Beautiful bike, I a week ago bought my first bike, 1978 Yamaha XS650 Special. Great condition but I, like you am putting my own touches on it. Have bought a bunch of parts and your vids have been a wealth of knowledge (and anxiety worrying about how much work I might have with clutch/petcock valves). It's been a blast working on it and can't wait to get more parts in!
Thank you. I wanted to keep it as original as possible. The shorter stalks are a nice clean look. I didn't want any modern led lights. Once these were on Im really glad I went with them.
I just bought a 1979 XS 650 that has been a garage Queen for 9 years. Motor has been totally rebuilt by Hughs Handbuilt in NC. with 750 jugs. It has 34 mm miknai carbs. It runs great except start ups because the hi rev choke system must be gunked with old fuel. Busy now but i can send you some photos. anti vibration handle grips info: Vibranator. Handlebar vibration reduction technology. 9 years ago they were $110.oo
Wau! I absolutely love that your back after a few years. I've been wondering what happened to you project. What you have achieved is so absolutely beautiful and well done. Respect! You solution on the petcocks made me wonder. I'm rebuilding a 1982 special. And I have problems with the vacuum pets. I've ordered and was thinking to go with oldstyle and simple on off, no vacuum pets. After your explanation on your carb setup I wonder if my idea is somewhat bad and I should stay with and repair the old vacuums. Do you have any thoughts on that? Again respect to your great build.
Very tasteful, creative build. Very evident you've put a lot of thought into each area of the bike. Is your headlight shell the stock unit? It looks slightly larger in OD, and the L/R mount brackets appear to have been formed to accommodate the extra width. I inherited an '81 with an 8" shell and stock brackets which awkwardly splay out.
Thanks for the compliment. That is the stock headlight with the stock brackets. This was a 78 special. Only trick I pulled with the headlight brackets was swapped them upside down to lower the light to make room for my speedo. Probably one thing I overlooked that is small issue is the location of the key. Oh and the rear suspension rides like a hard tail even adjusted all the way to soft. Bike lost a lot of weight. Kinda wish I didn't shave the left caliper mounts off the forks so I could run second front caliper. Stopping power kinda weak from my other bikes. Gotta add more distance with these brakes.
I got that on ebay. I looked to try and find it in my order history. I can tell you it is custom hand made from a guy in Thailand. It was actually good quality I was lil worried. I had seat redone the vinal wasn't the best. But the fiberglass was great. I think I have the box it was shipped in down in basement.
Beautiful bike, I a week ago bought my first bike, 1978 Yamaha XS650 Special. Great condition but I, like you am putting my own touches on it. Have bought a bunch of parts and your vids have been a wealth of knowledge (and anxiety worrying about how much work I might have with clutch/petcock valves). It's been a blast working on it and can't wait to get more parts in!
I thought the short stalk turn signals would be a subtle visual change, but they really contribute to decluttering the bike aesthetic.
Thank you. I wanted to keep it as original as possible. The shorter stalks are a nice clean look. I didn't want any modern led lights. Once these were on Im really glad I went with them.
Very nice 👍 a labor of love 💕
I just bought a 1979 XS 650 that has been a garage Queen for 9 years. Motor has been totally rebuilt by Hughs Handbuilt in NC. with 750 jugs. It has 34 mm miknai carbs. It runs great except start ups because the hi rev choke system must be gunked with old fuel. Busy now but i can send you some photos. anti vibration handle grips info: Vibranator. Handlebar vibration reduction technology. 9 years ago they were $110.oo
Wau! I absolutely love that your back after a few years. I've been wondering what happened to you project. What you have achieved is so absolutely beautiful and well done. Respect! You solution on the petcocks made me wonder. I'm rebuilding a 1982 special. And I have problems with the vacuum pets. I've ordered and was thinking to go with oldstyle and simple on off, no vacuum pets. After your explanation on your carb setup I wonder if my idea is somewhat bad and I should stay with and repair the old vacuums. Do you have any thoughts on that? Again respect to your great build.
Get yourself a set of mikunis, jet them correctly and you'll never look back, that's my advice anyway...
Like i said before very nice indeed i think i would change front mudguard that one looks too heavy
Very tasteful, creative build. Very evident you've put a lot of thought into each area of the bike. Is your headlight shell the stock unit? It looks slightly larger in OD, and the L/R mount brackets appear to have been formed to accommodate the extra width. I inherited an '81 with an 8" shell and stock brackets which awkwardly splay out.
Thanks for the compliment. That is the stock headlight with the stock brackets. This was a 78 special. Only trick I pulled with the headlight brackets was swapped them upside down to lower the light to make room for my speedo. Probably one thing I overlooked that is small issue is the location of the key. Oh and the rear suspension rides like a hard tail even adjusted all the way to soft. Bike lost a lot of weight. Kinda wish I didn't shave the left caliper mounts off the forks so I could run second front caliper. Stopping power kinda weak from my other bikes. Gotta add more distance with these brakes.
Could you do a plexiglass shield for the back tire...
love the seat and rear cowl where did you get them , custom?
I got that on ebay. I looked to try and find it in my order history. I can tell you it is custom hand made from a guy in Thailand. It was actually good quality I was lil worried. I had seat redone the vinal wasn't the best. But the fiberglass was great. I think I have the box it was shipped in down in basement.
hey man, nice vid! have a question what did you use for the smaller air inlets above the air filter? what sizes?
You lost me at smaller. Only modification I made to the carbs was jetting. After jetting and balancing the carbs it's been running great.