xs650 project.

A project I’ve been working on for about three years,1974 Yamaha TX650 (XS650).
I can’t ride anymore due to age and chronic RA, but a few modifications in my workshop allow me to continue. Fused fingers and no elbow joints left using things like hammers and screwdrivers a little problematic, but I get by.

The bike was in pretty sorry shape when I brought it home: Not going, broken crankcases, 70psi compression, leaking valves, no advance unit, treacle in the sump, barbs funked up with I don’t know what, every nut and bolt rusted, some had to be cut to remove, badly oxidised and pitted aluminium, but it did come with a few spares, two spoked wheels, plus a load of other stuff that went straight in the bin.

Most of the standard stuff was stuffed so I decided to customise it into a café racer style, making everything and doing all the work myself, except for reboring and valve grinding.

Along the way I bought new, used crankcases, had it rebored and the valves reground, bought new pistons, rings, gudgeons, auto advance unit, carry kits, gaskets, seals, stainless fasteners, plus a heap of mother bits and pieces.

I welded up a new aluminium tail light and battery box, made a new single cowl seat, aluminium side covers, pancake filters, manifolds, fuel distributor, reed valve breather, catch can, chain guard, billet chain adjusters, stainless rear brake components, engine mounts, alternator stator mount, remote spin on filter base, oil cooler mount, exhaust pipes, mufflers, headlight brackets, handlebar risers, single points cam, plus a lot more.

I painted in two pack black, did some home anodising, polished lots of metal, designed and put together two wiring harnesses, one for lights, another for ignition. Fitted aftermarket LED lights and indicators, 7” headlight bucket, +++

Mods include VM34 carbs, permanent magnet alternator, single points ignition, Remote spinmon filter, oil cooler, plus all the stuff I made above.

 

Welcome! And well done.

 

Outstanding!

 

Awesome build.