Scout

Cherokee Motor Company

Scout

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I have owned my '75 XS650B since 1980. Although I panted it Red in 82, and did the "Minton Mods" I felt like I needed to keep it fairly stock. Till I found another '75 in very good condition, and with low mileage. Then I felt free to build the XS I really wanted.

Some shots of "Vicky" Before the makeover to "Scout"

The Sound of "Vicky"

The project started to be a "Street Fighter" and I was gonna build it from the ground up. I found a set of Omar's rearsets at Mid Ohio. I put these on my red '75 to see how they worked. After riding it I realized I wanted them on my daily rider. So the "Project" frame got pushed onto the back burner. And I started collecting parts for my Cafe'.
I had already started building a rephased motor that I was to put in the Project bike. I decided to keep it a 650 cc and use it in the Cafe'. The crank I did myself. Using some extra long 3/8 nuts and bolts to "jack" the crank halves apart. Moving the right side forward (clockwise as viewed from the right) three splines. and pressing it back together with the cam gear in it's new location.

The Cam was done by Web Cams. The right lobes were moved (clockwise) forward by 41.5º.
Web Cam always removes the lobs and welds the cam up and cuts new lobs. So moving was not a problem, nor an extra cost.
The Eggy is one of the first Newtronics units for the 277º-270º motors. It works very well. The motor starts almost before I push the button!
I panted the motor with red & black DupliColor Engine pant, then filed the
fins shiny.
Because I had changed so much of the bike I decided to have a little fun and
renamed it a Cherokee Motor Company Scout 277º.
Star Vinyl made the decals and Troy Thomason at The Collision Connection, did the pant. With several coats of clear over the decals.
I have always wanted a Corbin seat for the XS and finally convinced them to make me a Gunfighter on a spare seat pan.
The faring is Emgo from JC Whitney.
The "Limp Sausage" tail light is from J&P Cycles.
The Lockhart turn signals are from Trick Tape.com.
The tag backing plate I made myself.
The pipes are Bubs and 21 years old, and still shiny!
The fork brace came from Mike's XS.
The Shocks are Progressive from 650 Central.com
The brakes are from Vintage Brake.
The carbs rebuilt by Rob Reil motorcyclecarbs.com
The air filters are 21year old K&Ns
And thanks to Bob Bertaut and Uncle Johnny for tech advice.
My first impression of the 277º motor is that it really wants to run. Above 3500 RPM is really smooth. In the past I have had my keys vibrate right out of the switch at high RPM. Now she is smooth as silk.
Aside form a little more chugging below 2000 in high gear, (I guess the un-even pulses do this) the bike is very much more rideable with the 277º.
And the sound, Man, It is wonderful! Much like a Ducati with a hent of V8! The Sound of "Scout"
I am very pleased and proud to have built it myself. And I have a bike just
like I want it!