Diesel's XS650

[Soliddrummer]

What tank is that. Looks like an old wassel but looks bigger to me.

 

[Dieselchanic]

It's a wassel (I think). It's old too. While working on it today I ran into some lead filler... Not too common anymore. It's a small tank.

 

[Dieselchanic]

I've been working at getting this bike together. Didn't really like the lines the bike had with the tank mounted like it was, so I made new front mounts and raised the front.

I made some mounts and mounted a fender. I used the ribbed fender that came on my 81 xs. It was (is) a piece of scrap metal with a rib. I used a piece of shaped pine 2x4 in my vise and a hammer to roll the edge and put a lip on the rear. It still looks terrible but it's better than nothing.

 

[Dieselchanic]

I put a set of drag bars on and I like it! It flows better and feels great.

 

[Uncle Bryan]

I agree, it looks better

 

[Dieselchanic]

I washed it and took steel wool to the wheels. I've been riding it almost daily. It needs the carbs dialed in and I just got the jets for it so when I get the time in going to check the cam chain, advance, and then try to get the carbs jetted and synced.

 

[Dieselchanic]

I swapped my old clutch lever and cable for a hydraulic setup I got from Hugh's Handbuilt. It was a pretty painless install requiring only tapping of the cable entry hole to mount the slave cylinder. I bled it and it's working great! I trimmed and polished the cover while I had it off. I also out the front brake off of my other xs on which is a nice mini master cylinder with a stainless line.

 

[shawn00sa]

How do you like that clutch?

 

[Dieselchanic]

I haven't rode it yet but it seems nice. Fairly easy to pull and still has some 'clutch feel' to it

 

[_XSesive_]

Nice build, all that hard work on the frame really paid off!