happy new readings: Yamaha XS650 - Next Year's Winter Project...I just Decided.

So after many email conversations with my new friend Josh of Old School Helmets and G & L Choppers, I've come to decide that I'm going to start looking for a good, used, Yamaha XS650. Now this may sound ridiculous but it's not. I've been thinking of getting another scoot for some time now. I already have my '09 Nightster, to which I've done a lot of work to date. After riding my Nightster the past few Summer's and putting nearly 10,000 Km on it I was thinking of a bigger, more comfortable bike. I rented a HD Street Glide last summer while I was in El Segundo, CA and it was a awesome bike to ride, the thing is that the cost of a Street Glide is nearly 24 G's Cdn. That's alot of money. Compared to my Nighty the Street Glide rides like a Caddy. Now that I've hardtailed my bike, Im gonna be more sore then ever after a short ride. But that feels good to get home and sit down on the couch and be sore. It makes you feel like you've done some riding, as opposed to getting off a super comfy touring bike. Im sure it'll catch up with me, but when it does I hope that I can say that I've gone through enough bikes to earn a geezer glide.

My bike is basically paid off. It was roughly 12 G's. I was thinking of selling it this Summer but I've put way to much into it and I dont want to give it away. I'm not sure how much I could even get for it but I have had offers. Ideally I would like to keep my Nighty and have a Street Glide or a HD Softail Deluxe in the garage as well. This isn't an ideal world and I don't have the ideal cash flow to do so however. So rather then get a new, expensive, pristine Harley, why not buy an old bike that needs some work?

So in steps the Yamaha XS650. A good friend of mine, Myles 'Weez' Fletcher found a good used Kawasaki KZ650 C2 for around $1000. He had a little trouble with the bike initially, but it's been a great bike for him since. I have no doubt in my mind that I can find a Yamaha XS650 for around the same price - depending on the condition. I mentioned before that Josh from G & L Choppers builds these bikes for a living...maybe not entirely for a living. I had alot of questions for him regarding his business and how it worked. There are a few different options when looking to make an old Yamaha XS650, or any metric bike into a modern day bobber or chopper. One is finding a bike. G & L will do this for you or you can find one yourself. Prefer it to be running if possible. Next is deciding if you want to do the project yourself, have a say and help in the project, or have it all done for you . This is something I'll have to decide eventually. Of course with each step there are ways to spend money and ways to save money. Im gonna try and do it on a budget, no more then $5000. Other decisions that need to be made are style, frame, wheels, color etc. Its not a huge project either. Theres not a lot to these bikes. Its not rocket science but being new to the game I think this will be a good way to start. So now that I've decided on this I will keep you posted on the entire process. Until then....

Now this is a project for next winter, so be on the look out for a late 70's Yamaha XS 650.

Maybe If I get going on it I will encourage my buddy Weez and his bro Ryan to get started on Weez's Old Kawi.

Until then here are some pics of the original bike...