Badfish
XS650 Enthusiast
Background: I've been riding a 1976 Honda CB550 cafe for some time and I decided I was up for a change. So, I sold off the 550 and a CB750 to clean out the garage and to placate my wife. She absolutely refused to agree to me having a third bike. She additionally was adamant about me not spending so much time building a bike.
I conceded; this was a good time to have a clean slate.
I really like the bobber/chopper style, I had come across a couple of built XS650's in person and as I was looking and learning more, I found this site. I've been poking around quite a bit, just seeing what was out there. After my wife informed me that my time building anything that didn't have to do with the house was limited, I thought I would just find a bike for sale that was already built. So, I placed a wanted ad on this site....I figured, maybe something might come up. Not so lucky, go figure, a lot of guys like to hang on to these after they build them. In the meantime, since the bikes that I did find weren't exactly what I had in mind and/or didn't meet my build standards, I started considering having a bike built for me. Still, I clung to the idea...could I figure out a way to convince my wife it was a great idea for me to spend hours and hours in the garage, nights and weekends building a sweet bobber.
Obviously, no such luck.
It just so happened that this guy sees my ad and PM'd me and said, hey, I have a bike for sale that is finished OR I could build you one. That guy was Brett Ohland of Two Eight Customs. After a little PM'ing back and forth, checking his website & facebook page, talked to a referral he gave me, (which just so happens to be Shortbuss...check out the bike he just posted), I decided to call Brett.
Needless to say, I'm having him build a bike. So far, Brett has been very easy to work with. As I'm sure he'll attest to, I have a particular taste and can be a bit opinionated. I know what I want and since I'm not building it myself, I expected to be involved in most of the details. Brett has been super nice and has met my expectations throughout the build so far. He seems to really want to deliver the best finished product. He listens (as much "listening"one can do over text, but you get the point), he's good with feedback on ideas I toss out and can take those ideas and make them happen.
Keep in mind, all this has been done mostly over text. A few calls in the mix and an email or 2. I was only bummed we couldn't face time.
So, attached are some pictures of the build. Post up your questions or comments if you have them and either I or Brett will do what we can to answer them. Hope you like what you see so far, I do.
Some build details thus far:
1978 XS650
Frame lowered 2"and stretched 3"by Brett
Motor is rebuilt, stock except for the addition of a PMA and powder coated
Exhaust, rear fender, battery box, oil can electric box fabbed by Brett
Stock gas tank, with gas fill/cap change and relocation, modified mounting tabs
Forward controls
Rear disc break
21"front and 18"rear
Paint done in house by Brett
The pictures show where the bike is so far, basically from the frame build through some of the mock-up stages to the initial steps in the assembly process. The last pics are how the bike sits today.
More to come as Brett completes the build.
I conceded; this was a good time to have a clean slate.
I really like the bobber/chopper style, I had come across a couple of built XS650's in person and as I was looking and learning more, I found this site. I've been poking around quite a bit, just seeing what was out there. After my wife informed me that my time building anything that didn't have to do with the house was limited, I thought I would just find a bike for sale that was already built. So, I placed a wanted ad on this site....I figured, maybe something might come up. Not so lucky, go figure, a lot of guys like to hang on to these after they build them. In the meantime, since the bikes that I did find weren't exactly what I had in mind and/or didn't meet my build standards, I started considering having a bike built for me. Still, I clung to the idea...could I figure out a way to convince my wife it was a great idea for me to spend hours and hours in the garage, nights and weekends building a sweet bobber.
Obviously, no such luck.
It just so happened that this guy sees my ad and PM'd me and said, hey, I have a bike for sale that is finished OR I could build you one. That guy was Brett Ohland of Two Eight Customs. After a little PM'ing back and forth, checking his website & facebook page, talked to a referral he gave me, (which just so happens to be Shortbuss...check out the bike he just posted), I decided to call Brett.
Needless to say, I'm having him build a bike. So far, Brett has been very easy to work with. As I'm sure he'll attest to, I have a particular taste and can be a bit opinionated. I know what I want and since I'm not building it myself, I expected to be involved in most of the details. Brett has been super nice and has met my expectations throughout the build so far. He seems to really want to deliver the best finished product. He listens (as much "listening"one can do over text, but you get the point), he's good with feedback on ideas I toss out and can take those ideas and make them happen.
Keep in mind, all this has been done mostly over text. A few calls in the mix and an email or 2. I was only bummed we couldn't face time.
So, attached are some pictures of the build. Post up your questions or comments if you have them and either I or Brett will do what we can to answer them. Hope you like what you see so far, I do.
Some build details thus far:
1978 XS650
Frame lowered 2"and stretched 3"by Brett
Motor is rebuilt, stock except for the addition of a PMA and powder coated
Exhaust, rear fender, battery box, oil can electric box fabbed by Brett
Stock gas tank, with gas fill/cap change and relocation, modified mounting tabs
Forward controls
Rear disc break
21"front and 18"rear
Paint done in house by Brett
The pictures show where the bike is so far, basically from the frame build through some of the mock-up stages to the initial steps in the assembly process. The last pics are how the bike sits today.
More to come as Brett completes the build.
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