1978 650 Special

jxnslotcar · New Member Joined: Oct 07, 2007 Posts: 9

Hi I just bought a 1978 650 Special. I would either like to restore it to original or make it into a cool bobber. This is my first time here and thank you for letting me join you. Jim

tracker79 · Posted: October 7, 2007, 6:49 am Post subject: Re: 1978 650 Special

Welcome to the site. Original or modified? Build what you like. I don't see where these bring big money restored. I paid $500 for a low mileage excellent condition bike that only needed new pipes to be mint. Some of the purist don't like the idea of hacking up bikes this nice, but it sure makes a project go alot easier, plus i sold the oem parts i didn't need for more than i paid for the bike.

Retiredgentleman · Posted: October 11, 2007, 1:59 am Post subject: Re: 1978 650 Special

I just restored a 78 SE this past year..............had a lot of fun working on it. Hope you enjoy your 78 SE.
Some of the more important things I did:
Electrolysis of gas tank to get rust out.
Cleaned and rebuilt carbs.
New air and oil filters.
Installed Accel Ignition coil/wires
New points and plugs.
Rebuilt brake calipers and new pads.
Drilled brake rotors.
Replace old fuse panel with modern blade type.
Cleaned a lot of the electrical connectors.

greywolfe555 · New Member Joined: Nov 10, 2007 Posts: 1

hi all you xs'ers, just picked up a 650 for nothing ,just push it home.needs lots of work ,but hay thats half the fun of these bikes.hope to get lots of great info from all the members here lots of luck to u all Grey

bdbecker · New Member Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2

I just came over to the dark side (I'm also a HD owner) with the purchase of a '78 in rough, but running condition for $350. Its not worth trying to put back in original condition, most of the stock components are either missing or damaged.

Its got a crushed velvet seat that was either orange or red a long time ago (and probably made many a chopper rider envious), a luggage rack that could handle a 30 gallon cooler and a 3 piece luggage set with room to spare, a variety of dents, dings, and rust spots in places I didn't even know could be damaged, and an electrical system that demonstrates a previous owner had an unjustified confidence in his abilities (no surprise).

I plan on taking her completely apart and making sure it is mechanically sound, and in the process hopefully coming to a decision as to its fate: Chopper or Cafe Racer.

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