| Author | Message | ||
     Ratbuell |
Ok, a coworker just told me his son wants to sell a 1969 Yamaha 650. Basement kept, decent chrome, all there, sitting 7-8 years. Turn the fuel on, one carb overflows, other one doesn't so at least one stuck float. No surprise. No other info really. Worth anything? Looking online, it seems to be a decent enough looking bike...can it be saved? Are parts available or unobtanium? | ||
| Dwardo |
Yes. I don't know the value but those bikes are hot now. Especially the early ones. I'm trying to sell a crusty 1977 model for a friend right now. The bikes have some issues but the engines are basically bulletproof. There are lots of parts. Personnaly I'd go all the way and get a Triumph, BSA, or (preferably) a Norton, but they are definitely collectible. | ||
| Nuts4mc |
go here to see the latest... http://www.xs650.com/forum/ old dirt tracking (rice burner) enthusiasts like the XS650 (Shell Thuet was the guru... http://www.vft.org/Memorial/Shell/ShellThuet.html ...if you want to do a flip ( too bad your on the right coast) Richard is down the street from me(on the left coast)...see his site for some ideas for a XS650 street tracker... http://www.mulemotorcycles.net/index.html | ||
| Buellish |
And then there's these guys http://xs650society.com/ I have friends that put on an XS650 rally at Two Wheels of Suches. | ||
| Ftd |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/37/ 693784.jpg http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/37/ 693779.jpg I dig the older stuff. Here is my Triumph 650. Donor bike was a 1966 Trophy. | ||
| Strokizator |
Dang Ftd, now that's a motorcycle! | ||
| Ratbuell |
Hmm. This may be a few hundred bucks well spent... | ||
| Reepicheep |
Cool bike. I restored (am restoring) a 74 KZ-400 from pieces in a bucket. Fun project, simple bike. Makes me remember what a hassle points and carbs are. A full restore could get stupid expensive / impossible with unobtanium rubber bits. But if you are flexible in how it goes back together, it can be a cool bike. They are heavy and slow though, and uncomfortable with bad brakes. So don't think it will be a better ride than just about any modern bike, just a really interesting one. Old carbs are a nightmare. I've had mine off maybe 10 times now for various cleanings and bit replacements, and they still have major issues. | ||
| Mtnmason |
Get it! Nothing beats the feel of riding vintage. No, not as comfortable, can't stop for sh!t, not very fast at all but none of that takes away from the experience. Funny story: I bought an old 77 xs400 barn find back in '07. Took me about a month to go through everything and get it road worthy. We spent four happy summer's together tooling around Richmond. Finally, in 2011 I had saved up enough to get my XB. Brought my new pride and joy home and rode her EVERYWHERE for about 2 or three weeks and never took the cover off the XS. THEN - I decided I wanted to see what the little Yamaha felt like after getting used to the Buell --- she never cranked again. I still have the xs400 in storage and plan to get it back going this off-season (just met a young lady who expressed interest in riding so that should light the fire under me to get it done). | ||
| Ftd |
Thanks Strokizator. I had it built 4 yrs ago. It is fun to ride...complete opposite of my Uly though. There is an active group of vintage bike enthusiasts here in Orlando. Weekly bike night, monthly rides, etc. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Well...it's a '79, and it has no title. Anyone need a cheap parts bike? |
