How many of you owned one of these? I liked them so much I had a xs2 and 1981 XS Special 2 Really liked these bikes back in the day
I always liked these Yamaha four strokes, even though I was a staunch fan and user of their two stroke offerings throughout the 70's and early 80's The gold and white XS2 looked great and the red and white model bore a family resemblance to the brand new AS3 I had in 1972. What I have always thought let these 650's down, appearance wise, at least, was and still is, the exhaust system. The silencers just seem to have an unfinished look about them and spoil the bikes lines entirely, in my opinion, of course.
I agree whole heartedly. I was able to put some shorty Harley after market mufflers which were essentially straight through with a steel semi baffle. I heated them up and beat them on. I thought it sounded great my girl friend now wife objected strongly and later she influenced me into the BMW clan. I think the demise of the great twins of this era was the introduction of the CB750 Honda and later the KZ 900.
The success of big 4's like the CB750 and Z1 led the way for the introduction of IL4's in the smaller classes. The Z650 in particular was a very popular and much revered model.
They were certainly nice lookers and went well (takes off rose tinted glasses) but not the sort of thing you’d want to leave ticking over on the centre stand in the pub car park for any length of time unless for laughs. It would either end up alongside a car damaging the cars bodywork or slowly wander across the road. Had an XS1100S (IL4) at the same time as a couple of mates who had different XS650 Yamaha twins. The XS1100S was the worst handling bike I’ve ever owned. Regularly got overtaken by the smaller twins either in a straight line or around the bends. Shaft drive was convenient though.
Yes had a couple along the way. If memory serves me right they were a very fickle bike and suffered from the heads wearing. Bu nice to ride. Joe
Only if you overrev them to the point of bending valves. But then again pretty simple motor and parts were cheap too. Don’t ask
Yes, I bought a 650 from a neighbour for £90 took the engine out to fiddle with and can't remember what happened to it in the end. I also had one of these Which I decided to chop. Hmmm was a lot of an arse. The central backbone once it was hardtailed just touched the top of the centre carb which annoyed me greatly for some reason. On it's maiden run home from the MOT (which it passed) it dropped a valve. I just thought it was running on two cause it had been a right fucker sorting the electrics and carbs out. Once I limped home I found it had no top to the centre piston and had mashed the head. I got a head and a bank of 3 carbs for £25 down the scrap, bunged a piston and rings in it. Got it running and flogged it for £600. I was glad to see the back of it after I'd put so much work in it. I hated it so much
There's a connection to Triumph. Yamaha Europe hired former Triumph test rider and works racer Percy Tait to make the XS handle. The later "standard" (not Custom) models had the frame bracing that he devised.
Never knew that These bikes have and were criticized for poor handling. I had always attributed this to loose steering head bearings and poor performing suspension components. But the more I think about it flaws in handling could be weak to flexible frames
Be Still My Beating Heart! A blast from the past, I owned one of these and enjoyed it beyond description. Dumbest move of my youth, after catching Harley fever, and trading it in. Thanks for reviving fond memories.
Lovely bit of painting. Super job. Took a bit of working out looking at the gold spray and the masking Nice...
Yes I ‘reverse’ mask as it’s quicker and neater but looks confusing as it’s stripe first then main colours
On a similar note: Had a bit more luck than @Iron went to work on this through winter, got a lot of use from it. Around 1981-82 I reckon. It now sits in my mate's shed, no doubt in 10 million bits, as all his other bikes do. He sold a Benelli 750-6 in two boxes and currently has a T509 which I somehow think will never see tarmac again.
For some reason the XS650, which was a bit of a paint mixer to ride, is a favorite of custom builders. Check out these pics from the One Show in Portland, Oregon USA.
XS engines were also liked by side car cross builders / competitors, because they were cheaper and quite easy to modify. A lot of them were using Triumph and Norton engines. My neighbors (and friends) are racing in historical category. They have a wasp sidecar with an XS engine upgraded to 1000 cc (by lowering the crankshaft to increase the piston course).
