Manky's XS650 Yamaha

[Manky Monkey]

This one's VooDoo's fault! He posted the link to it on Ebay in the For Sale bit of the forum.
Just driven half way across the country in a rented van to pick up this little jewel from sunny Lancashire.
A 1980 Yamaha XS650 SE.
The "factory custom" version of the XS. Came with pullback bars, (similar to these but lower), smaller tank, stepped seat & cast wheels. This one has a 2009 tax disc so has presumably been ridden in the last year or so. Looking a bit sorry for itself, but it's got potential.
The clutch & throttle were disconnected & the chain's hanging off, so not rideable, but after 10 minutes of jump starting from a battery pack & spraying bucketloads of "EasyStart" down the carb mouths, it finally fired up & didn't sound too bad. It came with 3 plastic buckets full of odds & ends, some of which might actually belong to this bike.
 

[Manky Monkey]

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[voodoo]

Superb project when and if you ever get the time lol....Voodoo....

[Manky Monkey]

I just grabbed it while it was there. No huge rush to build it -I'll put it in the shed & just tinker with it when I feel like it.
The plan is to build a low budget bobber/chop.
Cut the back off the frame & hardtail it, stretching the arse end a few more inches. Maybe rake the front end out slightly once it's sitting lower at the back. A Harley Sportster tank & sprung solo saddle. Short rear guard. Strip & polish the aluminium wheels. Add gaiters to the fork legs. Flat bars. Standard position footpegs. Long straight high level exhausts down the lefthand side. Gloss black frame & a big bucket of gold metalflake on the tank & guards.
Just something to blat around on on sunny days.
It was on Ebay with a Buy It Now price of £795. I made an offer of 600 & we agreed on 650. It wasn't in a rideable condition though & only seemed to run on a constant stream of Easy Start, (actually the can was called "Start Ya Bastard"!). Might just be out of fuel, who knows. The battery's dead or the charging circuit's not working cos there was no power there at all other than the Jump Start thingy.
So we settled on 600 quid. Less than 2 week's wages.

[Manky Monkey]

I'm seriously thinking of going "legit" & putting it in for the SVA registration test once I've cut & reworked the frame. Don't know anything about the bike test so will look into it & see what's involved.
That "sissy bar" & ape hangers have gotta go!

[Manky Monkey]

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[Manky Monkey]

Bars & backrest binned. Lookin' better already!
I'll strip it down, cut the back off the frame, then start mocking up the look I'm after.
Not taking precendence over all the other projects, just something different to play with. 

[tbone]

Will you never learn! 
On the plus side though, its nice to have "something different" to do every now n then, i find it can kick start a struggling interest in whats allready going on.
Andy, if you are getting rid of the bars, i`ll happily swap them for a few quid with you 

[Clive]

 

[TwistedPatience]

Measure up the sissy bar an if it's wide enough I'll buy it off you (providing you want to sell that is)

[voodoo]

Ha ha so its all my fault!!!!!...So could it be you who is smiting me into oblivion? lol.....Hope you got it for a good price in the end.......Voodoo.....

[tazet]

The guy wanted over 700 quid for it but because of the state and condition of it Manky managed to knock him down to 600 and it was paid cash on the spot. Have sent him a text with all your requests for the bits and yes they will not be going back on so they will be up for grabs. Will measure the sissy bar in a bit for ya Doc and when he took it off one of the mounting tabs broke or atleast was already broken but should be able to re weld it back on.

[BikerGran]

What was that about getting the Pop finished before the rules change..................   

[nabsim]

If Twisted decides he doesn't want the cissy bars then if you are willing to post to me let me know and I can either send cheque of Paypal if you prefer.

[Cabman77]

bugger, Tbone beat me to the apes