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XS650 Cafe Racer and Street Tracker Conversions

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Yamaha XS650 cafe conversion

Where are all of the nice, smaller displacement motorcycles that look good and are fun to ride? They’re everywhere, you just need to do a little work. If you’re looking for inexpensive options to a vintage British cafe racer, especially if you like the idea of building your own, you can start with a lot of different models, the Honda CB750 always gets a lot of attention but the Yamaha XS650 is another great choice. I noticed this one for sale on eBay and it looks like the owner went through the bike completely, added a few parts plus some nice modifications and the result is a subtle, clean little beauty that anyone would be proud to own. It would get a lot of attention at bike night, too.

Yamaha XS650 cafe conversion

The old XS650s are pretty easy to find, the problem is many have been hacked and chopped into some unfortunate mess, not a problem if you only want the engine but if you’re looking to do what this guy did, you’ll want a nicer one to start with.

Mule Motorcycles Yamaha XS650 street tracker

Richard Pollock of Mule Motorcycles, who builds fantastic Sportster based street trackers, also creates some of the nicest XS650 based street trackers around, he takes the complete hand built custom route and the results are amazing, not cheap by any means, but really, really nice.

Mule Motorcycles Yamaha XS650 street tracker

Right now, a lot of folks are trying to be a little careful with their money so a new bike may not be in the cards, but, maybe something based on a Yamaha XS650 would fit in the budget. With much of the U.S. getting a bit chilly, how about a winter project? The bikes shown here might give you a few ideas. Just a few more examples to show, riding a cool bike is always possible.

Link: auction over

Posted on Filed Under: Motorcycle Builders, Vintage Motorcycles

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Comments

  1. The XS650 is a bike I’ve considered upgrading to from my Blast when the time comes (other bikes I’m considering are a Triumph Thruxton, Kawasaki W650, and a few other more modern style bikes). What I was wondering is…what’s the top speed of a stock XS650?

    Oh, and I’m watching that auction on the white XS cafe racer…I’m very curious about how much it’ll go for.

  2. What I’ve always liked about the XS650 is that it offers a platform for many custom options from Stock ,Cafe,Tracker and Chopper . I’ve seen more than one version of these truckin down the road at one time or another .

  3. If you’re looking to do an XS650 cafe, stay away from the XS650 Special. The frame is different and not conducive to a cafe build. The Special has a 16″ rear wheel, look for one with an 18″ in the rear.

  4. No doubt these motors see there fair share of customs, probably more than any other type of engine. One sport thet these engine work very well in is hillclimbing. Jeff Thomas with Thomas Racing Service has patented a fuel injection set up on these things and he runs them on nitro methane, these motors scream and compared to what most guys are running thier considerably light. I think there getting a little over 100 hp from them.

  7. Phoebe, they’re fast enough (close to “ton up”) what with 40 horse (50 claimed). That’s a little better than your Blast and my GB500. One thing, a stocker XS650 feels fairly heavy (around 500lbs). The brakes suck, the rear shocks are terrible as are the swing arm’s cheap – worn out from the factory – bushings. Many people have fixed these problems already but look out. The seat is a tad tall and wide too.

    All in all an XS650 makes for a great, reliable cafe platform and is a much better choice than a British lump from the same era. If you want something much, much better (though a bit more expensive) a Kawasaki W650 is your best bet.

    I feel bad knocking the XS650, it’s one of my more favorite bikes (because the engine) I just want to be sure people understand that it’s nothing magical.

    -todd

  8. My first bike was an 89 XS650 Special. I think it would push about 85 mph downhill with a tailwind. I do have fond memories and it is still a club bike being handed down from new rider to new rider. What a beast. I never dreamed of dolling her up to look as good as this one.

    I think with a lot of the weight removed and better suspension, the XS could make a great little cafe racer.

  9. Thanks for the info, Todd. In case anyone was wondering, the Blast tops out at an electronically limited 94mph, and with me on it (about 125 lbs), it easily and swiftly gets right up there. I would like my next bike to have more power than the Blast, and it sounds to me like the XS650 probably won’t cut it, unless put on a diet and given some steroids. That’s too bad, because I do like the XS650.

  10. Back when they still used the Yamaha 650 for dirttracking, Dan Gurney’s people made a nice little roadracer out of a Yamaha 650 (a touch outdated, enginewise, at that time though) for an AMA racer they worked with. I do think the Kawasaki has a better looking engine, a bit more Brit/retro looking, which would make it a nice bike to work with.

  11. A 750cc kit, mild cam and 34 mikuni’s will give an easy 60 bhp. The XS650/TX650 frame is just alright, though a bit heavy. Some suppport tubes welded to where the rear suspension pivots lessens the tank-slapping, as does replacing the easily worn fibre bushes with proper bronze bushing. Otherwise, a GREAT motor; small, neat and oiltight!

  14. Zac, maybe something was wrong with your ’89 Special. The 650 I tried was an early stocker. It ran up to an indicated 100 with a little throttle left – mind it had a rotted pipe. I guessed that it was probably in the 90’s due to speedometer optimism. I had a ’76 Honda XL350 that could do over 85, no wind or hill necessary (vibration kept me from seeing straight though). Those weren’t known for power.

    -todd

  15. Great engines. XS650s make for a variety of great customs. Had a ’78 XS Special some years back, looked and sounded cool, didn’t like going around corners.

    There’s a lot of good info in here: http://www.xs650.org.au/

  16. If you have an XS and want the best performing exhaust system ever made for them (look it up), you’ll have to contact BUB Enterprises in California. If enough people request them for XS’s, BUB may dust off the old tool and crank out a few. Please do this, because 2 out of my 3 XS650’s are still in need of BUB Pipes!

    -brian

  18. I’ve got a 72 xs650 that I’m rebuilding. It was my first bike. I think there may be some problems with the frame, so I’m looking for another one. I know that a couple years after 72 they changed the frame on these bikes, and I was wondering if all the parts from the 72 will swap right into a later frame. It seems like the later frames are what the street tracker builders prefer. I want to avoid using the xs650 special frame. Thanks for the great site!–Jason in Mena, Arkansas

  19. JT Masters, it might just be a problem with your swing arm bushings. You should get yourself a set of bronze bushes because changing the frame means changing your title. ’74 and later had different frames, it’s the early bikes like yours that are the most desirable (yours is called an XS2 but engines will swap easy on all years). You should not be able to move your rear wheel side to side at all. A new set of bushings and some decent shock absorbers will really make you love the bike all over again. If you know the frame is bent from a wreck then you’re better off selling the bike to me and starting over with another bike;-)

    -todd

  20. owned them for years…ton up, yep! at least when i was a skinny pup (1980)…big strong bottom end, opportunities for h.p. with porting/polishing, cam, carbs, exhaust. great bike for an urban rider

  21. my xs650 chopper runs up to a cool 110 mph, 18 tooth front sprocket makes a big difference, also the fishtail exhausts and gpz 500 carbs, solved the problem of charging with an updated combined regulator/rectifier, starts first kick every time, right around the year..

  22. hi all, yes it is nice indeed, but when i go through specs of bike why fuel consumption is always missing? i mean wat will be the Km/Lt of this bike???

  23. Brian
    You got your wish! I work for BUB Enterprises and we are making a limited production run of our 2 into 2 system for the Yamaha XS 650. Anyone who is interested a set of these pipes can contact BUB Enterprises at 530-477-7490 for more information.
    Regards
    Robert

  24. Richard at Mule Built those sick street tractors over five years ago. Anybody into XS650s have seen the mule bikes plenty of time. “the problem is many have been hacked and chopped into some unfortunate mess” The FUN of hacking and chopping up the xs650 is what makes the bike so attractive.

    Over a quarter million XS650s in 40 different variations were produced by Yamaha between 1970 and 1985. The XS650 big twin, in America and worldwide has developed a cult following for good reason. Tough durability, classic look and abundance of cheap parts make the XS650 the perfect platform to build a KILLER Chopper.

  25. 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

  26. 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……

  27. 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.

  28. 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.

  29. 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.

  32. Yep thanks Todd, I also seen a few other sites that offer up parts. But that seat is sold at Omars and I think its the narrow one. Just picked up my XS and excited to get it how I want it looking.