TimBeard
XS650 Enthusiast
Alright, after lurking this website for a few months I figured I'd decide to contribute my build and learning process to all you fellow builders. This is my first bike I've ever ridden and worked on. Don't have any motorcycle knowledge or previous experience. Stoked that I came across this site because it has been super informative.
Ok,so about a year ago I picked up a bare bones, already hard tailed 82 xs650 chop. The money was right and it seemed to be a good bike to get in over my head with so I would learn everything I needed. No speedo, no turn signals, no reserve, no fenders. Got the thing registered and didn't inspect it knowing it wouldn't pass safety regulations. Rode it a few times and had to put it into hybernation for the winter. Here is a picture of what it looked like the day I bought it
It needed a lot of little adjustments and a quick carb clean/tune and it was decent. Used a pair of tin snips and cut myself a temporary rear fender. The tires that were on it were dry rotted so I replaced the front 19" with a fresh rubber and the rear 16" with a shinko dual white wall. I narrowed the tc bros lane splitter bars with a pipe cutter and brought them in a bit. I also replaced the massive mirror with a more subtle clamp on one I scored on eBay for short money. Gave it a new set of plugs and wires and that led me to this phase of the bike.
Ok,so about a year ago I picked up a bare bones, already hard tailed 82 xs650 chop. The money was right and it seemed to be a good bike to get in over my head with so I would learn everything I needed. No speedo, no turn signals, no reserve, no fenders. Got the thing registered and didn't inspect it knowing it wouldn't pass safety regulations. Rode it a few times and had to put it into hybernation for the winter. Here is a picture of what it looked like the day I bought it
It needed a lot of little adjustments and a quick carb clean/tune and it was decent. Used a pair of tin snips and cut myself a temporary rear fender. The tires that were on it were dry rotted so I replaced the front 19" with a fresh rubber and the rear 16" with a shinko dual white wall. I narrowed the tc bros lane splitter bars with a pipe cutter and brought them in a bit. I also replaced the massive mirror with a more subtle clamp on one I scored on eBay for short money. Gave it a new set of plugs and wires and that led me to this phase of the bike.