STORY TIME WITH SR & A PRISTINE 1979 YAMAHA XS650 SPECIAL MINT ORIGINAL 

I can close my eyes and see my dad riding away from work. He started riding in his sixties and had only 1 bike. His was an 82 but the same color, It was a $400 bomber. He found some used bars I has lying around, Sprayed her black, Got some sweet mufflers and you couldn't get him off it. Thanks brother. He's gone now but it feels like he's right here, I needed this.

Sir, you just told my story! I bought a 1976 XS650C new when I was 17 with money from cutting lawns. I still have it! It’s in French Blue and it’s the older upright version before the specials came out. I have around 80,000 miles of smiles on her. Around five yrs. ago I found,”The guy” in Central Florida who is the absolute guru on XS650’s to rebuild my motor. My bike ran fine but I was getting head oil leaking from just plain age of gaskets and seals. He did an awesome job, took pictures of the process, put those pics in a couple of thumb drives for me. My bike runs better than ever! 3300 rpm’s at 60 in fifth gear! I get an average of 45mpg’s. She just humms along! 48 yrs. Old and she still is my favorite in my stable. Many tales to tell with my bike.

Beautiful vintage Yamaha Streetbike. Love that Candy Apple Red Color. The original owner kept that bike up well. My Uncle had a Yamaha XS 1100 in the 80's, and that was one badass musclebike, that truly hauled ass.

Great looking bike, that and the Honda CB750 are my all-time favorites.

I love the stories beautiful machine Kaplan Cycles God Bless America❤

Always wanted a 650 but settled for an XS400 in black, and I rode that thing everywhere, work all week, Vermont from S.E. Ct. more than a few times...thing ran like a watch. To my memory for the 4 years I owned it all I ever did was put Gas in it...

Love the story of Ken's youth, great to see these bikes.

She's a beauty ! I love the nostalgic story of you buying one back in the day , we can hear your excitment seeing this one in such condition.

that really is a perfectly beautiful motorcycle ,,best wishes from australia

Hey Kaplan, I want to thank you for everything and anything you’ve done for me and believe me I love all of it. Just by the videos ive seen I can tell you are a Cool dude! Your Bikes are just awesome and I appreciate you sharing more than you know. Thank you friend😎🙌⭐️🕊🦋🕊☮️🖤🌅🙏🎉🇺🇸

Fond memories of 1979, my graduation year.

That's a great bike. Greg loved that thing. Glad to see it looking so good!

That's awesome, I have owned 2 black ones in a previous life. They are a great bike.

One of the best bikes ever made ✌

Pretty nice ride for a sophomore. I had a Honda S90 in 1968.

The midnight special was pretty sweet as well.

I had a 72 GT750 for my high school bike but later had several of those Yamaha 650’s. We called them the disco cruisers 😀

🐝🏁 I love the bike history 👍video

Those 650 Special s were tuff hard to beat bikes

'Love the XS650's, esp. in stock form. I had 2 '74's. '77 & later, they were all sorted - best years. These engines were pre-computer designed, overbuilt & reliable - yes, 'bulletproof'. They didn't handle quite as well as the Brit. 650's, esp. early '70's models, but way more reliable & a tad more powerful at 53 HP rated. I'd be happy to have another, '77-'79, standard version.

I had a XS650 Special was a 78. Midnight Blue. Wish I still had it.

I bought a Kawasaki 1979 KZ (SR) 650 I thought I was king of the hill .. My friend's father owned a Yamaha dealership in town and those were all around. Those Yamaha 650s stood the test of time

1985 i had a 250 us custom in england btill memories

i hear what your saying , you have to save up for something , you look after it . Did just that 27 years ago , bought a used 1980 ( TCI) XS560SE with 18K on the clock ..... 27 years later its got 90K on the clock . some one is going to love that bike you have there .

Mate that's an absolute beauty!

Yeah one great dream machine from the good old times. In fact the Yamaha XS 650 was the first "big" bike I tested in 1980. Compared to the Honda Monkey Z50J the cylinders on the XS650 was enormous. I remember that I took all out from it. Round 115mph. Even I'm a Honda CB models lover I love this Yamaha and the Yamaha RD models.

Classic retro ride ! Tkx for sharing Ken!

Nice bike!

My first street bike! Mine was silver and was an 81 bought new in 84 as a holdover for 1750.00 dollars. Great bike but my headlight was always burning out.

Id buy this straight off, then make it the black gold flake with gold pin stripes ... midnight special ❤

I had a 1979 650 special that I traded a truck for that only had 800 me it was wrecked nice bike very nice bike that's the bike that triumphant BSA should have made

xs baby

Too many people that deserve the same chance taken that you had Sr, its unfortunate many people get turned down for a loan that just want something they would cherish and pay for on time and in full!

I test rode one in 1979, I think it was a 77 model 👍

I love old triumphs but looking at this, I can understand why they went bankrupt.

curious how the performance was up against the Bonnie 750? I have a T140

had a brand new one in 1981 cost was £1299 on the road. uk

Wow👌

Seems like yamaha twins have always been throaty 🤔

Ken are we old farts or does that motor sound better now

Carmine Red is the color

👍

Can't be stock pipes sounds too good!

It's a little bit crazy we have similar stories a buddy of mine in high school had one and we would go ride everywhere and I ended up buying his and I ended up with a couple more down the pike they are a lot of fun to ride man I learned how to ride wheelies on one of these❤️💪🏼💪🏼🤍🤟🏻🤟🏻💙👍🏼👍🏼🌍🇺🇲😎👊🏻🗯💥🤙🏻🤙🏻

xs baby