Daza Posted May 13, 2008 Share Posted May 13, 2008 Hi all, This is my first post to the owners club. I just bought an XS650 US Custom (1981) from the NABD bikers charity on Ebay. It looked very standard in the photos though the detail was a bit scant...... well it turned up today and my initial delight quickly turned into a bit of a head scratching session. The bike has had its rear brake modded so that it is activated from the left hand handlebar via a modern Triumph clutch master cylinder and braided hose that is plumbed in all the way to the rear caliper. Yes the bike now has a second lever above the cable clutch lever. Why? Well the gear shift lever now exits the crank case on the right side, a la Brit bike style. I assume this has been done to accomodate a rider with a dodgy left leg. Its obviously an engineering solution not a bodge and the overall condition of the bike and these mods is very good indeed. Has anyone any idea how the gearbox mod has been achieved and more importantly, can it be put back to standard easily? Any info gratefully received. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator drewpy Posted May 14, 2008 Moderator Share Posted May 14, 2008 Hi all, This is my first post to the owners club. I just bought an XS650 US Custom (1981) from the NABD bikers charity on Ebay. It looked very standard in the photos though the detail was a bit scant...... well it turned up today and my initial delight quickly turned into a bit of a head scratching session. The bike has had its rear brake modded so that it is activated from the left hand handlebar via a modern Triumph clutch master cylinder and braided hose that is plumbed in all the way to the rear caliper. Yes the bike now has a second lever above the cable clutch lever. Why? Well the gear shift lever now exits the crank case on the right side, a la Brit bike style. I assume this has been done to accomodate a rider with a dodgy left leg. Its obviously an engineering solution not a bodge and the overall condition of the bike and these mods is very good indeed. Has anyone any idea how the gearbox mod has been achieved and more importantly, can it be put back to standard easily? Any info gratefully received. Cheers the right foot gear change is common for xs650 flat-trackers. why don't you keep that and put on a left foot brake just to be different. If you want to change back, sell the right engine case as a dirt track mod and you will soon sell it. buy another case and you will need a new change shaft, poss change quadrant and gear lever. left hand case may be just a grommet and not welded up so check forst Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeepurz Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 the right foot gear change is common for xs650 flat-trackers. why don't you keep that and put on a left foot brake just to be different. If you want to change back, sell the right engine case as a dirt track mod and you will soon sell it. buy another case and you will need a new change shaft, poss change quadrant and gear lever. left hand case may be just a grommet and not welded up so check forst put that modded case on ebay , youll be surprised what it brings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daza Posted May 18, 2008 Author Share Posted May 18, 2008 put that modded case on ebay , youll be surprised what it brings. Hi, thanks both. got the carbs cleaned out, timing checked, valve clearances etc, looked it all over - very clean and obviously rebuilt to acomodate the change in gear selection...... so fresh petrol, charged battery and hit the starter, wow what a beautiful sounding bike! I always wanted an xs650 and I don't know what to do for the best here - the bike is not taxed or MOTed at the mo so is not legal on the road - having said that I did do a little test pilot work this evening - even with an old Road Runner front tyre its a very sweet bike - however, I am not sure if I can live with the brake and gear shift arrangement as it stands. Does anyone know how the flat tracker rear brake was installed and could this be done on a US Custom frame? Cheers Darren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator drewpy Posted May 19, 2008 Moderator Share Posted May 19, 2008 Hi, thanks both. got the carbs cleaned out, timing checked, valve clearances etc, looked it all over - very clean and obviously rebuilt to acomodate the change in gear selection...... so fresh petrol, charged battery and hit the starter, wow what a beautiful sounding bike! I always wanted an xs650 and I don't know what to do for the best here - the bike is not taxed or MOTed at the mo so is not legal on the road - having said that I did do a little test pilot work this evening - even with an old Road Runner front tyre its a very sweet bike - however, I am not sure if I can live with the brake and gear shift arrangement as it stands. Does anyone know how the flat tracker rear brake was installed and could this be done on a US Custom frame? Cheers Darren the flat tracker brakes were on the right side, same as the gear change. Its just that they only ever go round left hand corners. you could check out omars.com (google it) they specialize in xs650's dirt/flat trackers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XS Pixie Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 the flat tracker brakes were on the right side, same as the gear change. Its just that they only ever go round left hand corners. you could check out omars.com (google it) they specialize in xs650's dirt/flat trackers. Here you go Omars http://www.omarsdtr.com/streetmain.html So tempted to Flat track mine!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Born2bVile Posted May 29, 2008 Share Posted May 29, 2008 Has anyone any idea how the gearbox mod has been achieved and more importantly, can it be put back to standard easily? Any info gratefully received. Cheers I'll see what I can find out for you. Cheers, Byrnie NABD Treasurer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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