Another acquisition...Another story...

Rizingson

A some of you know, I like to show off a new or unusual find once in a while aside from the normal CL finds. Well anyway on Labor day I was showing a half dozen of my '60s honda in a display at a local car/bike show when this older fellow (well just slightly older than me Laughing

) came up to me and said he had a bike that he wanted me to have. I said free or buy? (he meant purchase) So I asked him what he had, and he told me it was a 650 Yamaha. Well a '70 XS1 in candy green would definately be interesting, but when I wanted to know if it was a XS650 he said no it was a TX650 (actually seemed annoyed that I kept calling it an XS650). Anyway he told me he was the orginal owner and that it was a clean bike. (I've heard that many times before)
I told him I'd come take a look but needed to see some other bikes I was dealing on first. So after a couple of months he gave me a call, as I'd given him my card, to see if I was ready to come see his bike. I sort of reluctanly agreed to go there (only about 10 miles from my place) not really sure I wanted to buy another bike just yet or if it would turn out to be something rode hard and abused. Pulling up to his shop I see a nicely restored '55 chevy (probably why he was at the show) So we go into his shop and the first thing that catches my eye is a couple of 'late 60's Triumphs.

After complimenting him on how nice and original the Triumphs were, I see the Yamaha sitting on a lift

My jaw must of hit the floor. This thing looked the same as it did on the showroom floor back in '73. I was thinking he's gonna want some green for this one. Using the American Pickers strategy I asked him what he would need for it, not knowing how I could come up with an excuse not to buy it unless the price was outrageous. Well I won't say what the price was except I'm confident I can double my money tomorrow if I was inclined to flip it which I promised him I wouldn't. He told me he was only selling it because it wasn't a Triumph. Back in '73 he had a couple of Triumphs stolen and a friend had convinced him it was just like a Bonneville. But even after a couple of road trips he wasn't sold on it being able to replace his Triumphs. So he only rode it a couple times a year just to run it and then winterized it every winter and was getting tired of that routine. Anyway he was just insisting it went to a collector who would appreciate an all original bike, as so many of the the 650's have become bobbers and rat bikes. Well you know you won't see me doing that! Laughing

Brought her home tonight and took some pics as the sun was getting low.

So there you have it another turnkey showbike that runs absolutly great!!! He insisted that I put it in that show next year,(so he could see it again) which I said that's the least I could do and also promised to kill anybody that mentioned the word "bobber" in earshot of it.
This also wasn't the first time I've detected a tear in an eye before pulling away with it in my trailer.

Russell · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:15 pm Post subject:

Good grief man...in the last photo we can clearly see that all the fasteners around the top of the engine look un-marked! What a beautiful machine! Have commented before and will continue no doubt to think this. It seems wrong that such machines haven't had the use they were designed for!I don't doubt that the original owner is right on in saying it didn't do it for him in the way Triumph twins of the time did. I wonder if he can identify specifically what things he didn't like as much.
I recall riding a new TX750 extensively at a time when I'd also been riding Daytona and Bonneville Trumpies and I felt that the Yamaha felt just like the Triumphs in handling only smoother and more 'together'. Of course the TX750 was a marketplace disaster and I only ever had a short ride on an XS 650 and it wasn't well maintained so didn't get the best impression.
Now I keep reading moto-journalists raving over Kawasakis W800,after several years of more lukewarm praise for the earlier W650 version, and I wonder just whether the W800 would do it for an experienced rider of the Turner designed Triumph twins or not?

zjeppe · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:29 am Post subject:

What a catch, waouw, goodluck, congrats&enjoy Cool

Rizingson · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 6:53 am Post subject:

The PO's dislikes for the Yamaha were, if I remember correctly, mostly about frame rigidity and quality of welds on the frame. Now I definately am not qualified to critique handling as I'm not or never have been a peg/knee dragging sort of rider. I wouldn't know what a bike with a hinge in the middle (as most reviewers refer to frame flex as) feels like. It's been 40 years since I ridden a Triumph twin or experienced a tank slapper that put me down. (knock on wood). Reliability was not a factor, as he'd ridden both on long road trips without problems. I used to have a friend that rode a Daytona back in the early '70s that always asked me to follow him on my honda so I could pick up pieces that fell off his Triumph. Actually saw a muffler fall off once!! Razz

He also stated that his Triumphs don't leak oil either, which I also noticed. Appearently with proper gaskets/sealant or adhesives that's also possible.

yamasarus · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:50 am Post subject:

I am very much into standard 650 Yamahas. I did a frame up on my 73 in 1998. I can absolutely say that your bike is a real find. Gorgeous! Well done.
Now as to the handling. It leaves a little to be desired. If you ride the bike as intended you will never have a problem. Cruise it at 55/65 mph and it will always be a joy. My 73 will never leave home as long as I'm alive!

Bikegeezer

650hardtail · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:47 am Post subject:

congrats on the find

dorT500 · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:01 am Post subject:

Rizingson · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:05 am Post subject:

Thanks all for the compliments on the Yamaha!! I can't wait for spring, as you can see we've got snow on the ground here in Colorado. Hope to let go of a "clean low mileage" Wink

'95 XV750 Virago in spring to make room for this to replace it. The Virago is geared too tall for the 2 lane back roads I cruise on. (have to run in 4th most of the time). Got about 3500 miles on it. Will post details in the proper area later.

turbo_billy · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:18 am Post subject:

Rizingson, if it wasn`t for the little puddle called the Atlantic between us I think I would happily let you double your money by selling it to me.
Always had an eye for the 650 but finding a good one over here at an affordable price is getting harder and harder. It`s on my list of bikes to own one day.
Beautiful example and yes, you have struck gold with this one.
Jealous,much,not Mr. Green

Hope you enjoy it come the spring
Regards
Tim bike

Bentwheel · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:54 am Post subject:

Great story Rizingson, I love it when someone uncovers low mileage originals. You must have left the previous owner with a good impression, enough that he wanted you to have his old paint, even after a couple of months. I think Triumph guys love their Triumph's and nothing else will do. There was a time when I felt that way. Maybe he didn't think the TX was Triumph enough, but having owned both I fell the XS650 is absolutely Triumph like. I bought a 78 XS650 three years ago and during the test ride, it immediately struck me how similar it was to my old Triumph. The vertical twin's sound and the handling instantly brought back Triumph memories.

rroadrunner · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:04 pm Post subject:

It is indeed a beautiful bike, congrats. Those Triumphs in the 1st photo are outstanding too.