xs650 or xs1100???

[DGXSER]

Honestly, my best guess is someone had a title to an XS650 and had this XS1100 bike with no title, so they ground off. or welded over the factory numbers and remarked it. If all the numbers on the bike and the paperwork match, and you have the title transferred in your name, and you can get registration and plates for it, I say run with it as is. If all the winds blow in the wrong direction for you on a day and you get pulled over by a LEO that happens to know enough about 30 year old bikes to know you have the wrong bike for the title indicated, they will still look and see all the VINs match and I am not sure there is much they can do about it. Just know it could cause you a hickup in the future if you want to sell the bike, and the buyer is knowledgeable. Your only other option I would know would be to get a titled frame to swap everything over to and ditch the one you have.

If it helps, as TC pointed out, any year carbs from an XS1100 will work on your bike. I have a set I need to fix a float post on yet before I consider them ready to sell. There are sets on ebay from time to time.

You may also want to look for the correct seat for an 80 or 81 XS1100 Special, either year will fit your bike frame. The Midnight Special seat will also fit.

[natemoen]

Your carburetors are 1979 or earlier.

Or a mix and match of parts......

[jetmechmarty]

Your carburetors are 1979 or earlier.

[Kingxs]

Hey King,

Yep, that's a FrankenBike for sure. As others have stated, looks like an 81 Special frame=front reflectors, seat rail, gauges, slotted rotors, reflector style rear shocks, BUT....with an earlier model engine...2H7 TCI instead of 4RO, no grooved rings in the crank side covers, a 79 seat.

Seems obvious that the PO had a good title for an XS650, restamped the 81 frame and cobbled the rest together. King, you really need to get the # stamped on the slanted plate of the Clutch Case Cover...it may be hard to see due to the old black paint, etc.. Take a wire brush to that area and see what shows up. Also, pull the left timing cover off and you should find both mechanical vacuum adv. and centrifugal advance parts which will help verify that it's fitted for the 2H7 TCI(Ignition box).

Also, pull off the float bowls to see if it has brass floats or plastic ones, other model/year indicators for the carbs are # of small holes in the INTAKE BELL, whether it has just 1 "T" between the left and right pairs or 2, whether the Pilot/Idle adjusting screw is on the outside or down in a small tunnel.

Many PO's have swapped other year carbs with other engines, which is fine, you can essentially use any year carb with any year bike, just jet for the style/year of carb not just the year of bike.

Figuring all this out is important like you said for being able to get the correct parts for repairs and maintanence.

T.C.

floats are brass and the plate is engraved with the same number title motor and frame all match? carbs are a basket case with some sticking butterflies. will be looking for a set to put on it.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey King,

Yep, that's a FrankenBike for sure. As others have stated, looks like an 81 Special frame=front reflectors, seat rail, gauges, slotted rotors, reflector style rear shocks, BUT....with an earlier model engine...2H7 TCI instead of 4RO, no grooved rings in the crank side covers, a 79 seat.

Seems obvious that the PO had a good title for an XS650, restamped the 81 frame and cobbled the rest together. King, you really need to get the # stamped on the slanted plate of the Clutch Case Cover...it may be hard to see due to the old black paint, etc.. Take a wire brush to that area and see what shows up. Also, pull the left timing cover off and you should find both mechanical vacuum adv. and centrifugal advance parts which will help verify that it's fitted for the 2H7 TCI(Ignition box).

Also, pull off the float bowls to see if it has brass floats or plastic ones, other model/year indicators for the carbs are # of small holes in the INTAKE BELL, whether it has just 1 "T" between the left and right pairs or 2, whether the Pilot/Idle adjusting screw is on the outside or down in a small tunnel.

Many PO's have swapped other year carbs with other engines, which is fine, you can essentially use any year carb with any year bike, just jet for the style/year of carb not just the year of bike.

Figuring all this out is important like you said for being able to get the correct parts for repairs and maintanence.

T.C.

[jetmechmarty]

I looked at the pics on XS650.com. Most likely he has an XS1100SH or LG. The numbers on the frame neck indicate it is an XS650E or XS650SE. That is obviously not the case.





There was a photo with the SN. It looks legit. How can this be?

I recall the SN stamped on the right side of the frame neck. Is this correct?

[Kingxs]

tnks for your help fellas. i am starting tear down.

[Kingxs]

That would suggest an 80 Special.

after all this thats what im thinking (mikes xs says same)

[DGXSER]

That would suggest an 80 Special.

[Kingxs]

Ok, and I looked closer at the pic and you do have slots in the brake rotors, so I still think it is a 4RO machine. Look at the TCI, the black box under the seat. see if it has a 2H7 stamped into it, or if it has a yellow tag on it or is otherwise marked with a 4RO.

2h7 on box

[Schming]

Nah...

Well, may as well and jump in on the guess'in. Looks like he's got a 79Special......why 79?.....can't be 81(no slotted rotors and no black circle recesses in side covers, and alot more). Not an 80Special(no slotted rotors again, and alot more). See it does have the Jardine 'sketti' pipes........and Jardine muffs. A 79Special it is......and I'm stickin' to it.

...not a '79.

In the first pic the slots in the front rotor can be seen at 4 and 6 o'clock

Also no kick start shaft.

I'm thinking '80 SG.

[DGXSER]

Ok, and I looked closer at the pic and you do have slots in the brake rotors, so I still think it is a 4RO machine. Look at the TCI, the black box under the seat. see if it has a 2H7 stamped into it, or if it has a yellow tag on it or is otherwise marked with a 4RO.

[Kingxs]

its not a plate it is stamped in on frame and motor with no sticker and it only goes to 85

[DGXSER]

Well, it seems it would be tough to change the engine numbers, but perhaps the same thing was done there. Is it a plate that has been attached or can you clearly see the numbers are stamped into the engine case itself?

On the frame neck, there is a sticker on one side of the neck, and on the other side the numbers are stamped into the metal. IF all of those match that 2FO number, something is not correct here.

It is definitely an XS1100 Special model. I am not savy enough on the frames to guess if is 79, 80, or 81. It obviously has been put together from more than one bike IMO. The seat grab bar is definitely 80-81 Special, the rear tail light mounted up high is 80-81. And those yellow reflectors were on the 81, but not the 80. However, the left side cover is not stock to any XS11 I know of, no locking tab area.

How far does the speedo go, 160 MPH or 85 MPH?

[Kingxs]

its left blank just says its a 1979 yama mc thats it no model no weight