HELP!!! Bike Identity ????

Hey guys I have been offered a bike( I can't get it still no job no room wife would be way upset!! But one of you fine gents might want it but I need to know what it is so I can post a proper topic for the guy that has it up for sale.

Here goes it is a twin cylinder 653cm3 stamped under the left cylinder head. It has electric start and a kickstarter it is a 1981 Yamaha that is all the Title states(I have seen the titlefree and clear) It has mikuni carbs with a choke lever that is mounted right on the carbs and sticks on toward the left side. It has spoke chrome wheels if that helps any. Oh it is a chain drive bike single disc brake on the front wheel.

He wants 600 or best for it. From what I can tell right away the bike needs a battery it has to be jumped to start but does start. It will fire with the kickstart but that seems too laborous for me LOL! The left mirror is broken the seat has some rips in it. The tank doesn't look dented it was dark so I may have missed something. all in all it needs some tlc but not a beat up bike. So guys let me have it what is it and if any of you have interest PM me and I will get some contact info for you. It is located in Marshall, Mi. Looks like it would need tires soon as well.

 

a picture would be helpful, but it sounds like an XS.

 

Sounds as if it is a 1981 Yamaha XS650 Special II. The Special II was the "econo version" of the Special with less chrome,a tubular grab rail instead of cast aluminum rail,and spoked rims instead of mag style rims.

 

wiz not mine and I dont have a camera phone. I was out hunting and dropped this guy off and he mentioned hey do you know anybody who wants a bike. it doesn't say anything on the side covers which are wider than those I have seen on other xj's

 

Yeah could be a XS650H Special II, or XS650SH Special. Both are 2 cylinder with a kick start. Any idea what the original color is/was? Each model came in 2 colors each / 4 colors total. That would narrow it down.

 

It is brown I believe it was dark out I looked at it with a led light so not the best for color accuracy if its not brown it is black. It has chrome fenders if that helps LOL. It has a windscreen and saddlebags with some tlc it could be a nice bike I tried to talk the wife into today for her so we could go ride together but that went no where.

 

If the gauge housings are black,it is a Special II. If they are chrome,it is an XS650 Special.Spoke rims came on the Special II,cast aluminum rims came on the Special. The seat rail on the Special II is chrome plated tubular steel,on the Special,it is cast aluminum.I believe the '82 Special II was offered in a choice of a deep burgundy purple or metallic blue.

 

Colors offered in 1981 for the XS650H Special II were a choice of Indigo blue,or New Ruby Red (really looks more like purple).

 

It def has spoked wheels hmm on the colors I will have to check it out in the daylight I guess It doesn't look like it has ever been painted. But there are no badges so maybe it was. It is an 81' according to the title. I guess its time to get some pics of it and put it in the classifieds section so one of you guys can buy it.

 

Maybe it's just a "Standard" XS650? Not a "special?" I don't remember how long they kept offering the standard XS's.

 

Last year of production for the standard was 1979.

 

So now we got it narrowed down a bit what would it be worth? He is asking 600 or best I really don't have the $$ not having a job for almost 2 months now. But I am going to put up a post in the for sale section and he said he really needs to sell it. It seems he is hurting for $$ While I am not hurting I can't be spending $ on stuff we don't need at the moment. I want to help him get it sold I don't have too much experience in pricing these bikes. I know its an 81 because of the title. It has to be the special II by the sounds of it with the spoked wheels unless somebody just liked them. I did some googling and the pics def resemble the bike.

 

My opinion based on your description. If he needs $600 will have to ask a bit more. He can probably get $400 for it.

 

Another way to confirm that it is a Special II is the headlight bucket.The Special II had a black headlght bucket,whereas the Special had a chrome bucket.Depending on mileage and condition,the bike should be worth anywhere from $500 to $1500,at least in my area.Go to 650motorcycles.com,and enter Special II into their search block. This may give you another visual reference point.

 

bill IMO 400 is fair for the condition he wanted to start at 600 or best but needs to move the bike to pay bills so he will take less.

 

lol my dad would go nuts if i bought this thing....should have rather than my piece i have now... woulda been fun to get running, and cheap... but then i wouldn't be allowed to post here... well i could in the other motorcycle forums...bah.