Oh, I lurve it

Something similar was posted to ukrmc earlier....

I have just acquired a mint Yamaha XS650, US model, in Custom trim.

Utterly original, runs *wonderfully*. Mine for a monkey. Unbelievable.

Plan was to out it for a tidy profit, but I so love these bikes that I
want to keep it.

So.....I'm flogging my recently-acquired GPz550 instead.

1990 GPz550, all original in black with orange decals, apart from a
Laser 4-1, 46,000 miles, bloody clean, runs like silk, does 125mph and
damn near 60mpg (not at the same time, obviously), good consumables, t&t
until the end of the year. Extras include fork gaiters and a rack.

The engine's great. No rattles, no rumbles, no smoke. Quite a few spares
to go with it (complete rear suspension, if you want, plus all sorts of
odds & sods). There's no play in the rear monoshock and I've just
cleaned up the calipers and got them working properly. Oh, and I've also
just changed the oil and filter.

A very, very minor misting from the right-hand side of the head gasket
if you cane it. Enough to put some oil mist on the no.4 carb - not
enough to oil your right leg. If I was being fussy I'd change the head
gasket - indeed, I was planning to do so some time this autumn. And some
of the fasteners (wheel nut, chain adjusters) are rusty.

I've done over 1000 miles on it since I bought it - it's a good GPz.
Perfect winter hack.

Yours for ukp600, which is what it owes me. No offers. Otherwise it goes
on Fleabay. SW London area.

 

The Older Gentleman said...

And it'll last for ever, what with those with roller bearing camshafts
and all.

 

On Sat, 15 Oct 2005 19:48:52 +0100,

Having owned both I'd go for the Kawasaki. The XS650 has a lovely
engine but in that US model it really suffers because of the wanky
wheel sizes and the rubber mounted handlebars. ISTR the bars flexing
about 25mm each side of a centre line when the rubber mounts were worn
and that just doesn't help an already bad handling bike.

If you ever come across an XS2 going for a stupid price and don't want
it for yourself then feel free to punt it in my direction because I'm
sure they can't really have handled as badly as I remember.

 

Yes, you're right.

But the Kawasaki is just a whizzer , albeit a nice whizzer, and the XS
is....

I was going to say they *never* sell for cheap money, but then I got
this one, so perhaps they do crop up from time to time.

 

On Sat, 15 Oct 2005 19:48:52 +0100,

Must. Resist.
I've already got a perfect winter hack.
Must. Resist.

 

If it's a US import[1] the con rods are different, it's more of a
stroker than the UK version, the alternator is also different.

The carbs are also different to the UK version and the tank has the
mounting rubbers C cups the other way round. Clutch is also different.

You can tell by the absence of a cross tube by the front engine
mounting.

[1] I assume it's a US import not the' XS650 US' which was a slightly
different version to the Special or Custom.

Days spent down with Tony at Halco Tuning taught me quite a bit on
these bikes. I love them.

--

http://Borg.no-ip.com

XJ900 Trike GS850 Trike

Some people are like slinkys....
no real use but it makes you smile when they fall down stairs!

 

What's the seat height like, from a small (5'3") female perspective.

'Hog

 

If you ever come across an XS2 punt it in my direction because I'm

Oh yes they did. they were fucking evil!!
(Not as bad as a kwak triple though)

Dave

 

Probably not worth it. My Z500, My brothers Z550 used to do it all the
time as well. They all do that sir.

 

****. I want it. No available cash, I'm afraid (

--
Lesley
CBR600FW
SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster)
BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12
BONY#54P BOB#18
Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally

 

http://www.aldertons.com/money.htm

 

The Older Gentleman was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

*jpeg*

CIHAGM?

 

Yup, I knew that. Pistons, too. You can mount US pistons on UK rods, but
not the other way around. or maybe it *is* the other eay around.

Didn't know that.

That doesn't surprise me at all.

Big deal.

But the UK plates and springs fit.

It is.

You & me both.

 

I never rode an XS1 or XS2, but I've heard the stories. And I've owned
an H1, so I know all about lethal handling.

 

Low. Our neighbour, who's into bikes, letched at it, and his missus
(ditto) straddled it. She's about that height, and pointed out that she
was on tiptoe on both sides, but then she was wearing bedroom slipper.

 

You buying or selling?

 

Later today

Sure

 

(The Older Gentleman) wrote in

I didn't think the H1 was *that* bad (I've owned an A and a B). It
wasn't good and the way the frame used to seem to 'wobble' when you
applied max throttle was amusing but I still don't think it was lethal.

I've ridden worse- a K100 with fucked rear shock (lost all oil) and
knackered head races was a more entertaining ride than the H1. My
Suzuki Hustler also seemed worse than the H1 or at least I fell off it
more often.

 

message

Hmm I'll be back in the UK around Tuesday.
What's the seat height on the XS650 like? and does it vibrate badly,
as is my memory of them.

'Hog

 

This one is remarkably smooth, actually. All the things like bars, seat,
pegs etc are rubber mounted. Well, soddit, I've stuck it on Fleabay,
starting 7pm tonight.

Pix here: www.chateau.murray.dsl.pipex.com/Ebay/XS650.4.jpg

and .5.jpg