You know you rida an XS650 if....

[sparky]

people wonder why your arms are covered in little burns, and you limp because your right calf hurts.

[bigbatman]

....Something doesn't seem right, so you stop and lean over to see if you can see anything and you burn the crap out of your calf. So now, something is wrong with your bike.....again........ and you have an annoying burn on your leg.

[kirk]

you're riding downhill with a strong tail wind and can still barely manage 80 mph

[cautioninc]

kirk said:

you're riding downhill with a strong tail wind and can still barely manage 80 mph

Either you're a big guy or something's wrong w/ your setup...

[bidule3859]

...when you're back home after a nice ride, the first thing you can think of is: "All right, what i'm gonna fix next?"

[mkrusz]

You saving the starter for the cold starts and the kick start throws you off the bike........

[bidule3859]

...you do more test rides (to check your last adjustment/fix) than real rides!

[sailor]

1. After starting, you tap tap tap the choke pull hoping to find a detent of some sort...

b. You are the only one who thinks you look really cool (even though it's really true).

3. You are thinking "is it the battery or the alternator? I really should buy that ammeter."

d. Should I kick start it if no one is looking?
Wait! I have to kick start it.
e. All that chrome...what was I thinking....

[orygun]

Every ride becomes a search for where the "sweet spot" is that day. Sometimes 58, sometimes 63, occasionally 70. And damn those people that cruise along in front of you, where there is no place to pass, at a speed that is out of the sweet spot and you have to deal with vibration.

[badyamajama]

...yer girlfriend leaves wet spots on the vinyl.

[rbalister]

Hmm, let's see...

1. Clutch requiring the grip of a gorilla. - Check.
2. Bike goes backwards while running (on center stand). - Check.
3. License plate cracks (I lost mine already). - Check.
4. While on the highway try to upshift from 5th. - Check, check and check.
5. Spent many $$$ with a nice Florida merchant (Mike). - Check.
6. Catch it in gear going down the driveway to start when cold. - Check.
7. Everything in the mirrors is a blur but not because your going that fast. - Check.
8. Vibration makes hands go numb. - Sort of (iso grips thankfully).
9. Valves clicking. - LOUDLY until I tightened the cam chain.
10. Engine stops a few miles after the alternator rotor dies. - Been there, done that.
11. Gauge lights burn out due to vibration. - Check.

Yup, must be an XS.

rayb
'83 XS-650

[motormike]

The folks down at Sherman Williams called....the paint shaker-mixer broke and they want to borrow your bike....Mike, MN

[schmoke]

you have more "parts bikes" than the local scrapyard, but you save them cuz their titled and someday you're gonna build a street fighter, well, as soon as the bobber gets old, or maybe a hardtail, or a cafe racer, or maybe a factory resto.

Versatlility leads to variety. I have spent many nights in the garage "mocking up" ideas for the next project... so many possibilities with fairly little work, but always a unique outcome.

[hammerin]

;D When you spend more time collecting that" just right part ..must be out there some where.."instead of enduring the actual riding thingy........ :'(cause it was hammerin'ya to mush ;D

[pamcopete]

Your wife says "It's the bike or me" and you choose her.