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There's mention of evolution of the front end on this bike. I could be wrong, but that front end looks to be from a CBR 600F2, which is most likely done specifically for the reasons you mention -- dual disk, stiffer forks and better internals. It's just not factory stuff. Very similar to the popular swap of the front end of Suzuki SV650 for a GSXR fork and wheel.

What's the manufacturer of the CR carbs, Mikuni or Keihin?

Learned something new here. Thanks guys

The 1200 wing is rad! Digital dash and countless buttons ring my nostalgia bell.

I own a 75 860 GT (identical to this) and a 77 Guzzi LeMans. The LeMans is a complete hot rod, in comparison. The 860 is kind of gutless for what it is and the Lafranconi exhausts are pretty weak on the Ducati but sound like pure bliss on the Guzzi. If you can't afford Contis, I highly suggest a set up bub mufflers. They're Conti replicas you can snag for a few hundred bucks. Same sound, same quality.

C'mon, someone's gotta say it....

What! No cigarette wrapper between the points.

The lean angle would I'm sure feel super vague as tires are quite specifically fit to rim width. Its a shame that motorcycle tires are so damn expensive, I appreciate having super soft compound on my sport bike, but there should in theory be a less expensive longer lasting tire out there. I've looked at Chinese\Indian motorcycle tires, the value is good there, but they only come in small sizes as thats all they really sell there. (no 120/70/17 or 160-200 rears etc)

i have 4 of these in my garage right now. Originally equipped with 2.5 inch single disc front wheel. Stock hp was around 55 hp, power delivery very friendly. the real reason the sv was more popular was the 74 hp and stock dual discs.

A real cult classic I've owned in the past . That fork set-up is way over done and besides making it very unstable at high speed in contributes to dragging hard parts .

Sad thing is back in the early 1970's Vincents were in that almost worth nothing catagory and I could have bought one from my fathers friend it was in boxes under his house of what ifs if we only knew ahat things would be worth in the future but that also applied to the BSA C15 T factory trials bike that I had andd the Norton Mercury the last of the featherbeds and they only made 438 of those. In a similar vein the BSA and Velocette and Harley Importers back then had pretty much the last of the Velocette Thruxtons made up for Australia some 24 came to Australia and one went to Sweden these differed from the normal thruxton because Velocette then in it's death throes could not sell them because they could not source the normal Magnetos they usually fitted and so Burling and Simmonds persuaded them to fit them with a coil and points ignition system making these the rarest Vellocette with the exception of some of the factory race bikes, I have found even the English Velocette specialists were unaware of these particular bikes That is why I have collected as much information as I can I have workshop manuals from Adler and AJS and Aprillia all the way through to Zundapp as well as when I can factory service bulletins that touch on things like overfilling Suzuki T 500 gearboxes so they do not seize a gear on the output or countershaft. As well I have collected as many copies of things like period aftermarket fitting instructions as I see that information as being so valuable we as Motorcycle enthusiasts cannot afford it to be lost to the annals of time. Most of these are in PDF format some I have scanned others downloaded of the internet and many of the sites are no longer with us so if for instance you need something I probably have it such as all the BMW service Bulletins from the sixties thrugh to the 2000's as I am a qualified BMW Master Tech among other things

Aw nuts!

As you say, 2 great bikes which I was lucky enough to remember when they were first launched, and I thought (and still think) they were fab. You made me laugh a little with the slight but pregnant pause when you deliberately avoided using the word gorgeous to describe the K1 😑 Cheers!

I had a 72 tiger single carb. Triumph nice bike I liked the sound as you went thru the gears I wished it had one more gear 6 speed maybe. !!

Try some tribex in the motor

Strobe... Muscle Bike

Had a 67 Bonneville 650. Wish I had it now!

I had a blue '76. Great ride around town & canyon cruising. You could really toss it around. Hit the brakes hard & the rear drum wanted to lock up when the weight transferred. No biggie, it wasn't that effective anyway. It would do an honest 100 but it took a while. It did vibrate enough to discourage touring.

I had two Yamaha 650's during this time frame. I put a lot of miles on them. They were reliable but not very fast. Today in my stable is a FJ-09 and a ZX6R. So even in my seventies I'm still addicted to speed.

Lol my freind had a 80 dark blue. I rode it classic old school British clone. But actually ran good. Just a fun bike.

I have a 1966 R50/2 in my junk pile with a blown engine. It was a dog on the highway, but made a very good trail bike. 😂

I like it. Nice looking shop dog too!

Sad to see that sort of decay on a modern classic. I owned 2 Ventures back in the day. Great bikes

You really need a tweed sport coat, leather driving gloves, flat top hat & be smoking a long stem pipe to ride this bike properly & I'm olde enough to remember folks who did....

I remember these. The front and rear wheels were identical, including the splines for the shaft drive

In 1970 I was having a hard time choosing between this and a BSA 650 Thunderbolt. I went with the Thunderbolt.

I would love to own that!

Can you save me a calendar, Sayre? I’ll need to replace the 2024 one that I have. I’ll order it as soon as you make it available, but you did ask in the video for us to shout out if we want one.

Do you if or when the BMW R100S might be for sale?

The bike vibrated slightly less than a paint shaker as did most parallel twins did at the time (European and Japanese).Honda's 450 was also vibrated badly at the time. Kawasaki two strokes triples were pretty buzzy too. I guess all these bikes were smoother in comparison to BSA 441.

I had that exact model, bought it from a private pilot that was moving up to a turbo Kawasaki 750. Rode it for 7 years year round in southern New Mexico. Ate batteries and the constant velocity carburetors were prone to holes in the diaphragm make them run like s#*%!

Surprised by the positive comments. Met a rider that had one all hopped up for power who believed it was a total pos, he was told by a dealership that some got returned with parts carried in in a bucket

Mate bought that model new(Gold), within 3 months barrels came out due to high oil consumption.Later he had a drag with a Bonnie with me sitting behind both them in a Ford Falcon over 1/4 mile,Bonnie went over the line about 10-15 yards ahead.

So wish Yamaha had resurrected the XS650 in modern times if they could meet emission regs. I cant follow the sheep to RE.

Surprised to hear they don't handle well. So much commonality appearance wise with R5 and RD 350; which handles amazing. Agreed replace plastic swing bushes. Tapered head bearings help much too !

I bought a ‘72 XS2 in March 1972 to replace my ‘64 A65 Thunderbolt. I loved the Yamaha and would likely still be riding it now if BMW had not come out with the R90S. I traded the Yam for a new 1975 R90S in November 1975 and it’s still in use today. As good as the Beemer is, it took several thousand miles before I was convinced that it was better than the 650. It clearly is but I really regret having to lose the Yamaha in the deal.

Those were popular and sold well here in Washington state,now people want them for bobbers.

The bike is nice and super clean. That dog, though…

I bought an orange and black XS2 from a friend when he bought a 1976 model. I fitted 725cc Omega pistons with oversized Amal mk2 carbs and a Dunstall silencer system. After riding his old bike my friend regretted selling it to me!

One of my all-time favorite motorcycles. I love the 1972-1973 Yamaha 650's.

it looks like a big as3 2 struke

I owned one of these in the early 80’s. Also owned multiple Brit twins around that time. Imho, CS 650’s are the ultimate classic era bike to actually ride. That said, once I bought my first Moto Guzzi 850 Lemans around ‘83 or so, all the old parallel twins went bye bye. There’s really no comparison. The lemans made those parallel twins feel like little pop guns.

Good Video. I Always Liked That Bike. You Know, I Thought It Had Electric Start, Though. Thank You. (Like #47 - Comment #8)

Probably the most reliable, rugged and well-designed 650 parallel twin of all time.

Bought 72 brand new. Took it to drag strip, trophiesd. Minnesota winter took it completely apart and custom painted. In 73 , wife and I rode it to west coast and put 2.5 k miles on it. Fun trip and started my love for open road on a Mc. This year was 50th anniversary for me going to Sturgis and my first was on my xs650.

Had a stock 77, fun bike. The Handling was nonexistent for my 190Ib body. Yes every mod was done to the suspension, the frame swingarm flex way too much. I did improve it but she had to go!

Perhaps the most handsome of the Xs series. I've restored several of these for clients over the years. One reason you see so many 72's was I believe it was the most produced model year... over 30000 units. The Xs1 and Xs1b, 1970-71.. were faster than later models. Braking and handling were terrible on these early units. I still have 3 in my stable, 1970 (first year) 1975 Police and 1982. Bar Bet : This Xs is the only model year that had the brake rotor attached to the fork... not the wheel 😎

Good and reliable machines. I've worked on more than my share.

Traded into XS650 & loved it. "Fast" or slow, always started, ran fine, did all the things. Even brought home a store bought frozen turkey for Thanksgiving dinner on the 6 pack rack....

11.8.24. ☝🏼”The best British🇬🇧 bike … the British did not build”🇯🇵 🤔I believe they were a long rod motor until 1973 or through 1973 model year⚠️