Sell me on the XS650 (vs the CX500)

M

makenzie71

Been Around the Block
So I'm on the prowl for a CX500. I've already had one that I absolutely loved...a bike I wish I hadn't sold off...and I've got a serious itch to do another one. It's the look and feel I want, and that touch of familiarity is comforting.

But the damn things done went and got scarce so I'm having a hard time finding one.

But, locally, a fellow has a 1974 XS650 for that also fits the bill.

The plan for either bike is modern suspension/wheels/brakes on both ends ( a little harder with the CX but I'll find a way), stripped and simplified as much as possible, and probably going to spend most of it's time sitting in the garage because I don't have a lot of time to ride these days (but it's just nice to know I have a bike out there).

Right off the bat I feel the XS has a bit of an edge because it can be built without a battery system and the CX is water cooled making it a little less simple. But I honesly don't know enough about the XS to know if I'm getting into something bigger than I think it is.

I would love some input on the XS...mostly what about it is going to bite me in the ass if I go that route.
 
I miss my XS650.
Dead reliable, air cooled, huge aftermarket, endless customization options, plenty of power.

I'd choose an xs650 over a cx 8 days a week.
The only downside is they are not a smooth bike they vibrate a lot. That can be fixed with a rephase but they are a blast without.
 
Can I expect to reliably run the XS with just the kicker? If I got that route the changes I've got in mind will probably necessitate it as I just got no idea where I'll put the battery.
 
If you can't reliably run an XS without kick only, then I'm screwed. LOL. An XS engine is gorgeous. The best Triumph Japan ever built. The best description I've heard of an XS650 is that it's the small block chevy of the motorcycle world. Huge aftermarket, great reliability. A plethora of go fast options, as they're hugely popular on race circuits. The only downside is weight. There aren't exactly light. I still managed to pick mine up and put it in frame myself from a waste high table.
 
For style I would go with the XS. They did have problematic charging systems, but several vendors do a PMA replacement that handles that issue.

The CX is hard to discount, though. It doesn't do anything particularly well, but it's not deficient in any one area, either (assuming you like the looks of it).
 
As Sonreir said there are several PMA (permanent magnet alternator) kits out there. Hughes Hand Built has one and a bunch of other great goodies. Mikes XS has literally everything you could possibly need or want for a 650 as well.

A PMA and a capacitor and you're set for no battery.
 
I'm actually a HUGE fan of the looks of the CX500. That oddball short stroke twin is an engine I really love...and I beat the living snot out of mine. I rode from Pueblo, CO up to Cripple Creek and back once only discovering once I got back that the splines on my impeller were stripped...it always ran hot but never popped (temps actually did just right after replacing the impeller). I'm also really partial to the whole engine being a stressed part of the frame.

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It's actually very rigid and with good tires, even on those old comstars, it handled REALLY well. I trailed a couple of GSXR's through the mountains on the aforementioned Cripple Creek trip and they absolutely walked away like I wasn't moving any time the roads were remotely straight....but I kept seeming to catch up with them every time the road turned. I also had to sand and repaint that bottom pipe half a dozen times...

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It's a look, feel, and sound I like...but, honestly, I believe a lot of that is my familiarity with the bike and my memories of when I was a little younger, faster, and stronger. I do know I traded that bike for a GS750 because I thought a little more power would make me "happy" and I have never been happy with my bike since haha

Now there is a lot about the XS that I like, too...a big air cooled lump that makes about the same power, chain drive is a lot easier to convert (because whatever I get will be running modern alloys), and it's got a HUGE aftermarket. I really think that my biggest hangup on going after the XS is I'll feel a touch guilty when I go to chop the thing up...

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But after I sell the wheels, forks, seat, bars, clocks, and other such stuff I'll be able to recoup a lot of my investment. Basically a free bike. Hard to turn down a free bike. The wheels, swingarm, shock, forks, etc I'll be using are already on hand. It'll just be a matter of sorting out however which way I go with the charging system and paint/prep/seat subframe stuff. Hoestly it's the exact same work as I'll go through with the CX...minus converting the swingarm (unless I can find a smoking deal on BMW GS swingarm/wheel)...but CX parts don't sell worth a damn lol. Between their rarity and poor market for parts I'll probably be considerably deeper financially in the CX.
 
The XS is very flexible to build. The motor looks good in choppers, bobbers, cafe, trackers etc. Plenty of parts and knowledge to do just about anything. A small 8c lithium battery can be easily hidden and is enough to run the estart. Kick only is also a viable option, run a battery as they are better than a capacitor.

Pma is a good upgrade and common. A sh775 reg/rec from a polaris is a good upgrade for the PMA, rather than shunting excess power to ground it shuts down phases of the stator, letting it all run cooler.

Plenty of power to have fun, if you want more a 700 or 750 big bore is available ready to bolt on. Ex500 carbs are a good upgrade over stock without the tuning issues of the round slides.

It's a bike you can do about anything to. My tracker is rephased, monoshock, big piston forks, 17s, EFI, and more. The one in the back is lowered 2" in front, 1.5" stretch swingarm, back half of a tank turning into a seat pan, 19" rear to match the front.
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Too good a bike to chop up, there is no point in starting with a whole bike. Find an engine and frame and add the rest. That's the way to build a chopper.
You could build a nice Robert;s replica or tracker with it.
 
Brent said:
Too good a bike to chop up, there is no point in starting with a whole bike. Find an engine and frame and add the rest. That's the way to build a chopper.
You could build a nice Robert;s replica or tracker with it.
Click to expand...

I'm not a huge fan of cutting it up. That's really my hesitation. I wouldn't feel bad about chopping up a CX500 :/
 
I think it's 190mm for the swingarm pivot width. But I can't remember and have no way to measure now.

Chop it up if you feel like it. Without an in person inspection you can't even tell if it's worth putting back to stock. From the pic sidecover is broken, seat might be missing, can't tell howthe tank looks inside.
 
Two different swingarm pivot widths on XS frames. Make sure you get his gen frame, if you really intend to do that. Radian is a good swap for the older frame. GS1100 is an alloy swingarm and near fit for the earlier frame, too I'm pretty sure.
 
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He says he has the seat, no title, tank is in good shape. It's a guy who collects the things (he might even be a member). I'll probably make my offer and see what happens...if it pans out okay I'll go that road, if not I'll keep looking for the CX.

7 1/2" is pretty tight...I'm reading it's somewhere between 7 1/2 and 8 1/2 depending on years. Going to make widening the frame a requirement to get the wheel I want. Oh well...bridges to be crossed when the time comes.
 
74 was a good year. 447 motor/frame which is the same as later XS650s. The electric start is marginal, the carbs suck, charging system is probably the worst ever created in Japan and it vibrates like an out of balance cement mixer. Fix those things and it's an OK bike!
 
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