Thoughts on your XS650

13thenewblack13

13thenewblack13

Been Around the Block
So i'm looking into a late model xs650, best option i've found locally so far. There's a cb750 but i think its too big and heavy for what i'm looking for. If you have or have one, let me know how you feel about it and if you would recommend it
 
Re: Thoughts on your XS650?

Parts are easy to get and there is a lot of useful information out there on them. It's a popular bike and for good reason.
 
Re: Thoughts on your XS650?

They're great platforms for customizing. Plenty of power/torque for me but I've never ridden anything bigger or more modern.

They suck ballz for long distance riding though, especially if you do things like putting clipons, rearsets etc. on. It's not the riding position, it's the vibration from the engine.

The CB750 is very very smooth compared to the XS650. Depends on what you like and where you're riding. XS650 = 1/2 the cylinders/carbs/valves etc. as the CB750 so 1/2 the cost to rebuild and easier to tune.

I have an XS650 and have owned a CB550F. My other bikes are all twins and singles now - just because mostly but I don't miss working on 4 carbs.
 
Re: Thoughts on your XS650?

Thanks Tim, i hadn't taken into account that it was twice the parts. My ride to school is only about 20 minutes tops so i'm sure its comfortable enough for the trip. the last bike i had was an sr500 so it can only get more smooth from there! I'm wondering how well it will do on the highway though, should i change up the gearing?
 
1000's of people have ridden XS650's all over the map, so you should be fine :)

I have a 1978 SR500 too - it's in the tracker project section. Haven't ridden one yet, so I'm looking forward to the vibes. 20 mins on the XS will be no problem. Only time I don't like riding mine is on the highway at 70MPH+ for more than 15 mins.

You can put a smaller rear sprocket on (I run a 30 on a stock engine and get around the city no problem) to lower RPM. I'm installing a larger 5th gear in my new engine so it's more like an 'overdrive' maintaining better ratios in lower gears. It's getting rephased as well (and a 750 kit, hot cam, ported heads...) so that makes it smoother too but is a major investment.

Go for the XS. The CB750 is a beastly beast compared to the SR. The XS is a nice middle ground. Skinny, lighter, easier to customize.
 
Yeah i've been looking around on the xs site, my mind is made up, probably picking it up today :D The SR was a pleasure to ride! I loved its torque , and that little bike never quits. It powered up long hills like nothing, and it was super light w/ battery and air box removed, and a different exhaust. you'll love it, the guys on the SR forum are super nice too, sent me a few free parts to get the project going!
 
My dad used to talk about how his XS650 was like, if his RD350 had been prescribed prozac, and took up the useful hobby of working out instead of murdering people. He said it came from the same lineage for sure, that it was a blast to ride, but much better balanced in terms of performance and output.
 
Best bike Ive ever ridden, hands down. I take mine over my brothers 02 ninja 600, my old GS650, my friends CB550, and my buddies CM400t any day of the week hands down. I know Tim doesnt like to do distances on his, but he pretty much has a full out race bike and that just cant be comfortable. I rode mine an hour each way, every day, to work. Didnt bother me in the slightest. Word of caution though, you might turn into a bike snob, I know I did.

The vibes are just great, especially at idle waiting at a stop light. Put a decent set of reverse megaphones on it and you'll have a bike that beats any other for sweet sound. It seems like everyone and their uncle is doing a XS650 chop/cafe/special, whatever. Thats just cus your on an international bike forum. Ive never passed one here in Ottawa, and always get compliments on mine where ever I go. If you can find a decent runner, do it. I suggest getting an older one rather then one of the specials, but those can become pretty cool too. Probably one of the prettiest engines out there, valves are accessable with those nice big tappet covers. If you need to replace a exhaust stud, you have plenty of space to drill withough taking it out of the frame.

Of course the aftermarket is just awesome and the amount of upgrades is limited only by your budget and skills.



The VIBES man, its all about the VIBES!!!
 
CB750 - Heavy, wet sump, 4 cyl (so 4 carbs, pipes, etc...), fast but more top end than low end grunt, a little top heavy, very smooth through the REV range, massive aftermarket, somewhat boring, its a Honda so change the iol and dont ride it like its a MotoGP bike and it'll last long enough for you to give it to your grandkids in exchange for them changing your depends at the home...

XS650 - Not as heavy, twin so intrinsically simpler to work on and service than the CB, fast but with more bottom end pull and less fire at the top of the REV range than an I4, somewhat top heavy, shakes more than a epileptic at a Pink Floyd show, lots of aftermarket, sounds 100x better than any inline four (street bike) when hopped up, its still a Japanese four stroke bike from the 70s so boring in stock trim...

All my opinions, except for whats fact. You decide which is which... Haha.

Both great bikes in there own ways. For me... Its a vertical twin (ie XS650, CB500/450, Triumph T120, etc.) Or a Vtwin (Ironhead SPortster, early Virago, etc...) for a mid size 4 stroke vintage any day though.
 
As mentioned above:

Pros:
- Every significant problem on these bikes has been addressed. The vibes (rephase), the power (750 kit), the ignition (PAMCO) the charging (PMA) the brakes (dual disc or Brembo upgrade), the riding position (any number of custom seat options).
- Common enough they are cheap, popular enough that everyone wants one
- Lots of parts sharing between SR500 and XS650

Cons:
- Everything has been done. You'll just be imitating whether you know it or not.
- Folks think that because they are in demand that they can resell them in nearly stock form for astronomical prices.
- Very uninspiring in stock form, with quite a bit of "stupid engineering". Almost guaranteeing you'll want to upgrade just about everything.
 
Thanks guys those were exactly the type of responses i was looking for! The bike runs well looks pretty decent, i can get it for a little over $1000 so not bad in my opinion. Its a 75 so idk if there's anything major to look out for.


ProSimex said:
It seems like everyone and their uncle is doing a XS650 chop/cafe/special, whatever. Thats just cus your on an international bike forum. Ive never passed one here in Ottawa, and always get compliments on mine where ever I go.
Click to expand...

Very true, i see them often but that represents a few countries, I honestly can't remember seeing more than one in my city and i love how the engine looks. They're boring looking bikes stock but i plan to change that
 
PHeller said:
Cons:
- Everything has been done. You'll just be imitating whether you know it or not.
Click to expand...

I think thats just cafe/tracker/bobber/chopper bikes in general, all of the common styles have huge similarities no matter how you go about it. The only way to be truly different is to use a platform nobody has used before. for a while it was the cx500's but they exploded and now everyone is doing them. just the way the game goes
 
i still think in terms of a unique build that converting any type of non-adv bike into an adv bike is kinda unique, and turn a 4 cylinder sport bike into a dirt tracker is kinda cool as well.

Roland Sands R1 Dirt Tracker seems pretty awesome and not too many of them out there.
 
If i wasn't already convinced with you guys' comments, riding it sealed the deal! here she is :D

Photo1038.jpg
 
Re: Re: Thoughts on your XS650

thenewblack said:
I think thats just cafe/tracker/bobber/chopper bikes in general, all of the common styles have huge similarities no matter how you go about it. The only way to be truly different is to use a platform nobody has used before. for a while it was the cx500's but they exploded and now everyone is doing them. just the way the game goes
Click to expand...
I think its funny how everyone Tries so hard to be different instead of just building a bike they would enjoy. I do it myself, not bashing. Just reminds me of a saying I heard once......."all you non-conformists are all the same"


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk
 
For me, the vibration of the XS650 is part of the charm. I've ridden my XS from Virginia to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and didn't find the vibration objectionable...of course, I am dead below the waist...
 
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