Manky's XS650 Yamaha

[Manky Monkey]

I also ordered a few parts that weren't in stock.
A 5 1/2" side mount Bates headlight -"nobody buys side mounts any more. They all go for bottom mounts". Not me. I'm keeping the original Yam yokes so will make some 6mm rod brackets to fit between the top & bottom yokes to hang the light on. I might cut down the Yam headlight brackets to make plain sleeves to cover the fork tubes between the yokes.

[Manky Monkey]

Also on the shopping list was a chrome mini speedo.
A pair of black rubber fork gaiters.
A pair of seat springs.
And a pair of bar-end indicators, though I'm not sure I'll use them yet.
I'd hoped to get some custom footpegs but all they stock for Jap bikes is the chrome & rubber "SunDance" style, which ain't really my thing. So I'll try to find some replacement rubbers for the original Yam pegs.
That little lot should give me enough to be able to get the bike into the frame jig PD & Loony made when it's available & start putting together the hardtail. 

[Manky Monkey]

Messing about in the shed again this evening-
new fork gaiters fitted. I wanted a short, chunky looking front end, rather than long skinny forks. I also tried the standard Yam chrome fork shrouds. Fitted upside down, they hold the side mount Bates headlight more or less where I wanted it, so I think I'll keep them. As always, I'm hoping to re-use or adapt as many original parts as possible on this build, partly to save money, but also cos I think it's kinda cool to give old parts a new lease of life. Re-cycling rules!

[Manky Monkey]

New solo saddle also propped in place. Not cheap, but just a bit different from the usual Highway Hawk ones & despite it's minimal padding, very comfy. It's slightly wider & longer than the Hawk ones & will sit on 3" "Hairpin" or "Scissor" springs.

[Manky Monkey]

I've had forward foot controls on chops before & always had problems with the long linking rods flexing or the footpeg mounts bending etc, so will be re-using the standard Yam footpeg/pedal set-up.

[Manky Monkey]

Rather than running a straight line from the headstock, right down to the rear wheel spindle, I'm going to mate the top seat rails to the bottom of the top tube an inch or 2 lower, so that when the seat's on, it'll flow from the back of the tank, rather than being perched up high above the frame.
Still planning on a gloss black powder-coated frame, with heavy gold 'flake tank & guards. I'll run 2 long straight, high level exhausts down this lefthand side, finishing level with the rear wheel spindle. Still looking for a pair of finned cylinder head exhaust clamps if anyone has any.

[tbone]

You had me fooled by the first picture, i thought you`d been a busy boy  .
Thats a nice looking mock up Andy.

[Manky Monkey]

You should know I don't work that fast Tim!
Waiting to use PD & Loony's home-made frame jig to build the hardtail, so just playing with ideas at the moment.

[Tony oily bike]

Mankey - I’m interested in the original tank if still up for grabs, maybe the clocks too.

Bike looks like it could be pretty cool when done, nice old lumps the XS650, the grass track sidecar boys take them out to silly sizes and they just hang together. For the solos, there’s a bit of bracing to stiffen up the area around the swing arm mount, and then the frame does the grass track (or American flat track) biz no sweat.


The site Archie mentioned on June 10 (www.xs650shop.de)
is a European outlet for a place in the States called Mikes XS. They do some replacement parts along with some nice goodies.
Mikes XS also have a place called Heiden Tuning (www.xs650.biz) in the Netherlands but it seems both the European site’s websites don’t  show all the stock that the US site shows (if that makes sense).

Am aware of a guy with a ‘76 650 with a 750cc 270 degree motor and spoked wheels making a street tracker, should be interesting.

Cheers all

Tony

[Manky Monkey]

Hiya Tony. I've got the clocks on the shelf in the shed, but the tank went to PD. He might well be up for selling it though.
I've had several XS650s before, but not for ...oooh, maybe 20 years. Just really fancied another one.

[voodoo]

If you want it ive got a mini chrome speedo in my parts shed..might even have the matching rev counter too?....Let me know...Voodoo....

[bitzman5]

MR Voodoo you must have a blooody big spares shed and a heart of gold

[voodoo]

The wife took pity on me last year as my workshop was filling up with spares.and got me a shed for the bottom of the garden that ive managed to move 90% of my spares too...trouble is its now full and I am thinking of a shed extension lol....Voodoo.....
oh and yep got the Rev counter to match...actually got 3 sets of each lol

[Archie]

Finned covers mate - eBay item 220645844392

[Manky Monkey]

Just what I'm looking for, thanks. Wonder if it's cheaper & easier to just order them from someone who stocks Drag Specialities parts? (hate bidding for stuff on Ebay -mind, you, our last 3 project vehicles have come from there).