Manky Monkey Motors

After seeing Andy's engraving, what should pop up on ebay but a couple of bits for an XS650

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-XS650-Engraved-CNC-Alternator-Stator-Generator-Cover-XS-Chop-Cafe-Engine-/121595800397?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item1c4facab4d

..... and a 'few' engine bits too, finishes around 11am on Thurs 19th March


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-XS-650-ENGINE-PARTS-SIDECAR-CROSS-CHOP-BOBBER-/251876431988?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item3aa5015874

Good grief!

Bidding ended at £560

The price came up on my Ebay feed in dollars, but the parts were in Aldershot.

There's a XS650 engine up for grabs with an 840cc Halco conversion ending 29 Feb, 2016 15:18:33 GMT.

mmmm, 840cc should tramp on pretty nicely............  ;D

Starting price £1000

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-xs650-engine-with-Halco-840-big-bore-conversion-/262302410101?hash=item3d12712575:g:ZZEAAOSwB4NWyxmO

Pretty, but out of my price range & I definitely don't need any more projects!

Had an 840 25 years ago .....bugger to kick over at first ....

January 2018.

Couple of re-built (photo documented) XS650 engines have come up on ebay

First one at £1650 says  "FULLY STRIPPED AND REBUILT XS650 WITH THE BIG BORE KIT, (770)...NOT 707...NEW BITS INCLUDE 81MM JE FORGED PISTONS, NEW LINERS,  NEW TIMING CHAIN&GUIDE, UPGRADED OIL STRAINER, CLUTCH PLATES, OIL SEALS AND GASKETS, TIMING CHAIN ADJUSTING ROD AND SPRING, 90% ALL NEW BOLTS ETC...VALVES LAPPED IN AND LEAK TESTED, ALL A1...MORE DETAILS CONTACT WAYNE ON 07-97-977-43-41.....I WILL BE ADDING A LINK TO SHOW THE ENGINE RUNNING....THANKS.......THE CARBS AND PMA SYSTEM ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SALE...."

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XS650-707-REBUILT-ENGINE-ENGINE-RUNNING-AT-https-youtu-be-SbT73ogbBy4/112695713388?hash=item1a3d301e6c:g:FCcAAOSwyYFaDuPM



The second one at £1450 says "FULLY STRIPPED AND REBUILT XS650 ENGINE.... 82 HERITAGE ENGINE... REBORED OUT TO 707CC....NEW BITS, PISTON KITS AND REBORED...TIMING CHAIN, VALVE SHIMS, CLUTCH PLATES, OIL VIEWING GLASS, LOTS OF NEW HARDWARE, GASKETS, OILSEALS AND CLUTCH PUSH ROD.....CASH OR BANK TRANSFER PLEASE, NO PAYPAL UNLESS YOU PAY THERE FEE....MORE INFO CONTACT WAYNE ON 07-97-977-43-41....THANKS...."

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XS650-707-REBUILT-ENGINE-ENGINE-RUNNING-AT-https-youtu-be-SbT73ogbBy4/112695713388?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D49130%26meid%3D11e3ac5eb01e4e48a18b26e673369750%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D112701169558&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Seeing Sir Manky’s thread on his XS650 and the price mentioned/offered recently, thought I’d have a look through the XS650s up for sale on ebay, and spotted this roadster up for grabs at £2650.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-XS-650-D-1977/223006644526?hash=item33ec3b592e:g:iBsAAOSwrptbFuxP

It looks like quite a tidy 1977, single disc model with very low stated mileage.


The spoked wheel ‘roadsters’ (esp UK models as opposed to USA imports) appear to be becoming rarer these days.
They’re roughly speaking about 50% less than a Triumph 650/750 parallel twin, so it can be argued its a way in to lumpy vintage biking at a budget, and the good news is prices appear (from what I’ve seen anyway so don’t quote me) to be holding their own over the years (poss increasing a tad?). Get the right age machine and it could have free road tax, and be MoT exempt too (bearing in mind the “significantly changed’ caveat), as well as being eligible for classic insurance.

The early Yamaha XS1 & XS2s (XS650 forerunner) continue to show a distinct premium on the prices asked vs the later XS models, and over the years appear (to me) to be increasing.
The later SE ‘factory customs’ (which have cast wheels) still appear fairly common as do Chops if the number up for grabs on ebay is an indication.

There’s a degree of irony in that the number of chops and flat-trackers made from XS650 donor bikes has allowed ‘original’ bikes to become rarer and hence more collectable, and with some folk now preferring the original / un-restored machines, the phrase “its only original once” can be heard a lot more nowadays than say 10+ years ago.

That's s lovely example.