fabricating

I'm building my second XS650 - kind of a "cafe/scrambler". I'm going with 18" rear with stock drum brake and a 19" front (both spoke). I'd like to ditch the heavy stock caliper and rotor and replace with a GSXR caliper and rotor (singe side). Dose anyone have any info on this type of swap...

So I saw some pictures of guys making I-Beam kickstands and they look pretty nice. I have the stuff to make it out of round like most, but wanted to go a little different. Anyways, I am not real sure how think I should go on the steel and if the center or the caps need to be thicker if at all. I...

So Ive searched around on here and have found little information about it. Some guys did and some didn't. Before I begin cutting and welding anything, I was wondering if it would be best to leave the engine in the frame or to just remove it. And what's the procedure to make sure it's aligned...

Hi guys, Anyone from Sydney, AU want to recommend someone to weld a rear loop and blast/paint my frame? Preferably a one-stop shop. South, west, I don't mind. I'm running out of time to finish my project before I leave the country and want to outsource this bit. Any recommendations are...

I'm ready to switch over to a Tig. I will only be using it for light projects, nothing commercial or industrial. My budget is limited. I also have no access to a 220 outlet because I rent a garage with only a 110. So whats your opinion on the tig in the link? Thank You...

So I am not a big fan of mags in stock form, however I would like to do more than simply drill them out like so many others. I am thinking of milling out the center of the spokes to some extent, but the kicker is I don't have a mill. I was thinking of drilling the start and stop points and then...

So I am new to xs650's but definitely not new to bikes. My last was a CB750 chopper project I did but felt that it just wasn't practical. I got a good deal on a 1980 xs650 with no title from my neighbor for $200. My neighbor is an elderly lady whos husband past away back in 1981, the bike has...

Bought a brass cap off Ebay and was hoping to get in touch with Monstercraftsman to get a bung for it but no luck. Anyways, I am hoping someone is willing to machine me a bung for the cap. Im 90% sure its 2" female straight thread, but ill be happy to send it so the bung can be matched. I tried...

I have boxes of coils, kind of want a better tester than scratching two leads from a battery hooked to the primary. Ohming the primary and secondary is fine but I think it misses a lot of high energy problems that can sneak by a VOM ohms test. I found this. Doesn't get much simpler, he lists...

As I have mentioned in my build thread I have abandoned my xs400 cafe project for now due to cracked engine case. There fore I am trying to use as many of my parts I have collected for my 650 brat. I am ashamed to say what I paid for theses RAASK rearsetscand how long it took to get them into...

I've been trying to get hold of one of these in the UK but my efforts have failed to come up with anything so I'll try another tack of having one made. But before I can do that I need the dimensions of it. Does anyone have the dimensions or have one that they can measure for me? The item is...

Anyone knows ?

So I was buying a bunch of old Honda's and this was part of the deal. I didn't know what it even was. I brought it home and stuffed it in the pile. A few months or year later I was looking at bikes online and saw a bunch of the same engines and thought, humm... I ran outside at 3am in my...

So I bought a Cole Foster tank. Thought yeah that's a cool tank. Then my build started and I thought, man this isn't really my style but those Indian Larry dished tanks are pretty sweet. Only problem is that the Indian Larry tanks sit too high up for me and my build and the Cole Foster tanks...

Hi, I saw an XS650 for sale on craigslist for ~400. I love the looks of bobbers however cannot afford one so I decided I would attempt to build one. My questions are: How hard is it for someone who is new to fabrication to do a hardtail job (I would have a shop weld it)? Do I need wayy...

Below is a picture of the type of front fender I want to run and my build I want to run it on. Just by surfing the web I'm not able to figure this out. The diameter of the wheel/tire setup is 25.25". Any ideas guys?

hey whats up i figured id give this a try. ive been going on this thread for a while now but stay quiet. found tons of info on these bikes that helped me in the previous bobber build but i wanna try a cafe racer which i never attempted before. i started this project a month ago and wish i had...

Hello, Starting a build thread. Not much done yet, but I feel like I've got a good start. Build Specs: 81 xs650 special ardcore hardtail cole foster tank drag bars Brushed aluminum bits spoked wheels Dual headlight (speed triple)

Greetings all, I have come across a couple of Givi 36L hard cases that I am thinking about mounting on a 1980 Special. Have any of you suggestions on a feasible rack/mount that could tie the two together? I suspect I will have to cob something together, but maybe someone has done this before...

Ok guys I haven't posted in awhile and I have some questions and im hoping someone can help.:banghead: ok so here we go I have a Ardcore hardtail and the TC Bros. rear brake anchor and the universal linkage and forward controls. I am having trouble figuring out placement or the steps to get the...