Home Forums Gear Free Classifieds 1983 Yamaha XS 650 Heritage Special

1983 Yamaha XS 650 Heritage Special,
The list of new stuff is fairly long, but significant in that this bike is ready to go for the long haul.
Bronze swingarm bushings to replace the junk plastic ones. This eliminated the "hinge in the middle" feeling when cornering.
New chain and sprockets, with a 17 tooth countershaft sprocket replacing the 16 tooth stock sprocket, this helps reduce the vibration by lowering rpm, without much reduction in accelleration. These bikes only have 40hp anyway, so expecting it to pin your ears back is unrealistic.
New handlebars to replace the "ape hangers" that came on it, they were uncomfortable to say the least. These are 34" wide flat track bars and feel great if you are used to old time road bikes and dirt bikes.
KG rear trunk that quick releases with a key leaving a flat rear rack.
Repainted Pacific frame mount fairing with Halogen head light.
Brand new Pirelli Route 66 tires, you can see the tits (ahem...teats?) on the tread in the pics.These have about 30 miles on them and grip fantastic!
NGK Iridium spark plugs (@ $10ea.) that make it start easily and run clean, dyno tests have shown 2-3hp gain just from these plugs.
I bought new roller steering head bearings to replace the old ones, and these come with the bike.
Brand new battery
12444 miles
I was getting 58-60 mpg if riding smooth, 50mpg if cranking on it.

I think it's a bargain at $1100, but I'm willing to listen to trade offers and such!
I'm in Northern Lower Michigan, Grayling to be exact. I'd be willing to trailer the bike as far as the Southern border of Michigan to meet and deliver.

Mark

Good start for a street tracker, too bad ist's in such nice shape, LOL.

You can get those motors plenty healthy if you go 750 and a little breathing work.

HM

I'll let you in on a secret; I don't care what happens to it after I sell it.

There is lots that can be done with these to increase hp. but why? a bone stock 550 or 650 of later years like a Ninja or the like will walk away from even a heavily breathed on XS.

I think the beauty of these bikes is their classic looks, sound and economy.
I would keep this bike to ride to work and such, but I needed a bike that was more comfortable for two-up riding than this.
There is a BMW K100/RT now in the garage for that reason, and this one is taking up room in my limited storage, so it needs to go.

Mark