When I bought my Yamaha I paid $400 from a guy at college. At times it was my only vehicle. I could put the sissy bar forward and bring my drywall tools. 5-gallon bucket 2-100 ft cords 4-foot level pair of stilts hardhat and lunchbox. Drove it at 10° when nothing else would start. Full choke kick start I almost wished it didn't it was so cold
They are pretty little reliable motorcycles. Years ago I worked for railroad up on stampede pass and it was always cold up there but the old motorcycle got me up and down . Thanks for watching.
Sir thank you for hard work and generosity sharing your knowledge with so many. Last time I rode a motorcycle was 1979 or 1980 and the bike was a 1973 XS 650. I decided I am bored and needed a project. XS is cool and always loved the look. Bought the 1981 xs 650 for $1100 yesterday. Not bad. Did a cold start. But it was to icy to ride. Seller showed us that it back fired on the stand.. Got it home and tried to start it, no juice. My neighbor found that one of the battery terminals was broken. I then saw that it had after market K&N style air filters and exhaust pipes were hollow, like maybe someone took the baffles out. Maybe the jetting was wrong for the after market intake and the modified exhaust ? I am treating this like a mini bike or go kart project.. Honda clones are the only things I ever worked on. Now if my back can hold out ....
I want to thank you for watching. I believe the next video is on wiring coming up. I will be doing a video on carbs shortly so that may help to. I thing to check is for vacuum leaks. Miyagi
I bought a 1982 650 heritage special. I ran great but would get hot in Dallas traffic so I went to a shop and bought an oil cooler. The directions were poor and I was told the shop did over a hundred. I stopped a technician and showed him the print. I said would you drill into the crankcase with these directions? No! I told the salesman to refund. I really wanted it but refused to drill a 3/4 pipe thread into the boss ? The bike ran fine I just drove around traffic jams.
Wow ! That answered all my questions thanks. With you having the special tools made up I thought that you must have built a few, 20 odd that’s impressive. Cheers Richie. Ps the military background shines through nicely.
I have several of from different publishers and I still haven't found one with everything you would need to know. I have been looking for an original shop manual to no success. So good luck, Miyagi
Hi the shaft totally snapped, when i took it apart the snapped section came out with the other rod both ball bearings and the push that would be on the clutch basket side, the only thing is that i didnt find the rest of the broken rod im guessing it fell in the street. i will try to send pics asap. Thank you
Hi there, I am fellow PNW'er.. just the inland version ha! I have already build my 76 xs650 in to a chopper a few years ago when I knew nothing about em. I never touched the engine though but last month when the wife told me she would never ride on my "death trap from mexico". My king and queen seat is rapped in a mexican blanket ha. I decided to rebuild the whole thing proper this time. Anyways could you make a video on how to dissemble the jugs from the crank case??? Never done it before and you have all the tips and tricks. I want to paint my case and jugs but have no idea how disabled the whole engine. In the videos it is already separated. It would very helpful.
Hi Brian, I've done a whole series of videos on the dismantling and reassembling of the XS650 motor just go to my youtube page and watch my on series "Ran when Parked". Thanks, Miyagi
@@outlaw86custom I just re-watched the entire series again to no avail. The crank case and top end are either together and you rotated it upside down (super cool) or they had been separated before the filming. In the parked when run series 😂 the bottom end and top end were already separated with the top end already in half... Unless I a completely missing a video which could most definitely be the case.
@@outlaw86custom no rush, Mr Miyagi. I just pulled the motor today. Still need to pull the front forks and everything still needs a deep clean. Two additional questions. First, in your opinion, on a full dismantle is it better to pull the jugs off first and then work on the crank case or vice vera? Secondly what parts are a good idea/need to replace? I bought a shift rebuilt kit, front end gasket kit, piston rings, 24 tooth 5th gear, and oil rings. I am just running on a paramedic salary and have made most of the tools from your tool video. Super cool btw.
Well most is just a bolt on kit but you'll need to upgrade the carburetors for the larger cylinders , flow track the head and is the cost worth it depends on what you are using the bike .
hello Sir, I love to fiddle around and have and got into clone mini bikes and go kart about 4 years ago. I figured an xs would be a good choice. I haven't ridden much and don't have an endorsement. I always like the xs look, being a triumph and norton admirer. I am fairly handy and have fixed my outboards looking at online schematics and parts list. Do you recommend a xs 650 ? I rode one once in 1979. I am leaning that way because they seen simple to work on and I can get historic plates. I will get a mc endorsement but don't plan to ride much more than around my area a several hundred miles a year. Do you think xs 650 is ok for a first and only rode bike for the guy who collects a little bit of everything ? i see a running 1981 for $1500. What should I look for to see if it is worth buying ? thank you
Hey thanks for watching the video. Yeah I love the old triumphs in Norton's too they're hard to find these days but for basically a pretty dependable older bike an xs650 pretty darn good. I would say that 1980 for $1,500 would be an excellent choice if it runs and it's not all beat up. Just remember all the old bikes have their surprises so buyer beware. Miyagi
You’re videos are very helpful. I’m building a ‘78 XS650 into a cafe racer and I’m putting the pieces back together. I have the engine out right now and it ran ok, aside from a carb rebuild that was needed, would you suggest any engine maintenance on these engines while I have it out? Thanks in advance if you can answer!
Have you had to crank apart if not, it's not necessary to weld the crank. Normally rephased flywheels are welded because of the torque ratio has changed. Miyagi
Live long Ole man, many share your interest!
Thanks and thanks for watching.
When I bought my Yamaha I paid $400 from a guy at college. At times it was my only vehicle. I could put the sissy bar forward and bring my drywall tools. 5-gallon bucket 2-100 ft cords 4-foot level pair of stilts hardhat and lunchbox. Drove it at 10° when nothing else would start. Full choke kick start I almost wished it didn't it was so cold
They are pretty little reliable motorcycles. Years ago I worked for railroad up on stampede pass and it was always cold up there but the old motorcycle got me up and down . Thanks for watching.
Sir thank you for hard work and generosity sharing your knowledge with so many.
Last time I rode a motorcycle was 1979 or 1980 and the bike was a 1973 XS 650. I decided I am bored and needed a project.
XS is cool and always loved the look.
Bought the 1981 xs 650 for $1100 yesterday. Not bad. Did a cold start. But it was to icy to ride. Seller showed us that it back fired on the stand.. Got it home and tried to start it, no juice. My neighbor found that one of the battery terminals was broken. I then saw that it had after market K&N style air filters and exhaust pipes were hollow, like maybe someone took the baffles out. Maybe the jetting was wrong for the after market intake and the modified exhaust ?
I am treating this like a mini bike or go kart project.. Honda clones are the only things I ever worked on. Now if my back can hold
out ....
I want to thank you for watching. I believe the next video is on wiring coming up. I will be doing a video on carbs shortly so that may help to. I thing to check is for vacuum leaks.
Miyagi
I bought a 1982 650 heritage special. I ran great but would get hot in Dallas traffic so I went to a shop and bought an oil cooler. The directions were poor and I was told the shop did over a hundred. I stopped a technician and showed him the print. I said would you drill into the crankcase with these directions? No! I told the salesman to refund. I really wanted it but refused to drill a 3/4 pipe thread into the boss ? The bike ran fine I just drove around traffic jams.
Yeah the xs650 runs a bit hot anyway if you are not moving air across the cylinders. Thanks for watching
Agreed, I've never heard anything but great reviews regarding Hugh's work...love this format too Steph, cheers mate.
Thanks
Wow ! That answered all my questions thanks. With you having the special tools made up I thought that you must have built a few, 20 odd that’s impressive. Cheers Richie. Ps the military background shines through nicely.
Thanks!
This is great mate keep these up!!
Thank you so much sir
Thanks to you both, I appreciate the videos. I have a xs650 project I've just picked up on a whim. I have no idea what I'm doing 😂🤷
Those are the best ones not knowing.... 😂
Thank you for your service Sir!!!...by the way, I am rebuilding an xs 650 for a bobber...need a good engine manual.
I have several of from different publishers and I still haven't found one with everything you would need to know. I have been looking for an original shop manual to no success.
So good luck,
Miyagi
Excellent video. Thank you Sir.
Thanks for sharing.
your great
Hi the shaft totally snapped, when i took it apart the snapped section came out with the other rod both ball bearings and the push that would be on the clutch basket side, the only thing is that i didnt find the rest of the broken rod im guessing it fell in the street. i will try to send pics asap. Thank you
Hi there, I am fellow PNW'er.. just the inland version ha! I have already build my 76 xs650 in to a chopper a few years ago when I knew nothing about em. I never touched the engine though but last month when the wife told me she would never ride on my "death trap from mexico". My king and queen seat is rapped in a mexican blanket ha. I decided to rebuild the whole thing proper this time. Anyways could you make a video on how to dissemble the jugs from the crank case??? Never done it before and you have all the tips and tricks. I want to paint my case and jugs but have no idea how disabled the whole engine. In the videos it is already separated. It would very helpful.
Hi Brian,
I've done a whole series of videos on the dismantling and reassembling of the XS650 motor just go to my youtube page and watch my on series "Ran when Parked".
Thanks,
Miyagi
@@outlaw86custom I just re-watched the entire series again to no avail. The crank case and top end are either together and you rotated it upside down (super cool) or they had been separated before the filming. In the parked when run series 😂 the bottom end and top end were already separated with the top end already in half... Unless I a completely missing a video which could most definitely be the case.
Brain,
I'll see what I can do. Now I do have one engine I could do a dismantle video . How soon would you need it?
Miyagi
@@outlaw86custom no rush, Mr Miyagi. I just pulled the motor today. Still need to pull the front forks and everything still needs a deep clean. Two additional questions. First, in your opinion, on a full dismantle is it better to pull the jugs off first and then work on the crank case or vice vera? Secondly what parts are a good idea/need to replace? I bought a shift rebuilt kit, front end gasket kit, piston rings, 24 tooth 5th gear, and oil rings. I am just running on a paramedic salary and have made most of the tools from your tool video. Super cool btw.
I would remove the cylinders & head off before splitting the cases.
What’s involved in doing a 750 cc conversation on the XS 650? Does the horsepower increase justify the cost for a recreational bike?
Well most is just a bolt on kit but you'll need to upgrade the carburetors for the larger cylinders , flow track the head and is the cost worth it depends on what you are using the bike .
hello Sir, I love to fiddle around and have and got into clone mini bikes and go kart about 4 years ago.
I figured an xs would be a good choice. I haven't ridden much and don't have an endorsement.
I always like the xs look, being a triumph and norton admirer. I am fairly handy and have fixed my outboards looking at online schematics and parts list.
Do you recommend a xs 650 ? I rode one once in 1979. I am leaning that way because they seen simple to work on and I can get historic plates. I will get a mc endorsement but don't plan to ride much more than around my area a several hundred miles a year.
Do you think xs 650 is ok for a first and only rode bike for the guy who collects a little bit of everything ?
i see a running 1981 for $1500. What should I look for to see if it is worth buying ?
thank you
Hey thanks for watching the video. Yeah I love the old triumphs in Norton's too they're hard to find these days but for basically a pretty dependable older bike an xs650 pretty darn good. I would say that 1980 for $1,500 would be an excellent choice if it runs and it's not all beat up. Just remember all the old bikes have their surprises so buyer beware.
Miyagi
You’re videos are very helpful. I’m building a ‘78 XS650 into a cafe racer and I’m putting the pieces back together. I have the engine out right now and it ran ok, aside from a carb rebuild that was needed, would you suggest any engine maintenance on these engines while I have it out? Thanks in advance if you can answer!
I'll be doing a Q & A video the coming Sunday check that out.
@@outlaw86custom Will do! Thank you.
Is it necessary to weld crankpin to crankshaft and flywheel? Do not want a rephased
Have you had to crank apart if not, it's not necessary to weld the crank. Normally rephased flywheels are welded because of the torque ratio has changed.
Miyagi