Scruffy the Janitor---(non-xs650)

[Dieselchanic]

Scruffy the Janitor---XS400 Build

Meet Scruffy. He's gonna clean out my garage.

I will add a pic a day for the next while showing what he will be created from.

 

[Airwolfie]

No pic dude!!!

 

[Dieselchanic]

No pic dude!!!

It's the weekend... You know I need my beauty rest....


-Frame-

Starting with a 1981 XS650 frame with a David Bird prefab hardtail already welded on. It only needs the gussets welded on to be finished..... But. Like I'd ever do something that obviously easy..

 

[Dieselchanic]

Rise and shine boys and have a great Labor Day!!


-Rear Wheel-

Going with a Suzuki GT380 18x3 rear wheel. Needs some cleaning up. Depends on how things go but I may disassemble it and clean it up and relace...

 

[Airwolfie]

Looking like a good start!

 

[Dieselchanic]

-Forks and Front Wheel-

I've got the forks and front wheel off of a 2000 Yamaha YZ125. I will need to lower the forks a whopping 10" to get them where I want...

BTW. The forks won't be on backwards when mounted...

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Holey cow, apehanger forks!

 

[westonboege]

Looking cool... is that a 23 in front?

 

[Dieselchanic]

Looking cool... is that a 23 in front?

21. It's just real cozy with the neck. This frame is set up to be low and I love it.

 

[Dieselchanic]

Took my forks part way apart and just pulled the springs out so I could get an idea what it'll look like. Looks like I'll have 3-4 inches of travel which should be plenty.

 

[Dieselchanic]

-Motor-


I will be transplanting an XS400 motor into this frame. Now remember what I said about not taking the easy way out on the frame? Well here's why.... Check out where the exhaust ports are. This means I will be going with a single downtube. Now this may seem like alot of work just to drop a 400 in there but that's relative... I was planning on the single downtube when I bought the frame so that doesn't really change my plans any.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Weld into the down tubes and make THEM them the exhaust........

 

[Dieselchanic]

Ok, so as nearly as I can tell these forks have no top-out spring. Best I can figure is the uppers catch on a clip or lip on the slider and that's what keeps em together? I dunno. So the spacer would need to go outside the lowers and inside the uppers? Someone please explain it and let it be easier than that...

 

[Dieselchanic]

-Electrical-


This is what I want to use to hide my electrical in. And no, I will not be painting it. It's perfect as is.

 

[Dieselchanic]

Got this in the mail today...

Ordered from Kemmer Cycles on eBay Monday. Got it today for 40 bucks to my door... Really?? These folks are great. Would buy from them again.

Here it is on... Should work.

 

[Soliddrummer]

It looks awesome, I love your "out of the box" build ideas for sure, but those forks would scare the shit outta me. Those dirt bike legs are super spongy for obvious reasons, did shortening the springs and such firm them up? That just doesn't look like anywhere near enough travel, it seems like you would be bottoming out constantly.

 

[Dieselchanic]

I haven't shortened them yet. Just pulled the springs out. I'm planning on cutting the springs about half as much as I lower them to give it some preload. Then of course being mx forks they are adjustable so you can set the valving rock hard to none at all. I think I'll be able to get them set right...

 

[DEMON DAVE]

keep the fresh ideas AND pics coming

 

[Dieselchanic]

-Fuel Cell-


Here I have a vintage Can-Am poly tank. It doesn't sit right on the frame as it is but once I get the single downtube in it should go a little lower in the front and about 2 inches further forward. I'm not totally set on this tank as it doesn't quite fit as well as I'd hoped but it does have great patina. We'll see once the frame mods are done...

 

[DEMON DAVE]

I think an early 80's yz80 or even a gtmx 80 tank would look very cool and fit the whole yami mx look