While the Black Sparrow was getting it's top end rebuilt at the Tiny Garage Rod Shop, a buddy lent me this '77 XS650 to get around on. Thus began my love affair with the XS650. This thing was awesome. Although the picture makes the bike look like it's in better shape than it really was, it did have Norton pipe that made a wicked brit bark. Although not real pretty it ran like a dream, other than the electric start, but real men kick.
My Uncle picked this Frankenstein from his brother. It's a '74 TX650A (XS650 every other year) with a '78 SE engine. Battery covers from a special, homemade straight pipes with a scary weld on cut off OEM dumps. The two stage seat was an attempt to update the bike in the '80's as were the mirrors and wide/tall tires. The worst "custom feature" on the bike was the silver hand painted, with a brush, gas tank. Yikes! This patchwork came to me "running" on the back of a trailer with two boxes of parts (never a good sign) and cost me $63.74. The price of gas and a set of fresh plugs.
Here's an original TX Ad from '74.
Here's the Frankenbike today. Nearly all restored.
While the Black Sparrow was getting it's top end rebuilt at the Tiny Garage Rod Shop, a buddy lent me this '77 XS650 to get around on. Thus began my love affair with the XS650. This thing was awesome. Although the picture makes the bike look like it's in better shape than it really was, it did have Norton pipe that made a wicked brit bark. Although not real pretty it ran like a dream, other than the electric start, but real men kick.
My Uncle picked this Frankenstein from his brother. It's a '74 TX650A (XS650 every other year) with a '78 SE engine. Battery covers from a special, homemade straight pipes with a scary weld on cut off OEM dumps. The two stage seat was an attempt to update the bike in the '80's as were the mirrors and wide/tall tires. The worst "custom feature" on the bike was the silver hand painted, with a brush, gas tank. Yikes! This patchwork came to me "running" on the back of a trailer with two boxes of parts (never a good sign) and cost me $63.74. The price of gas and a set of fresh plugs.
Here's an original TX Ad from '74.
Here's the Frankenbike today. Nearly all restored.
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