Friday, December 4, 2015

CYCLE GUIDE - June 1972 - Yamaha XS2

Oriental Express - The '72 XS2 is a vast improvement over last year's model. 

 





 

 

9 comments:

  1. Did you post this to bring back fond memories for me? Did 28,000 trouble free (non leaking miles, like the test unit)
    rmo

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    1. Well then I'm happy the fond memories were yours. I could post a review of 'Husky's Brand Spankin' All New 125' as well....wonder if anyone will have had experience with that one?? An interesting story on how things are manufactured at Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

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    2. At least the Husky probably handles much better than the XS did

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  2. Have you been digging through boxes again? If so, thank you. Pretty cool to read the old review.

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  3. :) A good guess Brandy, but no. Though there are stacks and stacks of boxes that this could have come from, my brother brought this lone magazine when he came for Thanksgiving. He's got access to the same stacks so maybe this old Cycle Guide did in fact come from one of those very full boxes. I was 15 and my very first subscription started with Cycle, Jan/1970, one of very many.

    It's in there.

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  4. Enjoyed the XS2 road test. Reviewers in those days did not have access to the kind of machinery we have today, so I chuckle at the term "big twin" used in the review. The early XS bikes are fun up to about 65-70 mph, after that exercising the engine is best in a straight line. I can tune and gear an XS to handle 65-70 for extended rides, but that is a task much better suited to my Honda VFR. The XS bikes are a blast if they are having the gearbox rowed through the gears on the driftless roads of Southwestern Wisconsin. The torque and weight and sub 70 mph speeds are where these bikes shine well. My stable includes a fully tuned XS750 with all the goodies that manages much better power, carries more speed, and can roll along well above 70mph due to power, chassis, and gearing changes. The fun is there if you want it.

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    1. Time/perspective really makes a difference. I've certainly enjoyed my old one, more fun than I ever expected it would be but then I seem to get along with variety. Very pleased and thankful that you guys passively pushed me into XS650 Appreciation.

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  5. Nicest look'n XS of all model years :)

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