1975 XS650B...worth it or not? (Warning: Long winded post)

scotts

650skull wrote:

scotts wrote:

I was thinking the same way. I can look in the spark plug holes with a small LED flashlight I have. The left side valves are open. The right side still has penetrating fluid in the cylinder. It appears to be stuck on the down stroke.

You say Valves as in plural, should only be one valve open at a time.

Minor mistake on my part. I can see a valve open on the left cylinder. Can't remember for sure w/o walking out back to the bike, but I think it's the exhaust. Hey, I have a 50/50 chance of being right!

Retiredgentleman

Actually scotts may be correct saying valves are both open. Intake opens 36 degrees BTDC, exhaust closes 36 degrees ATDC. That's called 72 degrees of overlap.

scotts

Who knows? I could only see the one on the left side. I pushed the bike up against the wall for storage when I got it home. Plus, I'm looking into the spark plug hole with a small LED flashlight...

tacoswild

I've always liked the look of the 75. A guy at my local shop just bought a 75 with 1000 on the clock. It's the cleanest XS I've ever seen, I was jealous.

I haven't had any luck finding original pipes and mufflers for my 71 but I have seen a 75 set. I don't check for those regularly so I can't say how often they come up. Looks like you need both pipes and mufflers. Should be a pretty rewarding project.

scotts

Got one! Found this bike just a few miles from my house. It's a '78, but it has a good title and all the '75 stuff will swap right over, so I can still get the look of an early bike.
I rode it home...barely. The front brake doesn't work, I had to put the petcocks on prime, and the clutch is way out of adjustment and I stalled it three times, but it actually runs well and shifts fine.
I also got a "windjammer" type fairing, a crash bar, some highway pegs and a luggage rack/backrest....all for $450!
I'm told the accessories are from a Honda CB or something but were mounted on the XS when the P.O. first got it.
Some pics:

jayel

nice find you'll be able to put together a nice stock Standard between the two of them and have your parts for the project, just hope you have a thick skin to take the heat when the English/Aussie (same thing only different) lads weigh in (bunch of jealous sods)

pumps

Nice looking score!

Hey if you're thinking of cutting that luggage rack or that crash guard loose I'll take it off your hands!

scotts

Thanks guys. All those accesories will be up for sale. I have to figure out if they actually fit the XS or not. The luggage rack seems a bit wide and there are some loose mounting brackets in the pile that I haven't figured out just yet. I'll tale a closer look at the crash bar and highway pegs this weekend. I have a feeling most of that stuff is for a Honda.

pumps

If you can't makem fit I surely can't either.

weekendrider

The highway bars are universal, some u-bolts and they fit anything.
The crash bars mounting points seem to be in a straight line. Crash bars that fit the XS have narrow top mounts wide lower mounts.
I don't see any mounting brackets for the luggage rack, but like you say scotts you haven't gone through the whole pile, so maybe.
The fairings fiberglass is the same, the difference is in the mounting bracket bolted to the bottom of the fairing. I have seen 2 XS specific brackets(brackets only no fairing) on e-bay in like 4 years.
Not to say someone couldn't make any and all of this fit an XS.

1ironhead

Like WR said,the highway pegs should fit anything,but they look exactly like the one that are on the 74 I just picked upand they do have their own special hardware.If I remember to take the camera and I get over to the garage today,I get a close up of them.

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

F********ck, you lucky ba**ard Evil or Very Mad

Just go out and buy one just like that Laughing

.........do you know how long it has taken me to get my pile of junk.......and cost Laughing

scotts

What'll REALLY piss you off is that's the second complete bike I brought home in the last two weeks, plus another frame, spare engine, exhaust, carbs (VM 34's), and a ton of spare bits and pieces, plus two good titles.....all for less than $1500 US.

1ironhead

Here's a pic of the pegs.I guess you won't be needing the small stuff from Ebay,but when I'm buying something there,I always click on "sellers other items" to see if they have anything else I need and can combine shipping.

scotts

There are a couple of brackets that are slightly different than that, but I can see them slipping over the bar and attaching to the frame.

xs1961

Im not reading this thread anymore, my envy for those cheap XS's over there's so bad it makes my gut ache.... Crying or Very sad

pamcopete

You want pegs? Here is a set of "poor mans" pegs. Just slip a threaded rod through the engine mounting holes with a couple of threaded standofss, get a couple of foot rests from JC and away you go!

jayel

and here's pipe heat sheilds to keep side of your boots off the pipe,

www.jcwhitney.com/Moto...014669.jcw

a little long for the curved special pipes but would work ok on the Standards

scotts

Thanks, but really not interested in all that stuff. The CB accesories wil be sold and the bike(s) will be returned to damn near stock.
I'm craving a stock-plus bike, versus all the custom stuff I've been doing.

scotts

Is there a paint code or formula for "Star Black" or would just plain old jet black do?
There almost appears to be a touch of metal flake or something in the stock paint...or is that just an illusion of 34 year old paint?

roar · Full Member Joined: Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 54

No illusion, mine's sparkly too.

pumps

scotts did you ever figure out the no key for the ignition issue

scotts

Yes, the guy on ebay has a blank for my ignition. Just need to order one (or two). I also picked up a correct gas cap with key.

gruff54 · New Member Joined: Mar 01, 2008 Posts: 5

Scotts,
Star Black is definitely metallic. I'd say quite a lot of metallic but the flakes are very small, making it difficult to see from a distance. Quite noticeable up close though.

Gruff54
'75B

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