Great bike Michael and it's refreshing to hear a nice-loud-exhaust ! I have a similar machine, 73 TX cafe. I've had 47 bikes over the years and this one is definitely a keeper . Ride-safe in these crazy times. David Aotearoa nz
I've been holding on to my 75 XS for a couple of years now and sometime in the future will be building it. Only 7000 miles on it but its obviously been laid down twice. Looking forward to beginning the project. Nice bike.
@@bigstick1970 You did a damn good job and I like the clubman bars. Something about clipons I just don't like .Gonna be looking for a XS 11 tank ,it looks perfect on your bike. That had to be hard to find. Hope you saw the build by cognito moto. Between you and them 2 best XSes I have seen. You mentioned your paint code was an early DT color. You wouldn't happen to have a code for the early XS green metallic color? Anyway nice chatting with you and again beautiful bike.
@@mikebeasley553 I don’t have the paint code for that green check out this site www.marks650yamahas.com/paintawards.html and yea it took me a long time to get that tank lol and I ended up finding it on Craigslist for 80 bucks 😯
Everybody rides different, cool. It is wonderful the different setups that can be created to these SX650's. Seeing a cemetery very shortly after you depart thoughts happen like don't get stupid or let someone get stupid on you, Ha!
that sound. like my 1981. look out Fonzie. I put Hadon shocks that look similar. Guy said he had them on his Bonneville as an aftermarket switch and took off 400 miles. Love your paint.
Hi from the UK. Must say this is one of the best American interpretations of the true British Cafe Racers! Very neat, tidy and compact! As an old original 60's Rocker myself there are only two things I would change, and they are personal preference! One, I would have a chrome headlight, and Two, Part of the Cafe Racer ethos was light, nimble handling, something which, in my humble opinion would be improved on your bike by more street orientated tyres? These Firestones may be good but they look, to me and some of my friends, like they came from a Tractor! Sorry but otherwise a brilliant rendition of a 60's British icon!! WELL DONE!!!
Thanks! And the tires that are on the bike were meant to be a more retro look they really do not handle well! The bike doesn’t see much run time. And thanks again! 👍🏻💯
@ Notwocdivad Nobody, not the Japanese or Americans ever really got the vertical twin as well as the British. These Yamaha's were some second rate imitation, yes more reliable, but so what. The materials they were made out of were cheap garbage that has not held up well all these years.
Sweet bike! I've got an 81 xs650 that'll hopefully be half as nice as yours one day. It's going in the shop today for some rewiring (previous owner was a tweaker or something and hacked out their own custom wire harness. Looks like hell.) I've got a ways to go on it, but these bikes are so fun and worth it, I think.
Check out the 1973 yamaha dt 125 tank. That's the paint code used for the blue. I always loved that blue and took quite awhile to find that paint code. Thanks alot!
Hi Mike, I hope you are well. I'm busy collecting parts for my XS build and wanted to ask if you would recommend the motogadget parts? The m unit and switches you have? Looking at buying but don't know whether yo just use normal loom or switch to m unit like yours. Also do you know that paint colour you mention in a comment?
I would highly recommend the m-unit it is very simple to wire it also has all the relays built into it no more fuses! Also the motogadget buttons are simple to install check out revivalcycles.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhMOMBhDhARIsAPVml-HyX7ywvsoNPeozPM3Kp-AB-mACHN48p7Grglj7EudFkkLok_WNctcaAvrAEALw_wcB They have a lot of great parts and also videos on all the munit
@@bigstick1970 The Shell1 is very good, and surprisingly is quite near the 256 XS2 cam that the EPA required Yamaha to neuter for 1973. It is a beautiful and torquey cam that pulled to 7500 rpm’s. I had an original XS2 and I really wish that I still had it! I would rephrase it and go to 700 and use the XS 2 cam and BS38s I am 62 and I would be 21 again like on my XS2 when my wife and I first married. Your bike is beautiful and an inspiration, I love that sound! It’s like a burly Vincent 998cc.
@@bigstick1970 Another thing that reminds of my XS2 is that it is so relaxed in making power. It is so easy and I can hear 6500 rpm’s but it’s never really working hard to get to speed, and corners are like the bike is tied into your knees like a good horse. No vibration, wow!
@@Bbbbad724 thanks aging! I have my shift light set to 7k and she really pulls hard out to about 7100 thanks agin this bike took me 7 years to gather parts and build. Along time but I had a vision of what I wanted like the 69 front drum brake and the 69 tank the 73 tx750 rear wheel and the home built 18inch front wheel. 👍🏻
So beautifully done, torque for days, and I enjoy the curves on that road. I miss my XS2, but I would have to rephrase it. An age old question for anyone is there any difference at all between a 270 or a 277? I can hear a very even and torquey sound and hearing a 270 , I can’t hear or perceive any difference. If anything I like the 277 a little more.
@@robgray553 this is where I got the top yoke and the bolt also nice stuff great prices www.motolanna.com/ourshop/prod_3791827-Top-Yoke-Billet-CNC-Type-3-HB.html
Sorry Michael me again. Where did you get the headlight and brackets, speedo? Just ordered my tuffside seat. Can't wait to get it somewhere near as good as yours looks.
Great bike Michael and it's refreshing to hear a nice-loud-exhaust ! I have a similar machine, 73 TX cafe. I've had 47 bikes over the years and this one is definitely a keeper . Ride-safe in these crazy times. David Aotearoa nz
Thank you so much! 47 bikes is a lot of bikes that’s awesome!! Stay safe as well!!
Very nicely done, makes me really wish I'd kept one for myself! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks 👍🏻
I've been holding on to my 75 XS for a couple of years now and sometime in the future will be building it. Only 7000 miles on it but its obviously been laid down twice. Looking forward to beginning the project. Nice bike.
Good luck with the build hope to see it when it’s all done! Thanks for the compliment! This took me 7 years to complete.
@@bigstick1970 You did a damn good job and I like the clubman bars. Something about clipons I just don't like .Gonna be looking for a XS 11 tank ,it looks perfect on your bike. That had to be hard to find. Hope you saw the build by cognito moto. Between you and them 2 best XSes I have seen. You mentioned your paint code was an early DT color. You wouldn't happen to have a code for the early XS green metallic color? Anyway nice chatting with you and again beautiful bike.
@@mikebeasley553 I don’t have the paint code for that green check out this site www.marks650yamahas.com/paintawards.html and yea it took me a long time to get that tank lol and I ended up finding it on Craigslist for 80 bucks 😯
@@mikebeasley553 you can check out some of the build on Instagram Michael.Halsey.188
@@bigstick1970 Will do brother!
Everybody rides different, cool. It is wonderful the different setups that can be created to these SX650's. Seeing a cemetery very shortly after you depart thoughts happen like don't get stupid or let someone get stupid on you, Ha!
that sound. like my 1981. look out Fonzie. I put Hadon shocks that look similar. Guy said he had them on his Bonneville
as an aftermarket switch and took off 400 miles. Love your paint.
Thanks a lot !!👍🏻
Hi from the UK. Must say this is one of the best American interpretations of the true British Cafe Racers! Very neat, tidy and compact! As an old original 60's Rocker myself there are only two things I would change, and they are personal preference! One, I would have a chrome headlight, and Two, Part of the Cafe Racer ethos was light, nimble handling, something which, in my humble opinion would be improved on your bike by more street orientated tyres? These Firestones may be good but they look, to me and some of my friends, like they came from a Tractor! Sorry but otherwise a brilliant rendition of a 60's British icon!! WELL DONE!!!
Thanks! And the tires that are on the bike were meant to be a more retro look they really do not handle well! The bike doesn’t see much run time. And thanks again! 👍🏻💯
Thanks Michael, A nice pair of tt100's Dunlop K81's would transform the handling I'm sure. Ride Safe My Friend!
@ Notwocdivad
Nobody, not the Japanese or Americans ever really got the vertical twin as well as the British.
These Yamaha's were some second rate imitation, yes more reliable, but so what. The materials they were made out of were cheap garbage that has not held up well all these years.
The xs650 was bulletproof sorry. Other models the 500 and for sure the tx750 were junk.
Stunning build bro, especially for that exhaust sound
Thanks a lot! 👍
That is a bub exhaust system. Very rare system.
She looks great friend. Great build!
Thanks a lot 👍🏻🙏
Sweet bike! I've got an 81 xs650 that'll hopefully be half as nice as yours one day. It's going in the shop today for some rewiring (previous owner was a tweaker or something and hacked out their own custom wire harness. Looks like hell.)
I've got a ways to go on it, but these bikes are so fun and worth it, I think.
Thanks alot! Yeah sometimes things can be a real pain !! Good luck!!👍🏻
What area of the country is this? Looks oddly familiar.
Lancaster county Pennsylvania
Really awesome, build! Did you fabricate the speedo gauge mount?
No I picked it up at cogneato moto the I had to drill the mout out it didn’t quite line up with the pre drilled holes in the triple tress. Thanks 👍🏻
Looks great! Did you keep all the receipts for that build, maybe give us an idea what a build like this cost?
With out my man hours north of 12k and yes I have everything also took me 7 years to get it done. thanks for checking her out!
@@bigstick1970 Thanks, you did a beautiful job.
i just bought a cafe xs650 but 750 topend identical exhaust , have 2 more days to wait for it to arrive....
I would love to see and here that!! Awesome 💯👍🏻
@@bigstick1970 tomorrow morning just have to figure how to post a pic for u
Maybe post a video of it on UA-cam
good idea i can put a link
@@alwood9148 💯👍🏻
That looks and sounds great
I like the big headlight and that seat worked out well
Is that an SR front brake ?
It’s a Yamaha xs1 650 front brake hub laced to a xs650 18 inch rear rim . Thanks 👍🏻
@@bigstick1970
Right.. I thought it looked like an 18"
The brake looks similar to an SR front drum
My 1978 SR uses the same forks as the 650
Very Nice... what is the tank color? I love the contrast with the black.
Check out the 1973 yamaha dt 125 tank. That's the paint code used for the blue. I always loved that blue and took quite awhile to find that paint code. Thanks alot!
Hi Mike, I hope you are well. I'm busy collecting parts for my XS build and wanted to ask if you would recommend the motogadget parts? The m unit and switches you have? Looking at buying but don't know whether yo just use normal loom or switch to m unit like yours. Also do you know that paint colour you mention in a comment?
I would highly recommend the m-unit it is very simple to wire it also has all the relays built into it no more fuses! Also the motogadget buttons are simple to install check out revivalcycles.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhMOMBhDhARIsAPVml-HyX7ywvsoNPeozPM3Kp-AB-mACHN48p7Grglj7EudFkkLok_WNctcaAvrAEALw_wcB
They have a lot of great parts and also videos on all the munit
I ran all new wire I picked it up super cheap on eBay
Good to know! Spending a fortune but it's all worth it aye. Did you have that paint code you used? It looks like yamaha r1 blue
@@robgray553 I’ll have to find it it’s not r1 blue it’s from the old 70’s ct125
@@bigstick1970 please Michael, absolutely love it
Clean af
Thanks a lot 👍🏻
nice bike dude
Thanks a lot👍🏻
Nice sounding bike, but were you riding with a Harley behind you. I'm hearing 2 bikes.
No it was just me here’s the short clip Thanks ua-cam.com/users/shorts2AiaOdWYODw?feature=share
@@bigstick1970 thanks for the clip. That bike sounds friggin awesome 😎
@@anthonyintrieri3329 thank you sir!!💯👍🏻
It sounds like a V8, really cool. I want to get another one and get it rephased. Who did your crankshaft?
pandemoniumc2.com/ Dan is a great guy and does awesome work!!
Sounds sweet, is it a rephrased 277 or possibly a 256 cam? It sounds so great! I knew it! A 700 cc rephrase is it 270 or 277? Is has so much torque!
It’s a 700 bore 277 crank and cam shell1 cam kibble white valves. Thanks!!
@@bigstick1970 The Shell1 is very good, and surprisingly is quite near the 256 XS2 cam that the EPA required Yamaha to neuter for 1973. It is a beautiful and torquey cam that pulled to 7500 rpm’s. I had an original XS2 and I really wish that I still had it! I would rephrase it and go to 700 and use the XS 2 cam and BS38s I am 62 and I would be 21 again like on my XS2 when my wife and I first married. Your bike is beautiful and an inspiration, I love that sound! It’s like a burly Vincent 998cc.
@@bigstick1970 Another thing that reminds of my XS2 is that it is so relaxed in making power. It is so easy and I can hear 6500 rpm’s but it’s never really working hard to get to speed, and corners are like the bike is tied into your knees like a good horse. No vibration, wow!
@@Bbbbad724 thanks aging! I have my shift light set to 7k and she really pulls hard out to about 7100 thanks agin this bike took me 7 years to gather parts and build. Along time but I had a vision of what I wanted like the 69 front drum brake and the 69 tank the 73 tx750 rear wheel and the home built 18inch front wheel. 👍🏻
So beautifully done, torque for days, and I enjoy the curves on that road. I miss my XS2, but I would have to rephrase it. An age old question for anyone is there any difference at all between a 270 or a 277? I can hear a very even and torquey sound and hearing a 270 , I can’t hear or perceive any difference. If anything I like the 277 a little more.
What bars are those? Can’t quite hear.
www.lossaengineering.com/products/lossa-brand-7-8-1-cafe-bars
Hi, love the bike. Please can you tell me where the bars are from ?
Thanks! Link to the bars www.lossaengineering.com/products/lossa-brand-7-8-1-cafe-bars
@@bigstick1970 thanks Michael awesome. With that top yoke is it 1 inch or 7/8 needed? Sorry for all the questions
@@robgray553 this is where I got the top yoke and the bolt also nice stuff great prices www.motolanna.com/ourshop/prod_3791827-Top-Yoke-Billet-CNC-Type-3-HB.html
@@bigstick1970 thanks very much
Sorry Michael me again. Where did you get the headlight and brackets, speedo? Just ordered my tuffside seat. Can't wait to get it somewhere near as good as yours looks.
Sorry for the long video walk around is at the 11:19 mark. Thanks for watching!
Don’t be sorry, it is nice to ear how an xs650 sound on the road! Take care of you and your bike!
@@adfle thanks !
Is this Australia?
No I’m located in Pennsylvania USA thanks!
ben on ne s'arrête pas au stop !
Sometimes we do sometimes we dont 😂👍🏻
@@bigstick1970 entre nous , je fais pire !!!! 🤣😈
The M Stearingbar is ugly ...
It’s the only set of bars I could find that were clubman bars that I could run wires through most are welded closed. Thanks they work very well!