Regulars Rides: Ben's Yamaha XS650 custom chopper

This week Ben Saggers brought down his Yamaha XS650 Chopper down for us to poke the camera around.
Originally he was looking for a more reliable bike to commute on than his clapped out Honda CB550, but all of that went out the window when he spotted this XS650 on eBay, much to his wife’s dismay.
It had been sat dormant in a garage since 1986 with its previous owner so did need a bit of a spruce up and work done to it including a 750 bigger bore kit. That extra power was what prompted him to take the bike racing and over the years take part in many events such as the Malle Mile, Wheels and Waves’ Punk’s Peak and DirtQuake to name a few.
As the bike was built on a budget, the ethos behind this bike was to bodge and fix to make it work as he went along and had the work done to it that was needed to keep it running.
#XS650 #YamahaXS650 #TheBikeShed

[@MrMichaelConstantine]

Amazing, proper budget bike. No frills. It just works, you can tell this guy is not concerned about other people's views. Love this build so much.

[@MegaDRKSTR]

Professional help...for the bike...not for me 🤣🤣

[@yuhan4469]

that must be where the meme "call the ambulance... but not for me" came from

[@nevillecoleman2027]

saw this guy racing at malle and he took no prisoners! absolute madman..

[@chrisdawson8252]

Looking at his bike, stock suspension and all, he must be a skilled rider that just gets it done

[@fidy8dub]

I prefer garage built chops! More bikes like this please!

[@josephcurry4891]

Finally a real shitty shed bike! Favorite bike so far

[@thejerseyj1636]

A chopper with knobbies and you race it on dirt tracks... I'm LOVING it !!!

[@claybornlewis276]

A chopper with nobbies, have you ever seen a chopper.....? Cuz that's not a chopper in any form.. that's what you call a bobber my friend.

[@leeonardodienfield402]

@@claybornlewis276 a chopper is a chopped bike, which this is.

[@claybornlewis276]

@@leeonardodienfield402 looks more like an abortion

[@lalnablehector1285]

@@claybornlewis276it is tho

[@laurieblake3310]

i could watch shit like this and beautifully built bikes (with the builder) all day long

[@ashleysmith3106]

I'm one of of those "old Guys" with bits in the shed (70 next year), and this dude reminds me so much of myself back in the 60's and 70's when I was building Honda choppers in South Australia with any random parts I could get hold of! And I rode hundreds of thousands of Km (miles, then) in the outback! Killed a girder-forked Honda, (and almost myself) near Leigh Creek in '71 when the air cleaner fell off, and the bulldust jammed the throttle on full open. Take care, and keep on with that labour of love!

[@KenmeriCaptain]

love it Ashley! hello from another Adelaidean

[@parkorchardsrecording]

Bloody good stuff hey!

[@StreetBob-tn1ed]

big respect old timer built a few in the 70s meself still riding just about got a new street bob now though although me doc keeps moaning

[@Elvirth24]

This is truly the spirit of motorcycling. Slapped together, haphazard, tons of fun. I'm on an old 1982 Virago 750, and I'm slowly turning it into more and more of a rat bike/bobber. I'll probably have the damn thing when I'm much older, just keeping working on it and adding to it.

[@angrymancunian]

Makes you reconsider the constant striving for perfection that you often get with custom bikes, life ain’t perfect so why should your bike. Mental build, but in a good way!

[@thorkellthetall4827]

This is exactly what I want to do. I love old, vintage choppers, but I dream of having a Frankenstein bike like this that I can just rip around on and not worry if it breaks or gets a little dinged up. Ride her rough and put her away dirty XD Something to help me live a bit on the weekends.

[@driver8438]

Get an old sportster

[@StudioStupidPony]

Mate, I'm no fan of choppers but your attitude to bike building is the mutts nuts! Raising a glass to you and all your 'Professional Help' have a safe journey. !!!

[@kriskirby1387]

best bike viewed on this channel. thumbs up.

[@the1khronohs40]

Cool! Love the 'Devil may care' look of this! So cool you take it racing as well! 😎👍

[@dannyb20vtec28]

Looks good with that top motor mount chopped... cleans up the neck area.. looks good.. people don’t realize how much potential these xs650’s have.. do a 750 big bore and they rip! I have a couple and they are bad ass. Light weight and fun bar hoppers.. respect to this guy for racing this build with a hard tail! Fuck!

[@CharlesWillisBonsai]

I love this bike. Reminds me of the old school choppers where it seemed like they put whatever they had around together to keep the bikes running.

[@SageSavage]

Absolute madman. I love it. The super minimalist art bikes are cool too but, to me, this is the spirit of motorcycling. Throw a bunch of shit together and use it for stuff you shouldn't.

[@MayheM_72]

I've always loved the XS650! Especially the fact that you could make a British style custom bike with Japanese reliability. I just missed out on an '81 XS650 Special in 1998. Somebody bought it the day before I went to do buy it. I would rather build a stripped down bobber that keeps the real suspension for daily riding, but this is still a real beauty!

[@jumecker001]

Gooooooood vibrations! Good decision. Superbe sound and kind of a magic carpet. That bike will take you anywhere. I rebuilt a 447 and I just want it back. Happy new year!

[@AdamSuperAC]

She is a beautiful, work of Art. I tip my hat to you brother, well done. Cheers from Australia!

[@lephan975]

Unreliable Honda...Now that's something I haven't heard of for a long time.

[@ripmax333]

if we assume that he bought this Honda second hand, and the previews owner was a total jerk in maintaining the bike...Well Honda or not, you have to take care of it if you want that the bike takes care of you.

[@chrismemphis8062]

People give Honda more credit than they deserve. Weak auto transmissions and their bikes are REALLY HARD to fix.

[@hardtailsuicidaljockey6827]

Yamaha not honda look at the engine it says Yamaha not honda !

[@DomWeselnyBrzozieLub]

Been riding cb400 for decade...no problem.

[@hardtailsuicidaljockey6827]

@@DomWeselnyBrzozieLub problem

[@jonathandavies6862]

I love that you bought it and slowly built up an fixed as you could and when you could afford it because that's a budget that alot of people are on. Most folk don't have a budget for everything brand new etc

[@Austin_Soares]

The knobby tires make it look more aggressive, I love it!

[@sickamickanico]

This is sick!! Ben is a bloody legend! Bike sounds angry! 🤘

[@StormLaker]

Love the knobby's on this bike:-). It adds to the character of the bike, and kind of reminds me of the bikes people rode when I was a kid in the late 70's here in rural Iowa:-).

[@AKAKiddo]

I can see why this would be one of my favorite bikes also.

[@MikeyForLife]

The best kind of bike, one with character.

[@vinceyorston1019]

That is the spirit that I love. Thanks brother

[@charlyvss5440]

Awesome build and crazy rider

[@lucusmaximus6899]

You sir are a beautiful inspiration.

[@jacquesduplessis6310]

At last!!!!!! Function over form👍Well done mate

[@mr.noneofyourbusiness3234]

Love the build man!! Just the way I like it, home grown!

[@yeahOkgood]

I've been working my way through these regular rides videos and this is my fav so far. Even my guy's helmet shield is really too fogged to use but he just goes with it

[@willosborne5590]

This is the bike of Legends

[@Wooley689]

Having fun with it, that's the main goal. Kudos.

[@tubadude905]

That's awesome! Hilarious bike built for fun...very cool.

[@hd_rider_97]

Best bike by far! It's good to see bikes like this. I'm currently working on my own custom with a £2000 budget. Its currently going really well.

[@NoelAbhi1]

This bloke sounds Aussie! The baby bottle! what a true legend 😆

[@edhog]

Mad aussie lad twang Awesome. Had such a laugh at your vid. Mate keep smashing it. That rig you made is inspiring

[@jamesbutterson5218]

Awesome bike!! And you have some really cool mate's!!!! RIDE ON 😎💨

[@iRidetas]

badass! love it. legit chopper

[@niteshades_promise]

you off road race on a hardtail? dang! i had a kz440 hardtail n my back is hurting just thinking about that. i took mine off road but only like second gear. an xs650 like that is my dream bike🍻

[@jimgrady7458]

@1:30 "...got some professional help,......for the bike, not me..." 🤣🤣

[@downtofun]

Holy shit I fucking love this thing. Best Yamaha XS650 ever!

[@caramelzappa]

Nice bike, great story. I'm laughing at an hour being a long commute though!

[@ericotto2561]

Nice scoot man! Like the fact you make it work and have fun with it. Old biker told me once "if ya aint wrenching on it, it aint worth having."

[@JamesCouch777]

Love it, that is my kind of build 👌👍

[@humanbeingfromearth]

This is sick!!!

[@Uncle_Chuck]

Madness mate absolutely fukn brilliant

[@dionreload]

Such a soulfull bike

[@garytompkins7384]

It’s now 2021.....it’s all in how you’re feelin,that’s all that matters!!!!

[@Mrhallager1]

awesome bike

[@anotherbloodytruckie455]

Now THAT'S how ya start a bike! 🤘

[@josephbriggs_859]

absolute unit

[@SergioTerol]

Best fucking bike ever! on the channel. Dont get me wrong... is not the prettiest, its just the better one, the most real, relatable, attainable one. Loved it.

[@OCTANEslc]

There were so many old guys that helped with this build.

[@UrielsJunkDrawer]

The seat and sissy bar are my favorite part of the bike.

[@gregoryaparker]

9:37 Now that's a nice sight :-)

[@mad4tarmac]

Just bought a rusty old xj600 hardtail chop,love it..everyone says paint etc etc...nope it's gonna age like it should.

[@mikeymike3240]

What a bike, what a sound from the exhaust, really really sharp, I'd love to have a wee blat on er. Seeeeeeet bike man, the only thing I would do if it was mine, would be fitting longer forks, but that's no good for the type of racing you do. Great video man. 😀👍👍👍

[@robertrice2516]

Cool bike!

[@arthurleino]

I had a 78 Yamaha XS650 Special when stationed at NAS North Island. Only thing I added to it was Fwd Foot rests. Nice reliable bike it was.

[@wademaharg5147]

Well the darn thing sounds D's really good that's for sure

[@L0r3n2]

That bike is so freakin' gnarly, I hope he's doing ok with it

[@nikitis13]

Another fine example of an old tech, rough, well used, temperamental, inappropriate motorcycle that was bought by the soul, not the head by someone who used their zeal to feel alive and imagination to make his transport into an event every time he sets away. Good on you Ben! creations like this are the perfect antidote for the ever increasing zombified societies we live in. You can't buy cool. One needs to create it themselves.

[@robraver]

if that Bike was available locally I would buy it in a nanosecond!! looks good!

[@kokialmiron2340]

i wanna drink a beer whit this dude.

[@BikeShedMotoCo]

koki almiron trust me... you don’t! 😂

[@DomWeselnyBrzozieLub]

Briliant😀

[@richardlewin9282]

Love the XS 👍Yamaha

[@jeffruebens8355]

Very reliable for a 1970s to 1980s bike, especially the roller bearing crankshaft and aluminum instead of chrome rims from the factory. Smart to keep the stock front disk brake. You could route the crankcase breather hose to oil the chain. I like Fluid Film spray for the chain- made with lanolin from sheepskin.

[@konstantinosmaounis798]

Nice fun bike

[@jamesfreeland3137]

I like it. 👍

[@papawnanabubby5005]

Love a bitsa bike!

[@mikeydaniel9478]

that sounds quick

[@Chopper650]

xs650's were the triumph killers

[@ilwanpradipta]

Choppers, no bolt no problem 🤟🏻

[@jackrobinson759]

Niiiiice

[@haylorization892]

Yessss nobbies!!! Needs more rake!! 😂😂🤣🤣😍😍😍

[@bxl1121]

Cool

[@diymotorcycleguy6529]

top marks for anyone who builds a complete running custom! I have a stock 77 and just getting it back to running is a challenge. Still trying to figure out the wiring diagrams, the "as-built" must be different than "as-designed"....getting close though.

[@Tardisius]

"My wife couldn't understand why I bought it"......We've all heard that before =))

[@mokonindyatmoko9175]

👍👍👍bro

[@justinreedflynn]

Tombstone taillight was vintage Harley, there's a ton of after-market ones now tho

[@WhiteShadowAlba]

Old mate has the most eastern suburbs accent IYKYK

[@manasseh7]

Shout out to the RD350!

[@DappieKS80]

Your kidneys won't thank you later.

[@Bahlzeron]

Is it just me or does he look like Cliff Clavin from Cheers?

[@motomark9736]

Back in the 1980s I had a 1974 Honda 550 four and bought a 81 Yamaha 650 special the Yamaha gave me trouble I usually rode my Honda it was more reliable . I love Honda's I ride a 1800 vtx now .

[@mrbusak3]

You used to be an Australian.

[@anonharingenamn]

I adore this build. How tf do I get me one?

[@benjaminlim8759]

@Yammienoob should include this on his it came from craigslists videos

[@hardtailsuicidaljockey6827]

Looks good to me chop chop

[@johnward3490]

Race it ... why wouldn’t ya 👍

[@dylangriso9747]

Cool bike pal, brought up on similar only British and Guzzi.

[@cecilwilson5442]

Doesn't it rain in London I tried the Hartley chopper I'd owned with no front guard was going down to Dublin from Belfast and the roster tails from the front wheel somewhat impaired my vision so the west coast look wasn't for me everyones different 😢

[@TheAjs71]

'completely inappropriate' always sounds better when said by an Aussie! Nice ride mate, but how the fuck do you put up with that weather? Riding it like ya stole it too, love it...

[@knightofnever]

1 hour commute with this? in the uk weather? 😂😂😂

[@Bobby2v]

Were do u take that racin ?

[@saifshawad6232]

He just made history saying unreliable honda! lmao

[@Studio51media]

OMG I was thinking the EXACT same thing!! had to be a real POS... cause there ain't no such thing...(as an unreliable Honda)

[@jackvacuum619]

The cb500s from the early 70s had terribly unreliable transmissions. They were later changed to the cb550 with an upgraded transmission.

[@motomark9736]

@@jackvacuum619 I was second owner of a 1974 550 four I bought in 1988 it was one of the most reliable motorcycles I've ever owned I rode it for a few years and then neglected it for a couple years and all I had to do was clean the carb and get a battery that bike was one of many reliable Honda s I've owned I still ride a Honda a 2002 VTX S now Honda for life !

[@superkeythe5686]

What jacket is that mate?