fabricating

So I recently started with this; it had been sitting for 10 ish years. Then spent about a solid month and 1/2 doing this; Out of northern Illinois about 4 years ago. Didn't have to open the engine but the list is long. both tires (there is nothing wrong with Shinko's) complete front brake...

Like I said, is there anything stopping me from making my own battery? Can't I just take 6 C or D sized rechargeable batteries, solder them together in series, and make a 12V battery? Should I use 7 so it makes a 13.5V? I've got a '71, it's "kick, only", so I don't need a lot of cranking...

Hey guys, I am getting ready to rebuild my harness to simplify and upgrade the stock 30 year old wiring. I was wondering if anyone knows of a good quality wire to use, maybe automotive specific or something. I've found some stuff on Ebay and other places online but I would rather spend a little...

Here's my ''problem'' : I want to mount my stock rear caliper under the swingarm, for achieving this I need to find a good spot on it to bolt a brake stay. Which one of a pulled or pushed caliper have the greatest energy transfered to the brake stay? Here's the 2 options, just tell me if...

Hi guys, I am looking for a rear fender, bobber style, I am running 120/90/18 :thumbsup: Cheap please...

Hey guys, so I wanted to improve the look of my stockish '81 Special and the first thing to go in my book has to be the ugly stock seat. I did some research and found a few seats online that I liked in the Cafe style that I thought would look good, Motolanna, Chappelle Customs seats looked...

was wondering if there is a softail out there with a drum rear brake. would the brake stay be connected to the axle? and as far as linkage goes for the brake pedal? how would you go about that since there will be play with the wheel moving.

I want to mount saddlebags on my motorcycle, but the high price of factory made mounting brackets puts me off. Has anyone made their own mounting brackets? I heard of one guy using electrical conduit, but that website is down right now.

Hey everyone, my name's Scott and I like to wear hats. I've done my research on which bike I'd like to start a Cafe Racer project with, and it's the XS650. I'm an Electrician by trade, but I have no mechanical or fabrication (welding, milling, lathing, metalwork etc) experience or skills...

So.. I started wrapping wires and securing/cleaning stuff.. This is my first xs, lo and behold I find this. What is it? haha.

Hello everyone. After seeing a bunch (phew) of wiring diagrams, I "think" I've decided to re-wire my entire bike, and build the harnesses myself. There is an amazing site called CircuitLab and I think it is insanely useful. I'm just trying to get some xs650 folks on there and...

I'm wanting to rrid my cafe racer of those factory side panels and run flat metal along the lines of the frame, hopefully you understand what I mean. Does anyone have a build thread of how to make those or a template perhaps? thanks Sonny

A few weeks ago I finally sealed the deal on a 81' XS650. This is my first bike and although I'm new to this, I have been building engines and working on vintage BMWs for many years now. I hope to learn a lot from you guys.

Just moved to Central Florida a month ago for work from Va and am looking for a good bike shop nearby to do some welding and a good place for powder coating and or painting.

I have a 1981 XS650 and I'd like to get the older "flat" style seat. I've seen it mentioned that some have done it with a few modifications to the seat. Anything more detailed out there or other options?

I have been trying to get my brembo goldline all hooked up, with Pandemoniums bracket kit and am having a few issues. The forks are I strongly believe 76 xs650 forks, 34mm, which according to dan, do not need a rotor spacer. Now, these particular forks are a bit funny, as the calliper...

hey everyone im NEW to the XS world ive been chopping and bobbing bikes for a while now and recently came across a xs basket in need of much attention. im going to be making a rigid chopper out of it but had a question about the wiring. What do you do to eliminate all the excess wiring , i want...

i recently got a hold of an 83. the bike was completely stripped down and in totes. cut the frame, and sent it with a friend of mine to get the hardtail put on. i have 2 motors (minus the cover on the chain side) and 3 sets of carbs to play with. the tank i am going with is an old harley...

Long story short: I need to machine internal splines in a pair of #530 sprockets. It's 16 splines x 1.047 major diameter, don't have the minor diameter handy at the moment. Looks like a 30 deg pressure angle. Anybody here able to perform such magic?

Heres the patient... and my apologies for the sucky pics. On the surface shes pretty not bad... looks like decent bike actually. Not so my friends... And nonot a camera trick, the tubes really do bend 3 or 4 different ways.