Long time coming...Monster Brat Build

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...

My favorite shot of the group.
"little man" in the breeze .
He may have made 3200 miles in one sitting .

Good on ya for letting him get dirty.

Oh and I guess I should say the bike is coming along nicely also.

He loves riding in the sidecar and we spend most weekends in the summer riding somewhere. He's got a ways to go before riding his own though LOL. He turned 7 this year. Still too short to ride on the back. Some of his favorite spots are along the north shore of lake superior here in MN

Lookin good.

Some of the other parts I am considering...

hi where i live we regularly see harley guys going through my tiny town on the western highway quite often with a trailer or a trailer and side car the guys riding them always look comfortable with the lady on the back or in the side car ,,i can dream regards oldbiker

Looking forward to watching your progress

looks great! Im just starting my build with the MC brat. What a great lookign kit.

I had been looking at the VI brat kit for this bike, but when I saw the MC one, I knew I had to go that route. Love the lines and the craftsmanship is amazing! Looking forward to seeing pics of yours

Wow...live got in the way of this project. Summer hit last year, and we started riding a bunch! Then a typical MN winter...too cold for most things, but ice fishing. Then this spring we tackled another rebuild project. A '92 Palomino Yearling pop up. FINALLY getting back to my brat build, and my brother picks up a 78 650 to make a scrambler out of. LOL As soon as I get that running and rideable for him, I should be able to finish up the frame on mine so I can move on to the engine. No progress pics yet, but here is our camper







Everything was water damaged and rotted...so I took it to the frame and rebuilt it all from the frame up







Built new supports and repaneled all the walls











Painted the tub





Built a sheet metal brake and added diamond plate to the ends





From there we painted all the trim and cabinetry...made new counter tops, laid new flooring, all new wiring and LED lights, new canvas, rebuilt the rotted panels in the top, Made new bunk slides, reupholstered everything, made new valances, etc. I'll save all the rest of the progress pictures and just show the end result









Needless to say...been a busy summer so far!! LOL. But I should have some work done on the brat and scrambler soon

Holy shit you made that pop up nice.

PickleSlice said:

Holy shit you made that pop up nice.

Click to expand...

Thanks man. It should've been scrapped but we couldnt have bought much for what we have into it...and now it is new again. we are happy with it. not quite as exciting as redoing an old XS, but atleast the whole family can enjoy it! lol

Nice start on the bike! And that pop up is sick! Lots of memories from the rockwood i camped in as a kid... nice work!