It seemed like such a good idea at the time

[triangleforge]

Along with all the other projects & stuff in the garage, now there is this: A pair of Yamaha XS650s and a couple of spare engines, and three crates of starters, stators, clutches, cranks and other bits:



The plan, if you can call it that, is to build up the better one (with the motocross front tire - ? - on the left in the photo) into something interesting and fairly easy to sell, use that $$$ to pay off the minimal investment I've got in the bikes so far plus the cash to build the second, rougher one into a bike to keep. Probably a scrambler-ish thing that's substantially lightened up & with and updated electrical system but not much else in the way of mods to go explore the hundreds of miles of forest service road that start just a few blocks from my house, and just be a fun, around-town bike.

As for what to build with the first one, I'm currently leaning toward a brat, since this is a real cruiser town so I don't think a cafe build will be that easy to sell, but I can't bring myself to cut off a perfectly adequate rear suspension and make it a hardtail. This is the idea:

Monstercraftsman Brat Kit Install xs650

Or it might be most efficient just to take the stock bike, clean it up & get it running well & sell that.

The best laid plans and all that...

[JohnEE]

I like when knobbys are thrown on bikes they have no business being on. Good luck with the builds!

[accrocker]

A scrambler would be endless fun in your neck of the woods! Good luck with the build Brad, shoot me an email if you get hung up on anything, I've got some friends in the industry who might be able to help out.

Cheers,
Adam

[Kev M]

Why not build the nicer one into what you want and just part out the rest to pay for it all?

[Pedro-bot]

I have no suggestions to add here.

Just want to say that I've always thought the XS650 motor to be one of the best looking and aesthetically pleasing motors to see on a naked bike. 

Good luck with your build.

[ducpainter]

Flat Tracker...

that is all...

[triangleforge]

Spent some more time digging into the bikes & parts today to get an assessment of just what's there. The roughest one is a 1980 Special II, and the other is a 1978 Special. I'm a tad disappointed, as the Specials were more cruiser-oriented (a 16" rear wheel mounted with a wider tire being the most notable difference I can find so far, as opposed to an 18" on the standard). Sounds like the swingarm is the same between the two bikes, so that's an easy swap of rear wheels if needed.

Kev M raises a good point - I'm trying to come up more info on a few different paths: 1) simply part out the 1980, 2) get it running & titled and sell it as rough but running, or 3) put a little more money into it with the intention of turning it into something somewhat more valuable. There's an active market in XS650 parts on Ebay, but i can't tell yet whether it's robust enough from a seller's perspective to make parting it out more profitable than trying to sell it as a complete, running bike.

As for the keeper, it's definitely going to wind up somewhere in the Scrambler/Flat Tracker mold.

Appears it's time to go introduce myself and spend some time on the XS650.com forums.

[DucDucGoos]

Those are definitely cool bikes! My bf has done an awesome bobber out of one. I'l
l have to have him post up some pics for inspiration

Also I've always loved the street tracker look!



I have a 75 rd350 I wish I could turn into a cafe racer, but it's just too nice and original to mess with!

[triangleforge]

^ This.

[1.21GW]

Thread title always reminds me of this: