A Plea for Yammy Pride
- 25 Comment
Dear XS650chopper builder,
Having read literally dozens of articles on this great site and having seen hundreds of killer pics of amazing XS glory I have to pause and wonder. You see, there are those disciples of the 650 who would forsake it’s name. You know who you are. You are those builders who shave, cover, burn out, and fill in any trace of the YAMAHA name on the glorious lump that is the XS650. Why have you forsaken me? Would you shave the HD off of a knuckle, the Triumph off a bonny?
Today I am making a plea to all my fellow builders who choose the XS650 as their lump to be proud of this YAMAHA heritage. Let us not forget that the design of this AMA Dirt Track Champion held it’s own for over a decade against in-line 4′s and V-Twins well into the Super-Bike era. This bullet-proof-beauty is truly one of the best engines you could ever choose to build a bike around and should feel no shame for it’s roots. Let us celebrate the XS650 Engine.
For all it’s faults and all it’s greatness it has surly earned it’s respect in the world of Custom Built. Please, put those metal work skills to better use and leave that Yammy Stamp alone.
Thank you,
I_am_10_ninjas
Ah-Ha!!!…- So it’s the actual I_AM_10_NINJAS in person!!!
Well…- Pleased to meet you….and also, – I love the bike in the picture…- I clicked on this to see the Bike…- that is a BEAUTY…
…..But then I see you bring up an interesting subject…
I think no engineers or Manufacturers could ever have had something to be so proud of as designing a “Bullet-Proof Machine”…- Be it Rolls Royce, Volkswagon Porche, International Harvester…- or Yamaha…- So that people could buy a damn well made thing, – and have it to keep, and call thier own, – for as long as they love it….
Pride, and Integrety…- not to mention Engineering Genius…
So it broke my heart in no insignificant way…- when old mechanics started saying that our Big Three Auto Manufacturers were deliberately building “Fall-Apart” cars…- so that people will be forced to Buy New Ones every 4 or so years…-no matter how much good care they take…
I said it wasnt true…- untill I saw where Chevrolet described it’s Chevette engine as having a “Pre-Engineered Engine Life”….
And then when International Harvester took Bankruptcy, stating plainly to the National News, – that almost every piece of farm machinery they had ever manufactured was STILL IN DAILY USE…- and that people who had bought International Harvester tractors, never needed to buy another one…- and they had simply put themself out of business…
I felt a lot more understanding toward I-H, since I Knew Thier Words To Be True…Thier tractors and Trucks WERE INDESTRUCTABLE…..And they were an Honest and Truthful Bunch…- as opposed to the Big Three – which were con-artists liar crooks manufacturing Half-Junk all along….
And so the Machine Age had come into The History Of Man…- with an inate form of Honesty and Integrety,and Compitance, and Genius…- and Pride…..
– Offering People Something True and Good – in exchance for thier money…- Something to Help them Build Good Lives For Themselves…Machines…..
So on the day That International Harvester Laid it’s Cards on the Table…- it should Historically mark the Day the Machine Age gave up it’s pride,and Integrety….
International Harvester Opened a new Manufacturing Company called “Navistar”…- which at least has an Honestly cheap, plastic, Fall-apart-sounding ring to it…(I give them Credit for that…)
And the Big Three announced thier plan to simply start “Leasing” thier vehicles to “Consumers” for a 4 year period, and then turning the “Expired” Vehicles over to thier own “Dismantling Centers” where they would be seperated, and melted down – and “Recycled”…. And “Consumers” will no longer “OWN” anything to call “Thier OWN…”
(Breaks My Heart For Real…)
Meanwhile – The Mentality swept thru EVERYTHING…- So that American’s will RENT thier LIVES…- and Pay Pay Pay…- Every Day…
I blame the Computer-Geniuses…(As I write and Post….)
And so I am saying all of this to say…I am just as proud of the XS 650 as you are….and all of us on This Website…- HOLD IT UP WAY HIGH… WAY THE HELL UP THERE…
But as WE NOTE…- YAMAHA PUT A STOP TO THE PRODUCTION OF THIS ENGINE IN 1982….- AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF EVER PUTTING IT BACK INTO PRODUCTION…..- AND WE CANNOT ORDER REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM YAMAHA…
Why Not????…THREE GUESSES…..
Any one who ever bought one of these motorcycles WAS SET FOR LIFE….-
Yamaha Corporation will probably never let that happen again…or they will wind up as Bankrupt as International Harvester…
But while guys like me and you would LOVE TO WEAR OUR YAMAHA T-SHIRTS…- AND LOVE OUR YAMAHAS….
Yamaha PROBABLY DOES NOT LOVE US…..
The XS 650 is THE PROOF of what ALL MANUFACTURERS AND CORPORATIONS ARE CAPABLE OF….
Back when an Engineer was Damn Proud of HIMSELF…- for what he was…When an HONEST MAN would FIGHT YOU , – if you called him a LIAR AND A THIEFE….Con-Artist And Crook…- but that is what all of them are anymore….- What they have all turned each other into…
Meanwhile…- guys like us…- BUILDING OUR OWN MACHINES…- in our OWN DRIVEWAYS AND WORKSHOPS….We are PROUD OF WHAT WE BUILD….- and we still use the word”BUILD” like it is one of the Proudest words in our Vocabulary…
Does YAMAHA LOVE GUYS LIKE US?????…..- I am afraid NONE OF THE CORPORATIONS LOVE GUYS LIKE US….
It would not surprize me if Yamaha Corporation puts a Contract out on TED, – and the Aftermarket Guys who manufacture parts for us to KEEP OUR OLD MOTORCYCLES OUT THERE…..PUTTING ALL OF THE NEW BULLSHIT JUNK TO SHAME….
I have a 1966 VolksWagon that will Blow The Doors off a 2010 Camero…- Yeah …- Somebody’s Lyin to SOMEBODY….
I see Comments posted by I_AM_ 10_Ninjas, and I always like your comments…and I like this one too…- and…Honestly I am wearing my YAMAHA t-Shirt when I am not wearing my XS650.com T-Shirt…
But as far as I am concerned…- These Motorcycles ARE BEING BUILT BY US…- Thugs Building Machines In OUR HOME WORKSHOPS and DRIVEWAYS….-Because WE LOVE THEM…And we Are PROUD OF THEM…AND WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT WE BUILD…- and BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE BUILDERS……
So as for my vote, I say either way…- Keep the Yamaha Trademark on your Bike, – It is a Fine Trademark, – BUT if you want to, Shave It, – and put YOUR OWN NAME ON IT….- I am looking at the picture of your motorcycle…- Yamaha Did Not Build It….- YOU DID!!!!!!………..
Pleased to meet you, – and Proud To Know You…
I am Damn Proud of every guy on this Website…- and Damn Proud To Be Here……..
Your Heart is in The Right Place…- but so far Yamaha Corporation Has Not Posted any Love Letters To Us on This Website….
So either way, – Put thier name on it, – Or put YOUR NAME ON IT…-But all I am saying is,…- THAT BIKE IS YOUR BIKE …..
and PS…- a DAMN FINE BIKE IT IS!!!!!!!!
To you Ted and Harry, Damn fine posts. I have been coming to this site religiously, daily, for over a year. I come here quietly for inspiration and information. I have yet to post any comments, mostly i just like to read and relax in a community that enjoys and respects the xs for what it is, a great bike.
Thanks to both of you for this post.
well said, guys.
I for one don’t mind it being a yamaha. At the very least it lets me easily pick out the guys who ride only a name. The guys that just love to ride don’t care what brand it is. As long as it is yours and something that you love. Although I won’t lie. I thought about filling and machining it out to say Jimaha
Jim
The logos are ugly and in the wrong place so i grind. I left the little one on the alt cover “made in japan”.
i like my xs650chopper.com t shirt
I used to think that guys were dissing the xs when I would see the Yamaha logo filed off or filled in. However, I reconsidered that some bikes are kind of cool when ghosted.
For a example, bike’s like
http://www.xs650chopper.com/2010/05/xs650-boardtracker-updated
which are completely custom and the only piece left that is stock Yamaha is the engine.
When people see a bike like that they have no clue what type of bike it is whatsoever. In that case ghosting the bike is like keeping them guessing. A guy would have no clue that it has a Yamaha power plant unless they were really familiar with the xs650..
I have mixed feelings. Part of me wants to keep people guessing, but everything else out there is either a H-D, a crotch rocket, or something that looks like a H-D, and I want to advertise that I’m riding a “NOT HARLEY”. I’ll keep the covers just as they are.
I looked up the xs650 on the Wikipedia, – (Good Reading…) It says that the Engine/Trans was designed in 1955 by HOSK Engineers.
It was a 500cc engine and was produced for 10 years, and then in 1965 the 650cc version was designed…During this ten year period Hosk was bought by a company called SHOWA…- and SHOWA was bought by YAMAHA….
Yamaha put the 650cc version into production from 1968 untill 1985 ….-How incredible to learn that an indesructable engine/trans designed by some engineers in NINETEEN FIFTY-FIVE…- dominated the race-tracks for TWENTY FIVE YEARS…- and is STILL one of the FIRST CHOICE for Custom Motorcycle Builders, …- If I am counting my fingers correctly…THAT IS FIFTY-FIVE YEARS AT THE TOP !!!!!
AND STILL GOING STRONG….- STILL LEAVING THE OTHER TRAFFIC OF WANNA-BE’s BEHIND….- (??????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
And NO END IN SIGHT !!!!!!!!!!
And so WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS THING???????????????????
An Unparalelled LEGEND STANDING ALONE….
It Stands ALONE…- Independent and SOVEREIGN….
Sovereign would be the exactly correct word for it…
I am not a Motorcycle Historian…- but I know there are guys on this sight who are…- So tell me….- AM I GETTING THIS RIGHT???????
Who Sould Rightfully Claim It???- It Seems Only To BELONG TO ITSELF……
Uh-Oh!!!…- The Plot Thickens!!!
I just found motorcycle history website that says that HOSK copied the Engine disign From a GERMAN Manufacturer named HOREX….
Let’s Face it…- That would Explain a LOT…- GERMAN ENGINEERS…
….- So if the Japanese copied the design in 1955, that means the Germans had designed it and put it into production significantly sooner…- whick means this monster has been dominating the sceane for 60 years or more…
@ I_AM_10_NINJAS…lol…- that’s what you get for bringing up such a good subject…..
http://folks.hardbonnet.com/flattracker/flattracker/manufacturers%20html
That is the website…- it has ALL MOTORCYCLE HISTORY…awesome site!!!!……
I will leave YAMAHA on my sidecover…- But I will be looking for a T-Shirt that says, “1949 HOREX RULES!!!”
Okay…I figured it out…- It Was Originally Designed by the Great Grandfather of Hans Of Holland…..
I debadge more or less everything I own – I’m very careful for whom I advertise. It has nothing to do with dissing Yami. I’m very proud that every bike I’ve owned over a 30 year period has been rice. I don’t like logos on my vehicles. It’s just an aesthetic choice. Not everyone debadges an item because they are ashamed of what company made it. And yes, I would debadge any bike I owned, including a harley (especially a harley) or trump.
Ive had guys checking my bike out big time and compliment me and blah blah blah then walk around the bike and see the Yamaha and go Oh like all the sudden its not ok that they liked it or now they act all deflated. So fukin lame. If the design is good and the Yamaha flows with the design or doesnt take away from the final result I will LEAVE IT. If only to make people think about what can be done with a few bucks and a little bit of imagination and a bunch of hard work.
I had an old sporty tank sittting on my 650 with the original “Harley” decals on it and a guy came up and asked me why I had a “Yamaha” side cover on my Harley! I had to laugh and then tell him no I have a Harley tank on my yamaha!! It suddenly wasn’t as cool of a bike but the dumb ass didn’t know shit so it was pretty funny. I still have my yamaha covers on!!
Thanks for commenting fellas. Obviously it’s an individual builder’s choice like every other detail of your chopper. Don’t fly the yammy flag on your covers because I said so nor if it’s just not gonna work with your build. Ted’s point illustrates an obvious example of that. Make an educated decision though. Look at the history and hell yeah that is the XS650 Lump like Harry Carmony has done (thanks for the links). I’d put my XS engineering up against any American or British made engine out there. And at the end of yet another decade I guarantee I’ve put more time into riding than repairs and mopping up oil leaks. Show me a Shovelhead or Bonny owner that can say that. Once you know where this inline twin has been and how it got there it may sway you to keep the name so that nobody’s guessing. I’ll let them know its a 650 and it’s solid. Remember, the XS650 is the best bike the British never built! Thanks for your thoughts.
Mines a ’75 – that’s 35 years old. Three lifetimes on a Harley engine…and has never been wrenched.
I have better ways to spend my day than figuring up ways to camouflage a perfectly good engine cover.
If you’re one of those lesser folk that worries about being looked down upon by the neanderthals out there because you don’t ride an HD, then fer crissake start hanging out with a better class of people. I don’t do snobs. You may kiss my ring!
That is all.
Hell yeah!! rock the YAMAHA like its going out of style!!
I_AM_10_NINJAS…- I am truely glad that you Posted THIS SUBJECT…Because, – I am VERY PROUD…- and APPRECIATIVE of YAMAHA…- for putting these bikes all over the World in Large Number….It is a Subject That NEEDED to be Brought up as a SUBJECT in ITSELF…I have long since been labled “Fanatical” in my Astonishment, and Disbeliefe and APPRECIATION for the XS650…
Any of us putting together a Project/Build based on THIS ENGINE/TRANS…has the free option to put all of his Heart, Money, and Effort into His Rolling Chassis…- without giving any thought to THE ENGINE…(Unless He Wants To…)
– we know we can pretty well grab any old XS Engine/Trans, – Bolt it In, and it will run, and run DEPENDABLY, – and run good…- That is the LAST THING you can take for Granted on any other Project/Build…- but it is The FIRST THING you can take for granted on an XS 650 Project/Build…
All to say, – I am with you 100% on Yamaha Pride…- It is Good That You Posted This…- because – Myself Included, – we all Take It For Granted…-
I can see everyones different point of view, and all so far have made good points…
The only thing that has not been mentioned is the place on the sidecover where it says…”KICKSTARTER”…(????????????????)…lol…- To Me That Has Always Seemed A Little Disturbing….
Here’s my take on the subject.
This sociological phenomenon can be seen in many areas. I’m going to generalize and put people into two categories; the ‘engineers’ and the ‘life style’ types. In the computer geek world (of which I’m a part of), the engineer types appreciate an old clicky IBM keyboards and the beauty of the old UNIX operating systems. While the ‘life style’ types show off their latest apps on their I-phones. For beer drinkers, there are Micro-Brew types and Bud Light guys. For coffee, people who grind their own beans and Folders people.
From meeting people on the streets, bike nights, and shows I’ve found that bikers fall into these two categories (well many actually); ones who appreciate great engineering and fans of the biker life style. The ‘life style’ guys are into Harley’s while the ‘engineer’ types appreciate good design. The ‘engineers’ are the same guys who get a boner looking at a classic tractor, a Model T in original condition, or a cotton jinn, they see an old GM and know that there’s a classic GM 350 under the hood. The ‘life style’ guys look at my bike and see that I made a cheap chopper out of a rice burner. While the old grizzled bikers reminisce about their first xs650, the wins on the track, the bullet-proof design, and then ask me if I’m interested in selling it. The guys who shave off the logo want to show off the the biker life style crowd, while the engineers show their logo with pride.
I read a big article on company badges, and it’s basically just free advertising via your motorcycle. Totally unneeded. I bought finned covers for my CB750 that remove the Honda badges, but I thought they looked better on the motor. If people are de-badging because they are afraid of being ridiculed, they’re weak minded riders and should stick to saving their pennies for a Sportster. Buying a bike for a name or a membership into some exlusive club is for pansy scenesters.
amen brother!!
Should you keep the logo on or off? What on the surface seems like a very simple discussion on aesthetics and personal preference to style; snowballs into a undercurrent of?
@ jSv “company badges, and it’s basically just free advertising via your motorcycle.” But it is more than that. When companies build and design bikes they build them and design them for market segments. The yamaha xs650 has jumped into multiple market segments because of it’s awesomeness. Look how many different variations there are on the xs650 platform. Marketing departments have us all thinking in their little brackets. Most people I get along with don’t fit in brackets. If you’re smart enough (“smart enough” hahah) to build your own bike, you’re probably smart enough to wade through the BS… XS650 RULES!!
Mate, you all have it wrong the motor was designed by an Australian pisshead on the back of a wet beer coaster at an outback pub that goes by the handle of Nindigully pub (bar, for the ignoramouses), his mate bet him a six pack that he couldnt come up with an indistructible donk that pissed all over the pommy (english) shit that we we forced to endure. This all happened in 1941. The Japenese got wind of this incredible donk and sent a bunch of midget subs into Sydney harbour to land a bunch of commandoes to steal the said beer coaster, we sunk 2 of the subs but a third got away with with the beer coaster with all the schimatics and details! And the rest is history.
Oh yeh nice bike!
@ Billybobba
Hahahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhahahhaha!
donk! Should have known it was the Aussies. Oi oi oi!
Yeh yah bloody shoulda mate!
Bet you didnt know we where responsible for Nuclear fision either, it was the fella that invented the xs motors best mate Reggy. They both drank at the Nindigully pub, fuckin true story mate!
Google the Nindigully pub and you’ll see I aint bullshittin ya!