STORY TIME WITH SR & A PRISTINE 1979 YAMAHA XS650 SPECIAL MINT ORIGINAL

[@MrGhetto8v]

I can close my eyes and see my dad riding away from work. He started riding in his sixties and had only 1 bike. His was an 82 but the same color, It was a $400 bomber. He found some used bars I has lying around, Sprayed her black, Got some sweet mufflers and you couldn't get him off it. Thanks brother. He's gone now but it feels like he's right here, I needed this.

[@MrGhetto8v]

I have also had many XS650s. Great bike. Miss them..

[@wikdstixofcheese]

She's a beauty ! I love the nostalgic story of you buying one back in the day , we can hear your excitment seeing this one in such condition.

[@KaplanCycles]

Right on!

[@mldiode]

Sir, you just told my story! I bought a 1976 XS650C new when I was 17 with money from cutting lawns. I still have it! It’s in French Blue and it’s the older upright version before the specials came out. I have around 80,000 miles of smiles on her. Around five yrs. ago I found,”The guy” in Central Florida who is the absolute guru on XS650’s to rebuild my motor. My bike ran fine but I was getting head oil leaking from just plain age of gaskets and seals. He did an awesome job, took pictures of the process, put those pics in a couple of thumb drives for me. My bike runs better than ever! 3300 rpm’s at 60 in fifth gear! I get an average of 45mpg’s. She just humms along! 48 yrs. Old and she still is my favorite in my stable. Many tales to tell with my bike.

[@jamesbronson3347]

Great looking bike, that and the Honda CB750 are my all-time favorites.

[@RandomPrecisionMotors]

Always wanted a 650 but settled for an XS400 in black, and I rode that thing everywhere, work all week, Vermont from S.E. Ct. more than a few times...thing ran like a watch. To my memory for the 4 years I owned it all I ever did was put Gas in it...

[@leonwhildenjr4483]

Hey Kaplan, I want to thank you for everything and anything you’ve done for me and believe me I love all of it. Just by the videos ive seen I can tell you are a Cool dude! Your Bikes are just awesome and I appreciate you sharing more than you know. Thank you friend😎🙌⭐️🕊🦋🕊☮️🖤🌅🙏🎉🇺🇸

[@KaplanCycles]

I appreciate that

[@sonnyseabury4051]

Beautiful vintage Yamaha Streetbike. Love that Candy Apple Red Color. The original owner kept that bike up well. My Uncle had a Yamaha XS 1100 in the 80's, and that was one badass musclebike, that truly hauled ass.

[@chrisreynolds3204]

Love the story of Ken's youth, great to see these bikes.

[@sissygoog9456]

I love the stories beautiful machine Kaplan Cycles God Bless America❤

[@christopherk111]

that really is a perfectly beautiful motorcycle ,,best wishes from australia

[@phillipmitchell5879]

'Love the XS650's, esp. in stock form. I had 2 '74's. '77 & later, they were all sorted - best years. These engines were pre-computer designed, overbuilt & reliable - yes, 'bulletproof'. They didn't handle quite as well as the Brit. 650's, esp. early '70's models, but way more reliable & a tad more powerful at 53 HP rated. I'd be happy to have another, '77-'79, standard version.

[@thomascarlsson7722]

Yeah one great dream machine from the good old times. In fact the Yamaha XS 650 was the first "big" bike I tested in 1980. Compared to the Honda Monkey Z50J the cylinders on the XS650 was enormous. I remember that I took all out from it. Round 115mph. Even I'm a Honda CB models lover I love this Yamaha and the Yamaha RD models.

[@LiquidAudio]

Mate that's an absolute beauty!

[@specialse]

i hear what your saying , you have to save up for something , you look after it . Did just that 27 years ago , bought a used 1980 ( TCI) XS560SE with 18K on the clock ..... 27 years later its got 90K on the clock . some one is going to love that bike you have there .

[@dlsinsc]

I had a 72 GT750 for my high school bike but later had several of those Yamaha 650’s. We called them the disco cruisers 😀

[@obsessivehobbies5464]

That's a great bike. Greg loved that thing. Glad to see it looking so good!

[@greenmtnman7714]

Fond memories of 1979, my graduation year.

[@daniellargey8430]

I bought a Kawasaki 1979 KZ (SR) 650 I thought I was king of the hill .. My friend's father owned a Yamaha dealership in town and those were all around. Those Yamaha 650s stood the test of time

[@sgntbilco]

That's awesome, I have owned 2 black ones in a previous life. They are a great bike.

[@kevinsivertson5800]

Classic retro ride ! Tkx for sharing Ken!

[@kennethm.pricejr.8921]

Pretty nice ride for a sophomore. I had a Honda S90 in 1968.

[@hdfxst1521]

The midnight special was pretty sweet as well.

[@arthurleino]

I had a XS650 Special was a 78. Midnight Blue. Wish I still had it.

[@andresinnett4319]

One of the best bikes ever made ✌

[@timcastens1150]

Those 650 Special s were tuff hard to beat bikes

[@timcastens1150]

The 1100 Special was scary fast

[@kevinpollard1550]

1985 i had a 250 us custom in england btill memories

[@bobg1219]

Too many people that deserve the same chance taken that you had Sr, its unfortunate many people get turned down for a loan that just want something they would cherish and pay for on time and in full!

[@1sir-onworld]

🐝🏁 I love the bike history 👍video

[@jimperry4420]

My first street bike! Mine was silver and was an 81 bought new in 84 as a holdover for 1750.00 dollars. Great bike but my headlight was always burning out.

[@rayforster1]

I had a ‘ 79 650 Special in black when I was a Marine in Cherry Point NC. I paid about $1650, brand new. Someone rear ended me on the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel while I was driving it back to New York before deploying. The bike was totaled but I walked away with minor injuries. Damn, I wish I still had that back.

[@localenterprisebroadcastin5971]

Seems like yamaha twins have always been throaty 🤔

[@ripmax333]

I love old triumphs but looking at this, I can understand why they went bankrupt.

[@bertayoing]

had a brand new one in 1981 cost was £1299 on the road. uk

[@williamleonardo8478]

I had a 1979 650 special that I traded a truck for that only had 800 me it was wrecked nice bike very nice bike that's the bike that triumphant BSA should have made

[@donbraham411]

I test rode one in 1979, I think it was a 77 model 👍

[@TheFunkhouser]

Id buy this straight off, then make it the black gold flake with gold pin stripes ... midnight special ❤

[@MikeJ6129]

Carmine Red is the color

[@markohara6855]

Nice bike!

[@mr.m325]

curious how the performance was up against the Bonnie 750? I have a T140

[@pbmachines972]

Wow👌

[@spookydog6959]

Ken are we old farts or does that motor sound better now

[@richbulthuis7175]

👍

[@spookydog6959]

xs baby

[@rickbowker]

Can't be stock pipes sounds too good!

[@JollUsARoint]

It's a little bit crazy we have similar stories a buddy of mine in high school had one and we would go ride everywhere and I ended up buying his and I ended up with a couple more down the pike they are a lot of fun to ride man I learned how to ride wheelies on one of these❤️💪🏼💪🏼🤍🤟🏻🤟🏻💙👍🏼👍🏼🌍🇺🇲😎👊🏻🗯💥🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@spookydog6959]

xs baby