smalls
XS650 Enthusiast
Hey guys, I've been trolling on here for a few months now and thought it was about time I shared my progress on the 1979 XS650 Special. I've been living in the Pittsburgh area for a little over a year now and was looking for a toy for the winter. I track the majority of my work/progress through a blog I started which helps me share with family and friends back home in CT. The bike will also be for sale shortly after completion and some break-in riding.
blog link is HERE
The project started back in October when I found a 1979 XS on craigslist with a little over 5000 miles on it and has the title. The bike was pretty nasty looking because it spent some time sitting outside. Apparently, the original owner drove it daily until it just died one day. Then he just parked it for several years before selling it to the gentleman I bought it from who never put time in trying to fix it.
Here's a pic of when I got it home. Just about everything had rust on it, so I think it was a worthy donor for a hardtail.
Here's some of the mess I was dealing with. Yes that is a mouse nest completely filling the battery box!
I thought I had a picture of it but the fuse panel was completely rusted out. So I just cut each pair of wires from each fuse holder, twisted them together, and after a quick run through the fuel passages in the carbs it fired up. Of course it didn't like to idle without the choke and no filters but that didn't matter at this point because all I needed to know was that it could run.
All of my progress details can be found in the blog, but here's some specifics.
TC Bro's Hardtail
rear 18" spoke wheel (white rim, black hub)
front 21" spoke wheel (white rim, black hub)
stainless spokes front/rear
tcbros gusset plates
Rich Phillips seat
honda cb650 ignition coil
tcbro's battery box
HHB lowering kit and tank mounts
peanut tank
avon speedmaster front and safety mileage rear tires
ribbed fender
1 piece clutch pushrod
velocity stacks
custom exhaust
custom electronics housing
Engine was also rebuilt with a full gasket kit, carb rebuild kits, sized up the carb jets 1 step, and new piston rings from a Honda Civic. I found the specifics on the rings in the Tech section and what a great find it was. A set of 4 cost a little more than what just 1 OEM set would be. During the rebuild I cleaned up the engine as best as I could. I think I would have liked to soda blast everything, but I think this look will go with the bike more.
The tank and fender will be sanded and left in a brushed finish, as will the engine tappet and side covers. The exhaust will be painted with black VHT exhaust paint and then wrapped in DEI titanium exhaust wrap.
fender mounts completed
frame just back from powdercoating
wheels freshly laced
this is from last night when I finished up the exhaust
Thanks for looking, I'll try and keep updates here as well as the blog.
blog link is HERE
The project started back in October when I found a 1979 XS on craigslist with a little over 5000 miles on it and has the title. The bike was pretty nasty looking because it spent some time sitting outside. Apparently, the original owner drove it daily until it just died one day. Then he just parked it for several years before selling it to the gentleman I bought it from who never put time in trying to fix it.
Here's a pic of when I got it home. Just about everything had rust on it, so I think it was a worthy donor for a hardtail.
Here's some of the mess I was dealing with. Yes that is a mouse nest completely filling the battery box!
I thought I had a picture of it but the fuse panel was completely rusted out. So I just cut each pair of wires from each fuse holder, twisted them together, and after a quick run through the fuel passages in the carbs it fired up. Of course it didn't like to idle without the choke and no filters but that didn't matter at this point because all I needed to know was that it could run.
All of my progress details can be found in the blog, but here's some specifics.
TC Bro's Hardtail
rear 18" spoke wheel (white rim, black hub)
front 21" spoke wheel (white rim, black hub)
stainless spokes front/rear
tcbros gusset plates
Rich Phillips seat
honda cb650 ignition coil
tcbro's battery box
HHB lowering kit and tank mounts
peanut tank
avon speedmaster front and safety mileage rear tires
ribbed fender
1 piece clutch pushrod
velocity stacks
custom exhaust
custom electronics housing
Engine was also rebuilt with a full gasket kit, carb rebuild kits, sized up the carb jets 1 step, and new piston rings from a Honda Civic. I found the specifics on the rings in the Tech section and what a great find it was. A set of 4 cost a little more than what just 1 OEM set would be. During the rebuild I cleaned up the engine as best as I could. I think I would have liked to soda blast everything, but I think this look will go with the bike more.
The tank and fender will be sanded and left in a brushed finish, as will the engine tappet and side covers. The exhaust will be painted with black VHT exhaust paint and then wrapped in DEI titanium exhaust wrap.
fender mounts completed
frame just back from powdercoating
wheels freshly laced
this is from last night when I finished up the exhaust
Thanks for looking, I'll try and keep updates here as well as the blog.
