Yamaha XS650 Gallery

The 650cc parallel twin from Yamaha was originally launched (though not in Britain) in 1969, the same year that Honda let loose the CB750. The two couldn't be further apart since the Honda was clearly the 'new', the way forward for Japan, while the XS-1 was a copy of the British bikes the CB750 would destroy.

The irony is of course that the 'copy' also went on to survive and prosper long after the bikes it was cloned from had disappeared. It was based on the BSA 650 dimensions, with 75 x 74mm bore and stroke, but it also had chain-driven overhead cam, it was soon to have an electric start and it had 36mm CV carbs. The engine even looked good.

It was heavy, at a final 4671b, and power was slowly strangled by emission controls down to 50bhp, but it was torquey and didn't leak oil. On the other hand it didn't handle too well.

The 650S custom version started a whole new industry, and is probably the most common version you will find today. Models still running should run for a while yet and will give you the 'character' of a British bike but far fewer of the hassles. Prices are steady.

Bike	Image	Description
1939 Yamaha XS-1
Yamaha XS-1		Engine - 654cc air-cooled OHC parallel twin Horsepower - 53bhp @ 7000rpm Top Speed - 105 mph Brakes - drum/drum Frame - tubular twin cradle Transmission - 5 speed Yamaha XS1-B road test
Yamaha XS2		Yamaha XS2 road review
1972 Yamaha XS2 650		Original unmolested Yamaha 650 twin.
1973 Yamaha XS650		Air cooled, four stroke, parallel twin cylinder, SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder.
1973 Yamaha XS650
1975 Yamaha XS650		First produced as the XS-1, with no electric start and with TLS brakes, a model never introduced to Britain. The first one we saw was the XS-2.
1976 Yamaha XS650		This bike was last raced in 1996 at Daytona Speedway in Florida.
1978 Yamaha XS650E
1978 Yamaha XS650 Special
1979 Yamaha XS650 Special 2		This model was the one that set the fire under a boom in American style bikes based on the traditional vertical twin engine of the TX650. With features like a teardrop tank, and chopper style handlebars along with a King & Queen seat and short megaphone type muffler, all mounted on 16-inch wheels, this model achieved a true horseback type riding feeling. As the predecessor to the Special series bikes to follow, this model was popular both for long-distance touring and around-town riding.
1979 Yamaha XS650F
1979 Yamaha XS650
1980 Yamaha XS650 Special 2
1980 Yamaha XS650
1981 Yamaha XS650 Flat Tracker		RD 400 front end Hagon rear shocks Braided hoses Custom seat unit Renthal bars Race brakes/Calipers SS bolt set

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