I totally agree. I love the fact that Yamaha only offered these in one color per year. And to change the color of one is hard to understand. Thanks for watching.
Two real beauties! The XS1 was a milestone for Yamaha. Just one year later, the XS2 brought significant improvements (especially the electric starter). I myself have an XS2 from 1972 and this bike is a real joy!
5:31 "How fast will it go?" reminds me of the story of a potential customer who asked "What's the lowest you can go?" The answer: "About 3 mph - any lower and I fall over."
Being an ' OG ', I can actually remember a neighbour who had a nice new XS2. It's the bike that got me to thinking about all things motorcycling ( at the impressionable age of 10 ). He let me start the bike, with that decompressor/start lever, and I think thats what stuck with me. From then on, much to my parents dismay, it was ' all things motorcycle '. My son rides the modern day Yammy equivalent, an MT07. Like others here, I sort of thought they were designed to take on the Brits, to a certain extent. Thats two really sweet examples you have there.
I love the start lever. You know the first iteration at the factory had to have two steps, decomp then start button. Till someone said, we can do better!
Gotta love those 360 twins - They just sound so mean and snotty, especially on downshifts. I had one of these, and they will absolutely ravel your shorts with vibration, but still - so much fun.
I like the look of the early XS’s I had a R5 and DS7 and they looked alike. I had a 82 XS Special and it had a bad second gear it would jump out on throttle n jerk badddd. I put another 82 motor on it and it had same problem. I geared mine down 2 teeth in the back and the torque was amazing it would pull out at 5 mph in top gear and not hesitate, I didn’t take it on the interstate. I still have that frame and a 76 frame with original title but no parts to put a whole bike together
I bought my XS-2 in early 1972. Living in southern California I got to ride it year round. I was 19 years old and could not afford a decent car. So my 650 was my primary transportation for 3 years until I sold it. I paid $1200 for it and sold it for $800. I enlisted in the Air Force and got stationed in northern Maine. I loved almost everything about my 650. In its day, it was fast. My friend's 750 Honda was a little faster and smoother but my 650 did very well on the streets around Orange County. I dumped my 650 before I even made my 1st payment. I took a curve too fast and hit a guard rail. I don't remember any big issues with maintenance. My biggest complaint was a high speed wobble above 90 MPH. My bike never left me stranded...super reliable.
I had an XS2 back in 76/77. My friend with the restored Kawasaki W1SS has a yellow/gold Yamaha XS1B. The difference between them is extremely apparent!
Th XS650 is the best ' around town ' bike I have owned....SR500 for twisty mountain road riding.... XS1000 for touring.... never had any problems with any of them....
One of the biggest differences between the XS650 and the Triumph 650's was the lower crank case design. On the Triumph the cases were split vertically (left & right sides) so there was an opening (with a gasket) all the way around the bottom of the engine! They were oil leaky as all hell! The Yamaha cases were split horizontally (top and bottom halves) and had no openings other than an oil filter cover on the bottom of the engine and never leaked a drop! Brilliant design change from Yamaha!
I think mine was a Special II. Now I have the fever for another one. There really isn't another bike for me. Before my Special, I had a Suzuki GT550, 3 cylinder 2 stroke. It has it's own appeal, but I don't really want one of those. I want my Yamaha. Also, I am a piano tuner and I know that their pianos are good.
I really enjoy your videos but didn't Yamaha come out with these to do "battle" with British twins, particularly Triumph? Never thought of these as being compared to CB 750s.
Really beautiful motorbikes the XS 650's and so much better looking than the current crop of Yamahas that are great bikes but quite ugly with their horrible bug like headlight assemblies and discoloured exhausts that look old an knackered almost from day one.
I loved my old XS 750 triple. Bigger, heavier, more advanced. In my dotage, I'm starting to appreciate simplicity again, so would love to find one of these old 650s to tinker and ride. That lope is as distinctive as the ol' Harley sound, but obviously not the same thing. I like both, but the Yammer does seem a bit more polite. :)
I bought a new xs 650 in 71. My best friend had a Triumph chopper. Rode that bike to Canada, and to Ohio from Il.sold it for a down payment on a 73 Dodge Charger.
@@motorcyclerewind I would take the Charger. I had a lot of bikes, my favorite was my 79 Triumph 750 Bonnie. Bought from a farmer. Was 100% original. 4 months later it looked show room condition. 3 times I won 2 first place,and one 2nd. Place in British motorcycle shows I Had that bike for 12 years. I sold it when I moved out of America in 2005.
I have an 82 Heritage, and the clutch issues with finding neutral when warmed to engine temp really does suck, do you have any suggestions for a sure cure? Thanks
Big disclaimer. This is MY opinion. I like to keep points. Because I have a better chance of fixing it in the side of the road. I have friends that would say just the opposite. I put electronic ignition on my 305 Dream. Was not a noticeable difference went back when I rebuilt the top end. This probably did not help!! Thanks for watching.
@@motorcyclerewind my complaint way not the points but rather the centrifugal advance never seemed to work correctly Same with old HD Sportsters. Points worked but I liked the programmed advance of electronics
