Special VS. Standard

650skull · Support Staff Joined: Jul 19, 2007 Posts: 1186

xs1961 wrote:

Standard 'Roadster' as it was called over here looks best..The specials/customs never caught on here in the UKthey were seen as bikes were for psuedo chopper boys as far as us lot were concerned ..
Anyhow , all bikes should have wire-spoked wheels not those modern fangled cast jobbies.. Twisted Evil

Funny how we post photo's of our own bikes (1961) when discussing the merits of the best models in the XS range Laughing

jayel · Posted: June 24, 2009, 9:35 pm Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

that is true .... of course every one knows the apex of 650 development were the TX models only two years to get it all worked out, 73 to see how it worked, 74 refined and done Laughing

650skull · Support Staff Joined: Jul 19, 2007 Posts: 1186

Agreed

xs1961 · Posted: June 25, 2009, 2:31 am Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

nokitov · Posted: June 25, 2009, 11:33 am Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

jayel wrote:

Specials= faux chopper = Disco bike, git out yer polyster leisure suit and platform soles and ride that sucker

Hey Jayel,

You mean you put yours away? I just took mine out of the dryer and
polished my shoes. The weekend is only one day away.

Stayin alive, stayin alive.

oldbikenut · Posted: June 25, 2009, 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

[quote="650skull"]Oldbikernut, You have made that bike look great, the blue works....

Thanks! This is the latest picture with the new travelcade seat cover and after looking at my bike with the side covers off and seeing the black air box I decided to go with the black side covers, I like the look alot and yes the blue has grown on me, I don't want to paint my bike yellow anymore to try and match jayels TX Laughing

RedShift42 · Posted: October 9, 2009, 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

Does anyone have an answer for why the upper shock mount was located farther forward on the Specials?
That seems like a lot of manufacturing expense for the sake of modest aesthetics-- is the swingarm a different length, or did the 16" wheel maybe change the geometry enough to require chasis mods?

-Eric.

xsjohn · Posted: October 9, 2009, 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

Softens the shocks a bit and maybe even gives them a bit more travel......

jayel · Posted: October 9, 2009, 2:06 pm Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

using the 16" wheel (actually larger diameter than the 18") meant they had to move the shock mount to get the lowered chopper look they were going for

guitfiddle · New Member Joined: Oct 07, 2009 Posts: 4

I kind of like the stepped seat with the low riding position of the Special...I might have passed my bike up if it had the flat seat. I even like the pullback bars...very comfy to ride.

No accouting for taste, eh? The important thing is to ride. Mr. Green

gggGary · Full Member Joined: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 114

The only change to my heritage special is the buckhorn bars are gone and my wife P&Ms about that!

The emblems are now back on the side covers.
Sorry but I have no problem with the looks or function of the stepped seat on this bike. I think blood red would look good on it though. (not going to happen) I am looking to put a bike on the set of alloys I picked up, I am thinking an 81 special II would be about the best one to start with.

The Brits weren't immune either. Remember this?

No no no the MOTORCYCLE

I am pretty certain the Yamaha specials looked better

xjwmx · Posted: October 15, 2009, 6:47 pm Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

Gawd I love that picture! The Yamaha "buckhorn" bars, to me they're not really buckhorn - not extreme enough. They're not unlike bars that came on earlier model Sportsters.

The only thing that I don't like asthetically on the xs650 is the way the rear of the frame comes up to meet the seat. It's a very strong very awkward line once you notice it. It's present in the Standard too of course, but it looks worse on the Special because the seat emphasises it.

The stepped seat concept itself in general though is common and modern. Nearly all modern bikes have a stepped seat of some kind.

gggGary · Full Member Joined: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 114

This is pretty tasty though.

xs1961 · Posted: October 16, 2009, 2:28 am Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

..yeah, but being a Norton - overpriced!
Shame manufacturers spoil the look of their 'retro' styled bikes with upside-down forks & mag wheels !

fj1289 · New Member Joined: Apr 07, 2009 Posts: 7

Overpriced for a hand built modern version of the "old" Norton? I haven't looked lately to see where the new company has taken things -- hopefully still in the same vein Kenny Dreer had them going!

fj1289 · New Member Joined: Apr 07, 2009 Posts: 7

Overpriced for a hand built modern version of the "old" Norton? I haven't looked lately to see where the new company has taken things -- hopefully still in the same vein Kenny Dreer had them going!

Joseph · Full Member Joined: May 22, 2007 Posts: 767 Location: NY

Quote::

is the swing arm a different length

,
Did the swing arm change length at any time? It looks like it but I cant really tell by pictures. It looks longer on the specials but that may be due to shorter mufflers making it appear longer.

650skull · Support Staff Joined: Jul 19, 2007 Posts: 1186

Swing arm on the XS1/1B/2 and TX was shorter. Standard swing arm had blocks that would unbolt to let you slide the rear wheel off without taking off the mufflers. The same swing arm was on the 78/79 specials as well. The later specials had a solid rear on their swingarms

Barbara · Posted: October 19, 2009, 9:43 pm Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

Oh Lord, a "Hi-Rider" Norton! Poor engine, housed in that bike...the only good thing about it was the fact that the frame was identical to a Roadster, and you could dump that half-gallon tank and stupid bars and seat, and build a nice Norton out of what was left......and yes, as a matter of fact, I did do that once. (And sold the tank to a guy building an N-15!) Very Happy

With those 'bars, 60 or 70 years of Norton racing/handling/performance went out the window. On the plus side, the Fastback and Interstate were absolutely beautiful......even, in my opinion, nicer than the new Norton. (And they sold better.....)

Mmmm. Nortons. Love Nortons.... Laughing

Barbara · Posted: October 19, 2009, 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

Oh Lord, a "Hi-Rider" Norton! Poor engine, housed in that bike...the only good thing about it was the fact that the frame was identical to a Roadster, and you could dump that half-gallon tank and stupid bars and seat, and build a nice Norton out of what was left......and yes, as a matter of fact, I did do that once. (And sold the tank to a guy building an N-15!) Very Happy

With those 'bars, 60 or 70 years of Norton racing/handling/performance went out the window. On the plus side, the Fastback and Interstate were absolutely beautiful......even, in my opinion, nicer than the new Norton. (And they sold better.....)

Mmmm. Nortons. Love Nortons.... Laughing

Barbara · Posted: October 19, 2009, 9:48 pm Post subject: Re: Special VS. Standard

...................now why in the world would that post twice? "Hot ice and wond'rous strange snow!", to quote Willy S.

Sorry, guys.. Embarassed

650skull · Support Staff Joined: Jul 19, 2007 Posts: 1186

Is that a stutter Barbara or are you just taking the mickey out of fj1289 Twisted Evil

gggGary · Full Member Joined: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 114

The weird thing is they will have collector value because they will be so hard to find with those awesome trick bars and seat intact! Was a real Norton nut back in the day, gusting up to 5 of them at one point. The best of those, restored, lives in my buddy's dining room. I think my XS650 is Norton replacement therapy.

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