Thinking of downsizing...

[DenyP]

I suggest you consider a XS750 or 850. They are 3 cylinder - much smoother ride then the 650.

Deny

[MaximPhil]

Hi drooker56,
I think as usual lots of good opinions. I think you desire to customize will be beter served by the XS650 .MikesXS has a business dedicated to the model. Plenty of others out there doing what you like to XS650's I have an XJ650 and it is a great bike but does not lend it's self to customising.
Phil

[dragxs11]

Thats true Phil. It depends too on the type of customizing you want to do. For my 1100, for example, most of it has been metal finishing. Lots of chrome, powder coating, and paint which can be done to any bike. I have fabbed a few parts, and adapted things like Kuryakyn signals. My switch housings are the chrome ones from MikesXS, in fact. But I did see a really clean XS650 once (Heritage) with tall bars and either mono rear suspension, or rigid. Very nicely done. I doubt the builder found that setup in a catalog tho. Available forward controls seem to be the biggest reason to go with the xs650.
matt

[Str8OuttaHell]

Don't do it.

[jetmechmarty]

If you want to tinker with an old Japanese motorcycle, the XS650 is tough to beat. The best part is that parts are so readily available. I bought a new one in 1983 and I still ride it regularly. I can run with the XS1100 in the twisties and maybe get through even faster if the turns are tight. I run around town on it all the time. the XS650 just isn't fun riding over 60 mph for very long.

The XJ650 by comparison is a completely different animal and much like the XS1100. I wouldn't want to have to buy parts for it. For the XS650, you can get anything. Keep the XS1100 for highway duty. They'll make nice stablemates.

[xs11bobber]

...Available forward controls seem to be the biggest reason to go with the xs650.
matt

http://www.tcbroschoppers.com/id13.html

Some nice Forward Controls

[latexeses]

They sure look nice but my first thought was..If that goes over they're going to bust the crap out of the cases.

Just me?

[yamahansolo]

i would keep the 11... i went to the suchess when some of the xs650's anf a couple of xj' 650's were there and a couple of them asked if i would trade my 11 for there's ... i said no way!

[Mad Dog Doug]

SR500 is a sweet bike

I'm a fan and collector of Yamaha SR500s. I recently acquired an '81 Midnight Special and I think I now have the best of two diametrically opposed motorcycle worlds.

I have an immaculate showroom stock SR500 with 10,000 pampered miles on it and I have a lightly modded SE500 that I plan to go the full cafe racer route with.

There is a joy of riding the 500cc thumper that the excess 11 can't touch. The 1100 is excessively big, excessively heavy, and excessively fast. (one out of three ain't bad tho).

Having said that, the 1100 is a great two up road burner. One area where the light and nimble 500s fail.

On a twisty road the little 500s will eat the behemoth's lunch every time though and is a blast to maneuver, carving turns like it's on rails.

Here's some photos:

First the stock 1978 SR500E (w/ rare factory windscreen):



Next lightly modded SR500E, also a 1978 model"



The SR500 in it's natural element:



My XS100LH "Midnight Special" :



Both great bikes!