Yamaha XS650 Forum Forum

A cathartic experience:

I have a '73 and every few stops, when I down-shift to 1st, the bike won't roll backwards with the clutch fully disengaged. Sometimes it will roll a foot or so, sometimes it locks up immediately, but when it does, it's firm. And, it's not every time, it's sporadic. Any ideas?

I had to take the photo sensors off the adjusting board because the screw bosses were broken off. I guess due to age heat and no telling what else. Are you steel JB weld and it seems to be holding pretty well. And I have a pretty good idea of where they were to begin with, but it’s going to take some fine-tuning. I was wondering if anybody had the documentation for setting it up properly on a 277 rephrase.

Attended the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) with the main intention of watching the air show. The show ran about 3hrs & 40min. Not as much variety in aircraft like the good ole days but still entertaining. A few pics - first is a heritage flight with an F13; Hurricane; Spitfire and a Tudor jet. I missed getting pics of 3 beautiful P51 Mustangs. The next pics are of the Canadian Snowbirds - Tudor trainer jets. Finally a flyby with a Lancaster bomber, escorted by the Snowbirds... Read more

So what's happenin' in your psyche?

I will have available barebones harness kits for your XS650. Depending on the time of year the prices vary. Also depending on what configuration you want the prices will vary. So currently starting at $150 wiring harness with switches on a switch plate. I have several styles of boxes to choose from so the prices vary. The kit consists of a 3 position key ignition, kill switch, running lights, high and low beam, brake lights and a fuse box. I'll attach some photos in the following... Read more

This section deals with the '80 and newer A type regulator system. For '79 and earlier bikes, see comment #2. Comment #3 discusses using modern rectifiers. So, I've been getting quiet a few PM's lately about how I wired my reg/rec on the 80SG resto. I know there's a lot of info on this site already about this...but most of it's in comments and not in it's own thread... at least I haven't found one. So here's a thread to put all the info in one place. First up, the type 'A'... Read more

I have never been a "Harley" guy but an old flathead might be fun. There is babes and bikes. There is "Let's see the XSs". That is all good Many of our "Taste in Bikes" stems from previous marques. Is it OK to share interesting older bikes?

Terminator movies aside, I have always had rather deep rooted mistrust of AI. I just don’t feel that it’s healthy for computers to be “too smart”. Some will say that they will never be more than just a machine that follows its programming. But is it? Is it possible for a super computer or maybe a network of super computers to gain so much knowledge that it begins to think of itself as “self aware”? We program them to think like us, so is it such a stretch ,that it could actually begin to... Read more

Howdy Y’all After seeing some posts about motorcycle rally events happening around this time of year I thought I’d see if anyone near/local to St. Louis would like to do a meetup. I was considering trying to make it to one of Schlafly Bottle Works’ Classic Bike nights either on Sep 21 or Oct 19th(Perhaps both) Here’s the event page on their website https://www.schlafly.com/events/classic-bike-night If anyone in the area is interested in meeting up there let me know. I’ll do an... Read more

I am looking at Weds Sept 10 through Sat Sept with headquarters at Country Gardens Motel & Lounge. You can tell by the sign that this IS the place to stay this year. The motel will not "block" so you need to make reservations soon. They have no reservations for that week as of today. The riding is great in this area of Wisconsin. They have single queen and double queen rooms and a few other options. Make reservations at this site. Cgmotelandlounge.client.innroad.com

So despite the norda being ongoing, I picked up another project. A 1987 ysr50, it's currently ugly, and will be getting a few upgrades. Biggest is a zongshen 250cc counterbalanced 6 speed, next will be grom wheels with a brake upgrade. Debating grom or z125 forks with a better rear shock.