I’m on record as saying that waaaay to many folks are chopping up waaay too many nice XS650’s and that most of them are a waste of time. For reasons I can’t really explain, I kinda like this one. shrug..
Here is some info on my 1978 Yamaha xs 650. Custom built by Jay @ vintagecustoms.
Modified “brat” frame, shock mounts moved up & forward, xs500 neck & trees, xs650 forks
Frame painted with black base, gold flake, PPG clear-coat
New Monza style 11.5″ shocks
16″ aluminum xs rear wheel with Mooneyes disks, custom cut
New Shinko rear tire
21″ Honda CR250 front wheel
New Avon Speedmaster front tire
Custom made seat
Vintage Kawasaki 100 tank
Honda Trials Headlight with new H7 bulb
Unknown vintage fender
PPG Silver base with silver flake, H.O.K. Pegan Gold Candy with Gold Flake & H.O.K. Root Beer Candy with Root Beer Red Flake, all sealed with PPG clear.
New AGM battery
New vintage style cloth covered wiring
New control levers
New Schwinn Metal-flake Gold grips
Fully rebuilt Mid 70’s motor with late model factory TCI ignition & XS performance carbs (honed cylinders, new rings, lapped valves, new valve seals, new oil filters, all new gaskets, etc.)
Custom fabricated: handlebars, headlight bracket, exhaust pipes, fork covers & misc mounts and brackets.
Motorcycle Photo Of The Day 
I’m with you,too many of these getting poorly butchered, but this is a very nice ride with fairly simple but really nice mods. Really like it
If it makes you feel any better the bike was rescued from the scrap yard! So instead of being crushed it lives on to see another day.
A lowered bobber style chopper is my favorite style as well. It will handle reasonably well too.
It actually handles very well. the narrow bars make it feel like a bmx bike
I looked up the “21″ Honda CR250 front wheel” that you said you used, and they all come back as disc brakes. Did you use a different hub to get that mini drum brake? And how does that mini drum brake do on stopping? Thanks! Great build. This winter I’m starting my first XS650 bobber build.
Actually it’s an XL250 wheel from what I can tell. Obviously the mini drum is not as good as a disc but as long as your a “heads up” rider it’s fine. Plus the look of a drum is much more of a classic look than the disc in my opinion and it surely beats having nothing up front!