In September 2011 I traded a Suzuki GS850 for this '79 XS650 Special. Here it is as I got it. It was a decent running bike, but definitely needed some work.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

By November 2011 I had finished a 'shoe polish' restoration on it. I went through some mechanical items and did some cosmetics, and then rode the bike like this for awhile.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

The bike was fine like that, but I wanted something a little different, and started making some changes. By September 2013 I had swapped to spoke wheels with an 18" drum brake wheel in the rear, mounted a AT/CT tank and a '72-'73 Kawasaki G5 seat, shortened the rear fender, made a skid plate, put on a Bates style headlight, and a few other changes. Really simple stuff, but totally changed the look and feel of the bike.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

The bike had a neat rough and ready desert sled vibe to it, but I wanted a more refined enduro look, so back to work. I did some more mechanical work on it, and also did a paint job, and mounted a DT1 front fender. Here it is by August 2014. I'm super happy with it now, but I'm also sure I'll be making new changes.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

Here is my '75 XS650 as I got it. In June 2010 I traded an old utility trailer for the bike. The bike ran, but had a top end noise. I was hoping to just do some minor work and ride it, and that it was just in need of a cam chain and valve adjustment, but once I got it home and started looking it over I found pieces of the front cam chain guide in the oil, so it was put aside until it could be properly fixed.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

I finally got into the bike to fix the engine problem, and decided to make a cafe racer. Here it is by May 2013.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

The bike was really neat as a cafe racer. The problem, I liked riding my '79 enduro so much more, and I wanted to do another XS650 enduro, but take things a bit farther than the '79, so back to work. I finished the '75 enduro in August 2016. I used the '79 as basis for what I wanted, and what to improve upon. The '79 is more for the road, and the '75 is made to be better suited off the road. I did a skid plate like the one on the '79, and used a AT/CT tank, but also went with a AT/CT seat. Other mods include a Radian swingarm swap, '78 XT500 forks, 21" front wheel, YZ twin leading shoe front brake, XT500 side stand swap for more ground clearance, and I made some high pipes. The front fender is a Preston Petty Baja, and the rear is a shortened stock fender like the '79.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

Great Work!

.

Kermit gives them two thumbs up!





.

These are really cool! Nicely done and thanks for sharing!

I followed blogs on your first one, just saw the blue one a couple weeks back in looking for pictures of stuff done in that color blue (I'm using it for my jug and head and the tank stripes). Great work!

What a perfect way to combine my two favorite styles of early Yamahas!

I love the badge tank era (own a few of em) and love XS650's (own too many!!).

This is the best way to blend both worlds into one....now where did I stash that spare CT-1 tank at??

Very cool. I recently got a '75 XS650. My Enduros are jealous.

Best builds I have seen in a long time. Im drooling here.. Only reservation would be switching from dual discs to that small front drum. A lot more weight than the bikes that was designed for.. An SR400 front drum would keep the look and add braking power...
Other than that this thread has made you one of my favourite builders.. If I won the lotto I would spend my time making bikes like that !

Way Cool! OK?
And what is not shown is the BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS that went into this, I bet! (Not to mention KACHING!)

Do you ride them a lot?