrades are change exhaust, to a lighter more free flowing type, and change carbs, 32mm mikunis or 36mm dellortos.. By the way thanks for the best bike website on the net. Lots of good advice given already thought I’d give my thoughts having owned one for 30yrs. Best platform to start with is a B or C modelfrom 1975 till 1978. These had bronze swinging arm bushes and grease points from factory. I prefer the spoked wheels and the double disc was standard fit and gave good brakes. Engines are bullit proof but you need to change oil every 1500miles. Use a good quality mineral oil, no need for synthetics . I always found the clutch heavy, lots of people convert it to hydraulic and this gets rid of the need to readjust when hot because of the slack in cable, caused by the plates expanding. Performance is 110mph on a good day from 50bhp. Bike is heavy,especially engine, getting rid of the electric start and buying a blanking plate is a good idea as they were prone to failing (cause £2 spring on starter clutch). Best upgrades are change exhaust, to a lighter more free flowing type, and change carbs, 32mm mikunis or 36mm dellortos.. By the way thanks for the best bike website on the net.

]]> By: david http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/11/18/xs650-cafe-racer-and-street-tracker-conversions/comment-page-1/#comment-232272 david Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:48:57 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=3196#comment-232272 Phoebe, with just small amount of work and investmenting about 2k over the cost of the bike, you'll have a bike thats exclusively YOURS and one that will run circles around your Blast, promise!! Here's a start on that 2k, allowing that you do your own work. But nothing here is difficult at all, really. 1) Bronze swing arm bushings 2) Fork brace, service fork oil, possibly build 10mm preload spacers to stiffen up forks 3) Progressive Series 12/13 shocks, I would go 1 inch longer than stock to quicken the streering up a bit. 4) Mikuni carb kit and Boyer ignition kit form www.650motorcycles. 5) Either a set of pipes from Jemco or Omar's. 6) Fresh rubber, brake pads, braided front brake line, Motul brake fluid. 6) Fresh 520 chain and sproket conversion kit. 7) Set of lower bars and decent grips. Later, if you want to really have a runner, build yourself a rephased big-bore....you already have the carbs, pipe and ignition, just slip on 750 top end, cam it, new clutch plates, valve springs, rephased crank and viola', and TOTALLY new unit...but beware, you better hold on...... Phoebe, with just small amount of work and investmenting about 2k over the cost of the bike, you’ll have a bike thats exclusively YOURS and one that will run circles around your Blast, promise!! Here’s a start on that 2k, allowing that you do your own work. But nothing here is difficult at all, really.
1) Bronze swing arm bushings
2) Fork brace, service fork oil, possibly build 10mm preload spacers to stiffen up forks
3) Progressive Series 12/13 shocks, I would go 1 inch longer than stock to quicken the streering up a bit.
4) Mikuni carb kit and Boyer ignition kit form http://www.650motorcycles.
5) Either a set of pipes from Jemco or Omar’s.
6) Fresh rubber, brake pads, braided front brake line, Motul brake fluid.
6) Fresh 520 chain and sproket conversion kit.
7) Set of lower bars and decent grips.

Later, if you want to really have a runner, build yourself a rephased big-bore….you already have the carbs, pipe and ignition, just slip on 750 top end, cam it, new clutch plates, valve springs, rephased crank and viola’, and TOTALLY new unit…but beware, you better hold on……

]]> By: miker http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2008/11/18/xs650-cafe-racer-and-street-tracker-conversions/comment-page-1/#comment-202826 miker Mon, 26 Jan 2009 03:23:06 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=3196#comment-202826 I've had a 73, a 77, and an 81 Special. I think any XS is a great bike to play with, tho there were some handling issues with the pre-74's. There's a lot of detail variance over the years but most stuff mixes-n-matches well. As other posters indicate, the motor is superb; tough, compact, and torquey. There is moderate vibration at some speeds that may irritate on extended trips. For an economical one-bike classic garage, you could do a lot worse than the XS650. miker I’ve had a 73, a 77, and an 81 Special. I think any XS is a great bike to play with, tho there were some handling issues with the pre-74’s. There’s a lot of detail variance over the years but most stuff mixes-n-matches well.

As other posters indicate, the motor is superb; tough, compact, and torquey. There is moderate vibration at some speeds that may irritate on extended trips.

For an economical one-bike classic garage, you could do a lot worse than the XS650.

miker

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