my 82 heritage special bratstyle bobber build

[Wolfchen]

From the pics your project is gettin' along.

Wasn't aware Yami XS tube was only .075 thick.
That answers why XS bikes developed cracks.
Tube I was using is almost twice that at .125" wall.
Why? Cause its stronger where it counts.

If you already know the XS's OD size is 7/8" or 1"
here's a supplier link for DOM steel tube.
It appears theirs is .065" wall thickness so it would require a lug in any welded joints;

http://www1.mscdirect.com/eCommerce...z02x1?refinement=4291422651&searchandizedOk=Y

Don't know how your fab skills are. If you're gonna do any tube bending here's a few tips;
http://www.xs650chopper.com/2009/11/bending-tube-the-cheap-way/

I notice almost all the hard tail weld-up kits are including cap style gussets
that rest and attach over the weld joints. These help maintain frame integrity & strength.

There's several drop seat vids on YouTube detailing the look.

 

[Taylor72]

thanks,i'm learning as i go,have spent alot of my life in automotive and salvage but this is my first bike i'm chopping, i may make my own seat rails,really want to do as much as possible myself,

 

[Taylor72]

i can get the 1 1/8" o.d. and .120 wall dom tubing for rear rails to mount shocks to. from t.c.brothers 4 ft section for 20 bucks plus shipping then .065 1" from tractor supply for seat rails for 15 bucks.3 ft section i have steel bars to make shock mounts,

 

[Taylor72]

went down and chopped up a factory shock spring ,rewelded it and now have a 10.5" shock to mock up shock tabs i'll make for it

 

[Taylor72]

i've been working on it for over a month in my spare time,honestly,if i didn't need sleep,food,water,and my job would just keep paying me even thought i dont show up,i'd work on this thing till it was finished,anything with an engine is awsome in my book

 

[Taylor72]

decided to try my hand at making my own seat rails,just a mock up,put 2 tubes together and got .200" wall thickness,still debating if i should continue or wait till i get the money for a kit,the metal i have was free,1"od plus picked up a tail light for a trailer has brakelight and parklight ability for 9 bucks

 

[Taylor72]

any opinions on the tail light,look ok or sucks

 

[smurph]

Pass on the tail light as it sits. Just looks stuck on there. The size is pretty big, might flow better if it had a different housing. Maybe it will look better with a seat on it, and where are you going to mount the plate?

 

[Taylor72]

plate is going to be side mount unless i changs to a limp sausage type taillight,i used to be in the salvage business so i may look for an old truck taillight of some kind

 

[Taylor72]

rear section of seat rails in,just gota finish welding,decided to make my own seat rails instead of buying a kit,gota buy the 7/8 tubing for the top rails.I custom made the rails,double walled tubing,1 inch o.d and .190 wall thickness pressed 1.5" into frame,will be plug welded,i am making shock tabs from 1/4 steel bar

 

[Darkdruid]

Is looking good. I am looking forward to future posts.

 

[Taylor72]

I made some seat rails from 3/4 o.d .100 wall thickness.havnt welded them on yet and still need to cut rear rails to fit top ones in place for welding,havnt made up my mind if i like them that much or not

 

[Tayno]

I think those rails might depend on how the seat sits above them. If you have a seat with a curved base, it might look funny with the 'kinked' rail?

I like how the line of them matches the lower section of the frame though.

 

[Taylor72]

im making a custom seat pan for it,follows the line then curves up in the back ,im cutting up the original seat pad and cover to cover pan i made for it
will get pics up soon

 

[Taylor72]

newly made seat pan from a deer crossing sign i've had for a few years.and im in the process of using original seat cover on it with some free foam pads from work

 

[Taylor72]

i bought some cheap paint stripper in a can,i got really tired of sanding.i sprayed the bike down,let it sit for 15 minutes,i pressure washed it then sprayed it again and let it sit for 10 minutes,still have underside to do but alot faster job

 

[Taylor72]

made some shock tabs and got them welded in place

 

[dwain61]

Ahhh yes stripper in a can...get's you through the lonely nights.

 

[Taylor72]

in case anybody is needing parts i have some from my bike i wont be needing.plastic side covers,gas tank,turn signals,new handlebars,tach,tach cable,if interested i can post picks of stuff,willing to sell or trade parts

 

[Taylor72]

been working so have not been able to post anything,but i did get my shocks worked out and making a new seat pan design thats lean to match the seat rails,money's tight so progress is slow but i think the end result will be worth the effort.