I had the rotor on my current XS2 rewound. Cost me about £80-90 iirc. Most old Jap bikes seem to burn them out when they get a few years on the clock. I've had to do three of mine (out of six) so far and I fully expect two of the others to go soon.

I bought a new XS back in the early 70's and did quite a bit of Euro touring on it over 3-4 yrs. Back then you'd be comparing it with a 650 Triumph or a Honda CB750. As a touring bike it was more reliable than the Triumph and lighter / more economical than the Honda. But as the years went on it got left behind and much better stuff came along. It had it's time in the sun.

Riding my current one makes you realise just how much things have moved on. Compared to just about everything else it feels tiny now yet it was a physically big bike then.

On the road in the 70's it was quicker than most of the traffic - even on the motorways Now you're overtaken a lot - and it's not just me riding slower!

Would it be a sensible choice for a touring bike? Yes - if you had a reasonable one that wasn't suffering from 30+ yrs of neglect and you were happy to ride it within it's limits. The engines are reliable and there's still a lot of parts still available for them. My original one got two of us to Greece and back without any problems and my current one probably would do the same with a little bit of prep. But! - back then it was a sensible choice given what was available. These days there are better bikes around.




Nostalgia pic from the 70's - somewhere in Northern Italy

"---These days there are better bikes around.---"

Yes ,undoubtably there are ,but the XS is a bike that seems to have survived the years and good ones can still be picked up very cheaply and will give reliable service ,if looked after .

The parallel twin engine concept has made a comeback ,now we have the BMW F800 ,Kawasaki Versys,Yamaha 1200 and even the Triumph 1600cc Thunderbird.

I much prefer a twin to single .

It's good to know that there are people out there still riding these old bikes .

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

I owned a couple of them back in the eighties, a 78 and a 75, the later one was faster and smoother, the 75 one vibrated like a jackhammer, solid engines, I had an alternator problem with one of them, took me and my lady touring Europe with few issues.

I've been touring with my best pal .



'79 XS650 Special , American Eagle Spirit sidecar.

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."

I don't plan on doing any touring on my XS,tank range will be a problem as will the lack of rear suspension.

Earplugs and a cushion and you'll be allright !

__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light. - Spike Milligan
"When you come to a fork in the road ,take it ! When you come to a spoon in the road ,take that also ."