XS are cool machines...
the 650's run decent, but the 400's are a little weak
for a full size person.
My last 650 was cafe'd and was a blast to ride,
the clip-ons lead to a NASTY speed wobble when
topping a hill. You couldn't push it hard in the corners
or otherwise it would 'fish' and drift...about
75-80mph was max. LOL

I'll dig up a picture...

-Warstar

Here ya go...

(PIC too big..)

Try again later.

I've got an '81 xs650 bobber project scattered all over my shop. [it's one of those projects] Hopefullly I wil get started back this winter. Your Yami dealer won't have many parts for an xs. But the internet is full of xs sites! There's a whole cult of xs nuts out there. Go for it!

I had a '79, the only other motorcycle I ever owned. From my experience, I'd tell you to steer clear. No electric start, and talk about a cold blooded, hard starting, incessantly vibrating, PIA, POS. I bought it used in '82, and had it to different shops several times for the starting (and running for that matter) issues. The electric system was crap, and actually melted the fuse block which caused even more problems. I was lucky it didn't burn up, or maybe unlucky... I messed around with it every year, and it was never reliable enough to plan to ride to work, or go so far I couldn't walk for help and have someone come get me in the pre cell phone '80s and '90s. It was just fast enough, when it did run, to get a ticket for 67 in a 35 with about 5 cruisers showing up because the guy tried to say I ran from him... little did he know!
The last straw was one spring after I'd had it worked on in the fall, I got it out, charged the battery turned the gas on which promptly free flowed from both carbs... within 15 minutes it was in the driveway with a "For Sale $25" sign and within a couple more hours the problem was solved! I'm sure they weren't all like that, and I'll be the first to say I don't know bikes very well, but the one I had was a frustrating dud.
Tim

Tim:

Your story makes me think of my first wife...


Rich

Plenty of old GSXR's around

This would be a fun bar hopper!

GSXR Chopper

jamie99roadstar wrote:
Anyone ever own/ride one? Looking at one for a bobber project(XS 650's are hard to find and super $$). Looking for anything good/bad. Its an 82 Heritage Special.

I've ridden a Maxim 400, which is what I think they called the XS400 after '82, & it's fairly peppy. However, my Hyosung GT250 will run off & leave it, and with 150 less cc's!

XS750 Bobber , not a bad runner , and cheap! BB

Well, now I've gone and done it. I went and bought an XS 400 this afternoon. Now the cutting begins.

'Mike's XS" has alot of cool XS repro stuff.
Great to deal with and affordable...
All the stuff that is out of stock at Yamaha.

-Luke