I'm pumped, my bike is almost finished! '80 bobber 4" stretch "Wabi Sabi"

650Jarrett

650Jarrett

XS650 builder
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Bethlehem, PA
In Japan, Wabi Sabi describes something that is well worn, or beautiful because of an imperfection. That's what I had in mind when building this bike, but not as a cheap way out to cut corners, but in an attempt to draw out the charm in this 30 year old bike without resorting to making all things new. At the moment it still needs the wiring to be completed, brakes bled, and brake light installed and wired up, and jockey shifter installed, but I was so stoked to have it come this far ( I just got the motor reinstalled after paint this past weekend) that I had to snap some pics! Hope you all enjoy!

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cool! I recognize that CB200 gas tank...
:)

ps 2nd look makes me wonder if that is what the tank is...
 
Last edited:
emzdogz said:
cool! I recognize that CB200 gas tank...
:)

ps 2nd look makes me wonder if that is what the tank is...
Click to expand...


You are absolutely correct. I plated the rear tunnel opening to fit the frame better, and chopped off the original hardware for the gas cap I didn't have. I made the gas cap from some discarded laser parts, some empty .357 mag casings and some 16 ga sheet steel that I hand formed into a circle using a hammer and a piece of pipe. I actually did paint the tank with the panels on the side, bronze with brown panels, but the "antique" paint I put over top is still a little thick to show up in pictures. A little more wet sanding should bring out the panels more.
 
Just got the ignition wired up and fired it up!!!!!! Awesome feeling! still have to wire up the lights and fill/bleed the brakes, but it should be ready to ride this weekend! Yahoo!
 
when I finally got mine up n running, I rode it up and down my 100yd drive way without any brakes!!! weeeeeeeeee!!!!! Uh-oh...fred flinstone time.
 
If I was still in my 20's with no kids, believe me, I'd be tempted! Still, filling and bleeding the brakes is only about 10 minutes worth of work. Totally worth it before trying to tear up and down the alley.
 
Two things,
1. Is it just an optical illusion, or is the front tire not centered between the forks?
2. Don't ride to Massachusetts, it's illegal here to have ammunition (empty cases are considered ammunition, even if they are damaged beyond use) unless you have a LTC, and Mass does not recognize ANY other states LTC :+(
 
^ MA sucks so much and it's so expensive to live here. can't wait till I finish school so I can leave MA for good.

Nice bike I love that gas tank!!
 
it's the angle of the picture. You're not looking dead straight into the front of the forks. Also note the headlight looks a similar amount off center in that pic. As far as the ammo can thing, I've never heard of any state being that crazy about that sort of thing. The only thing that's not legal about this bike in this state (actually two things) the lack of mufflers, and the lack of turn signals. The former might have to be addressed but around my area, cops won't bother you about the turn signals as long as you are using hand signals.
 
Took it out yesterday for it's maiden voyage. First time's out are always great for finding out whatever it is you could've done better, lol. The back brake master cylinder is pretty much shot. Luckily I have two more to try out, and hopefully at least one of them is good. The shifter splines stripped out, probably because I didn't want to waste a perfectly good shift lever by cutting it up, so I pulled a junky looking one off an old Honda I had. Apparently it was more than just junky looking.... So now I have to cut up one of my good ones and weld that to the Hurst shift lever I'm using. The gas cap leaks a little while I'm riding with a full tank, and the only thing I can come up with for that is to not ride with a full tank, because I still need the cap to vent somehow. I found 4 fasteners that I forgot to put loctite on, which in all honesty is pretty good, considering all the nuts and bolts I went through putting it all together. And for the grand finale, the charging system is goofy. It reads just over 13 volts while running, which from what I understand is normal for these bikes, but the lights get dim as I ride until the battery finally conks out, then I have to recharge it before continuing. Weird.

All but the last item are quick fixes I can have done in a day, but I hate chasing electrical gremlins. Hopefully I'll get a chance during the week sometime to get it all sorted out. Yesterday was the only sunny day we've had here for weeks, and this week there's more rain as far as the ten day forecast shows.
 
Bike is pretty much sorted out. Still have a charging system issue, but I'm hoping it just needs a new set of brushes. It charges, just weak. Everything else is great. I'll be getting some updated pics with the bike in finished form (battery box in and everything. And hopefully that'll happen tomorrow.

Also, for anyone who is interested, I found out a way to run a single element tail light fixture as a tail light AND brake light..... Maybe I'll post a how to tech thread later...
 
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