1971 Yamaha XS1 650.

[Motu]

Oh dear,I'd better sell my beloved XS1,it's not getting used anymore and I need the space and don't need to pay rego on a bike only used a couple of times a year.

I've had this one for about 15 yrs too,got as a non runner,a total strip and rebuild (but not the motor) spending not a cent,and only replaced the bars.It's a rat,but a rat in good mechanical nick,I have fixed things as needed - new clutch,updated with extra plates and softer springs,new rings and cam chain,new brake shoes front and rear,good tyres.But I don't go overboard....a footpeg rubber falls off - so I slip on a piece of radiator hose,ign switch craps out and in goes a toggle switch....all basic rat bike stuff.Have a few spares - instruments,a set of forks,some swing arms,gaurds,the ones on it are rusty chrome,but have some painted ones too,have the original air box and side covers as well.

It's got to the point where I have to do something with it,but what ever I do means money,and also possibly destroying the bike - like,I'd like to change the front end,bolt on a disc job,I want to make a street tracker etc.But what ever I do will destroy what it is - an almost original XS1,these are getting very rare now and to cut it up would be a crime.Apart from the indicators and mufflers this bike is completly standard,even if it doesn't look like it.I don't really know what it's worth,I hear they are paying silly prices for them - like,the XS1 wasn't sold in England,it was only out for a year anyway,the models after were quite different,so parts don't really interchange much.

So it's going...I don't care,who wants an old heap of poor handling vibrating crap around - go on,get out of my place you big heap of black shit!!!

[Motu]

Here's a link to a good XS1 article,shows how it should look.

XS1

[Dr Bob]

Hi Motu,

If only it came with its own garage space I might be inclined. My bike is far too modern.

[Motu]

My old friend left me today,on the back of a ute,heading to a new home in Levin,complete with all the spares I collected over 15 yrs.The bidding finished at $1570,about what I expected,but not what I would of asked.I had one last blat around the block - damn,that bike was made for me,it's seldom you find a bike that fits you physicaly and mentaly,but when you do you gain a confidance rarely found.

Back when I used to ride this bike we were living a bit closer to the limit and only had one car - this was the second vehicle.With a couple of girls to shuffle around between activities and friends,I would pull up on the black XS1,black leathers and black helmet,grey beard and ponytail - toss a helmet to one of my little girls and off we'd go....chink,chink in the corners as I scrapped the bike in every corner,it never bothered me riding like that with them on the back and to them it was just what happened when Dad picked them up.One wet day coming past the dirt track I stopped in to see some of the guys having a practice ride around.This was a clay track and when wet if you walked on it you'd end up a couple of inches taller - the same happened with the tyres,it was not nice in that condition.Someone was out on a then new TT250 with knobs - I took the street tyred XS1 out,realed him in and passed on the outside...it was that kind of bike.

Never crashed it either,we looked after each other....good mates are like that....

[marty]

after reading that link motu i reckon $1500 was a pretty fair price all round

[avgas]

nice bike motu, i would consider it but i have the old mans giant pile of 850s' and 750s to chew through in the xs range if i want 1

[Wired1]

Bugger, I missed this. Probably for the best, I have a shed full of TT250's at the moment, but this is on my list of bikes to buy one day. Well my wife will be happy.

[Winston001]

I have a great affection for these bikes. I owned an XS650B for many years and had a lot of fun. A poor man's Bonneville without the oil leaks or handling. Megaphone exhausts which may explain why I'm a bit deaf these days.