gwallis
XS650 Enthusiast
This thread will be documenting the build of a 1972 XS650.
I purchased the bike from the second owner who had it laying up against the back of his garage under a tarp. He bought it from the original owner who had it laying on its side, in the weeds, for over a decade. Needless to say the bike is a real mess.... and a real challenge!
Over the next couple of weeks I hope to illustrate my method of bringing this bike back from the dead. First... here is my shop:
Sorry but I do not have pictures of when I collected the bike... I had already started to clean it up prior to the decision to create this build thread.
The bike was missing the seat, both side covers and the right side muffler. The left side had to be trashed anyway. I did get the chrome seat hoop and the bottom chrome piece that holds on the seat cover.
I stripped the gas tank of its paint and addressed the several rust areas. The inside of the tank had a lot of rust and gas varnish which was mitigated using a gel type toilet bowl cleaner... worked great!
After cleaning the inside of the tank I sealed it with Caswell Tank Sealer. I have used this product before and it is the best that I have found. It comes in several colors that comes in handy if you are covering up some of the remaining rust in the tank.
I am currently waiting for parts... new solenoid, rubber foot pegs, battery basket, oil filter, etc.
I purchased the bike from the second owner who had it laying up against the back of his garage under a tarp. He bought it from the original owner who had it laying on its side, in the weeds, for over a decade. Needless to say the bike is a real mess.... and a real challenge!
Over the next couple of weeks I hope to illustrate my method of bringing this bike back from the dead. First... here is my shop:
Sorry but I do not have pictures of when I collected the bike... I had already started to clean it up prior to the decision to create this build thread.
The bike was missing the seat, both side covers and the right side muffler. The left side had to be trashed anyway. I did get the chrome seat hoop and the bottom chrome piece that holds on the seat cover.
I stripped the gas tank of its paint and addressed the several rust areas. The inside of the tank had a lot of rust and gas varnish which was mitigated using a gel type toilet bowl cleaner... worked great!
After cleaning the inside of the tank I sealed it with Caswell Tank Sealer. I have used this product before and it is the best that I have found. It comes in several colors that comes in handy if you are covering up some of the remaining rust in the tank.
I am currently waiting for parts... new solenoid, rubber foot pegs, battery basket, oil filter, etc.
