MN_TX650
XS650 Addict
- Messages
- 126
- Reaction score
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- Points
- 16
I sold my 73 TX650 Cafe bike last year, and have been slowly collecting stuff for the 78 XS650 i picked up more then a few years ago. Have had it just sitting...and waiting for something to happen. It is a standard, but was a basket case. I got the bike in two boxes and in somewhat roller form. The tank and sidecovers were original paint and decent, but the rest of the bike needed more work to restore then it was worth, and totally not my style.
Having built the cafe, I knew what I didn't want out of this bike. I didn't want to be hunched over. I wanted something I could ride more then 50 miles without walking like a cripple LOL
So after I sold the TX I moved the 78 into the shop.
I managed to snag some 81 mags and bought a set of coker firestones for them shortly after. But having a weak back, the first part of the build was building a work table!!
Got the table done, bought a harley...and spent the rest of the summer riding. Put 3200 miles on it the first week owning it
That is actually a side project I am getting ready to start...bought a mounting kit to take the sidecar off our goldwing and mount it to the harley for our son
But I digress. Fast forward to this spring. By this time I had managed to pick up a monster craftsman brat kit, biltwell seat, and some other misc parts. So the fun began. Stripped the bike and started cleaning up the frame
Test fit a set of apes I had hanging in the garage, and decided that was the route I wanted to go...and my son approved too
Got the women folk involved in some fabrication Turns out the wife is a natural at welding and our friend is pretty handy with a cutoff
Having decided to go with apes, I got with Stephan at Zombie Performance and him build me a set of his tittybars in 12" rise insread of 10"...and powder coat them black. His turnaround time and craftsmanship is PHENOMENAL! I highly recommend him for handlebars and will definitely be using his stuff on future builds. I also picked up a narrow ribbed mustang tank from Lowbrow, and will be ordering their 6" steel stingray fender as soon as it is back in stock
Sorry for the messy garage...that is this weekend's project So this is where I sit currently. Going to be running the rims to the powdercoater soon and getting the new skins mounted while I wait for a fender. The engine will be the big project. I know I need a cam chain guide for sure, and likely will give it a complete top end rebuild. Will be installing a PMA and Pamco...and she will be kick only. Sorry for the mass amount of pics in this original post, but I have been waiting till I had stuff to show to post. Hope to keep the momentum going! But that is all for now...
Having built the cafe, I knew what I didn't want out of this bike. I didn't want to be hunched over. I wanted something I could ride more then 50 miles without walking like a cripple LOL
So after I sold the TX I moved the 78 into the shop.
I managed to snag some 81 mags and bought a set of coker firestones for them shortly after. But having a weak back, the first part of the build was building a work table!!
Got the table done, bought a harley...and spent the rest of the summer riding. Put 3200 miles on it the first week owning it
That is actually a side project I am getting ready to start...bought a mounting kit to take the sidecar off our goldwing and mount it to the harley for our son
But I digress. Fast forward to this spring. By this time I had managed to pick up a monster craftsman brat kit, biltwell seat, and some other misc parts. So the fun began. Stripped the bike and started cleaning up the frame
Test fit a set of apes I had hanging in the garage, and decided that was the route I wanted to go...and my son approved too
Got the women folk involved in some fabrication Turns out the wife is a natural at welding and our friend is pretty handy with a cutoff
Having decided to go with apes, I got with Stephan at Zombie Performance and him build me a set of his tittybars in 12" rise insread of 10"...and powder coat them black. His turnaround time and craftsmanship is PHENOMENAL! I highly recommend him for handlebars and will definitely be using his stuff on future builds. I also picked up a narrow ribbed mustang tank from Lowbrow, and will be ordering their 6" steel stingray fender as soon as it is back in stock
Sorry for the messy garage...that is this weekend's project So this is where I sit currently. Going to be running the rims to the powdercoater soon and getting the new skins mounted while I wait for a fender. The engine will be the big project. I know I need a cam chain guide for sure, and likely will give it a complete top end rebuild. Will be installing a PMA and Pamco...and she will be kick only. Sorry for the mass amount of pics in this original post, but I have been waiting till I had stuff to show to post. Hope to keep the momentum going! But that is all for now...