81 XS650 hardtail build. let's call this one the "Flying Crowbar"

I like how the bike looks. Since it is unfinished hard to be critical. Other than the seat bolts need to be shortened no major issues so far. :thumbsup:
 
I like how the bike looks. Since it is unfinished hard to be critical. Other than the seat bolts need to be shortened no major issues so far. :thumbsup:



I know. Will be done, just not yet.

I finally got this thing outside for some sunshine pics. And the blue off the tires. let me know what you think.


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I got a question about how I mounted the GordonScott pipes. I made up a couple little brackets that use the top bolt of the rear engine mount on the frame side. Pics....

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So today was a good day. I took this thing for a spin around the block for the first time. There is still lots to do but I am happy with the progress so far.

It is just primer grey for now but I kinda dig the flat grey with the black frame.

I got the pipes ceramic coated and then they bead blasted them after with (plastic??) beads to give them the matt finish. I think they turned out pretty good

Here's a couple pics cause I know everyone likes pictures

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And a little vid my wife took and for some reason she was giggling through most of it. And don't worry about my squid outfit, I never got out of first gear and went less than 1/8th mile around the subdivision. I'll wear more protection when I actually ride. click pic to view vid.

 
Awesome build. That thing is perfect and just what I'm looking to do, I definitely dig the dark gray/black scheme - this is one of my favorite lookin bikes on the forum

I come from the jeep world so this will be my first bike build but I pretty much know I want to bob a xs650. If you don't mind me asking how much do you have into the build? If you don't feel like answering no worries..I'm not sure what the protocol is around these parts

Great work!
 
Thanks for the kudos

I have no idea what I have into the build thus far. Waiting until the end to tally. At this point I don't really want to know. Including the bike purchase I'm guessing around $4000 but that is a wild guess.

Also note that I haven't touched the engine yet. Running stock TCI ignition etc.
 
Nice looking ride. Nice, clean lines. Congrats. Only hope mine looks half as nice. I would also hope for the same quick progress, but I already know that isn't going to happen.
 
so today was fender choppin' time.

this is the stock front fender.....
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here's how it turned out......
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Well.... I've been for a few shake down runs. Bike runs well but I need a top end rebuild and timing chain etc. and here's some picsof how she sits now


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Man, I really dig the cleanliness of your wiring on that thing. To have a battery and all and still look that good and tidy, I'm impressed. How do you like that "pill" elec. tank? I saw that one and thought it looked plenty big. How did you run your wires? Just along the frame rail? I don't think I've seen a brake line run up and over the bars like that before. Looks like it worked well.
 
Thanks for the interest.
I used cloth covered wire in ashpalt loom. I'm happy with it because any wire you do see looks good. The problem with the cloth wire is it still has the new plastic insulation with the cloth over top so it's quite thick. You can only run a few wires in one loom before it's full. Yes it is just run along the outside of the frame.

I have a shorai battery which is quite small so I also stuffed the starter relay in the top of the battery box.

I'm happy with the "pill" for an electrics box. I stuffed the TCI box in there along with all fuses and the ignition switch and a few of my wiring connectors.

I still need to run signal lights but they are LED's so I can run small guage wire and hide them well.

The other thing that works well for hiding wire and comonents is that Cole Foster tank. It sits so low that it hides the coil, flasher relay, wire etc. Can't really do what I did with a frisco tank.

The brake line wasn't exactly how I had planned. I ordered it about an inch too long which made it bow out away from the fork too far. Running it over the bar was merely to take up slack. I might order another to the correct length.
 
Not much else is new to this machine, just been riding a bit here and there.

Waiting for snow to fly before I tear it all apart again. Should be any day now.

I got a question via PM about the rear tank mount so figured I might as well post it here for everyone. There are a few different CF tanks with different mounts, this one is 600157. It came with a straight mounting tab out the back, unlike all others I have seen on this site. I just heated and bent to match the radius of the frame and welded a bung into the frame..

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Are you going to do struts on the rear fender? Looks like it will bounce around a lot in the current state. Nice build BTW.
 
Not planning on it. I'm not sure how thick it is but it is pretty heavy gauge steel and doesn't move much.
 
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