Um...

[Joab]

One of these things seems not like the other. I'm sure the engine is fine though...

[jetmechmarty]

XS650. The sump screen has been neglected. Typical. I'm surprised it isn't torn. Usually, that's the case.

[Joab]

Wow, that is great from just a picture of the filter Marty! Yeah, I couldn't even get it off while the engine was in the bike, I thought that was some kind of putty or something holding part of the filter together until I looked at the new one...

[rpgoerlich]

How about a pic of your 72 XS650? Red/White?

I miss mine... Settled for the '83.

[Joab]

Well..its kinda still Red/White...

[crazy steve]

A XS2 .... sold mine to buy my first (and still owned) new '78E.

Great bike! Too small for any serious touring, but an excellent around-town ride. Easy to work on, 'classic' good looks (a 650 Triumph look-alike without the problems), very reliable. The added-on electric starter with that compression release was pretty hit-or-miss as to whether it would start the bike every time, but it never failed to start with a kick...

The only bike I ever regretted selling....

[Joab]

Lol, really? Its the first bike I have regretted buying! Nothing worked on it from the get go, and as I dug deeper, I kept finding more and more issues. As I mentioned in a different post, its fate is probably to be chopped into a bobber, which I would probably feel worse about if I haven't pushed it further then I have ridden it since I bought it:P

[jetmechmarty]

There are no parts issues with those bikes, or at least, very few. Much of the bike is reproduced.

[Joab]

Your right Marty, you could probably come pretty close to building a brand new XS nowadays with sites like MikesXS and such. However, the cost of replacing all those freaking parts is a little daunting. Cheaper for me to chop it and make something I want out of it then restore it.

However, I may still have a change of heart before I put torch to steel, alot of that depends on the condition of the engine innards. That filter doesn't really give me warm fuzzies about what I will find in there, and if it is well on its way to scrap, I don't feel nearly so bad about the choppy choppy.

[jetmechmarty]

Joab,

You could probably trade that box of XS-2 parts for a complete and running XS650 Special. It wouldn't surprise me a bit.

[Joab]

Once again, your probably right. I could probably part it out on ebay for more then I paid for it. Jeez, the carbs parted out alone on my 1100 are worth more by themselves then the entire bike is. Not that I am parting out the 1100. It actually runs. Kind of.
But, that would be a huge hassle, and as I already have the stupid thing taken apart, I may as well see what i can make of it. I am sure whatever left over parts I have will find their way onto the intertubes eventually if the chop chop path is taken.

[jetmechmarty]

With an XS-2, you can sell the whole basket case for $$$. There are people addicted to those things!

[crazy steve]

One of the prettiest bikes Yamaha ever built....

[Joab]

Was there a big difference between the XS2 and the 650 Special? I never did alot of digging into the history of those bikes, was told they made a ton of them though.

[Joab]

With an XS-2, you can sell the whole basket case for $$$. There are people addicted to those things!

I wonder if someone would trade me a reliable running motorcycle for my Boxes O' XS2...