Well guys it about time i make a build thread The bike is already finished (well its never finished but its rideable).
First a little background about myself. Im 19 years old currently going to school part time for engineering and am an mechanic at a bike shop (bicycle) and on the side i do a lot of metal fabrication work. I was always into dirtbikes growing up and a little over a year before i started this build my dad bought himself a harley and i decided i needed my own bike, One day saw a xs650 bobber online and fell in love.. and welp a week later i bought one.
I did 100% of the work in house, from the fab work to powder coat and paint.
So on October 7th, 2011 i bought a 1981 xs650 from a member on here. This is what i brought home.
Next day i stripped the frame (well what was left to be stripped)
Engine with about 7000 stock miles
Wanted to see if it really ran so i rigged everything up on my bench. Started right up!
fast forward a month and i finished the engine.
The shop at the current time (a lot has changed since then)
Chopped
Tc bros hard tail.
First ride was in April i believe.
Stayed raw for a few weeks while i worked out all the kinks then tore her down again.
Worked with leather for the first time ever...not perfect, but im happy with it.
I then powder coated everything.
And about 2 months after the first test ride, and 8 months after i started i ended up with this.
Fast forward to today i have put over 600 awesome miles on it and plenty more to come. Still have much more to do till its "finished" such as a rear fender (which i ordered from 7 metal west over 5 weeks ago and still waiting..), turn signals, and a pma kit.
I also just made a new set of pipes last week, which i think are much better then the last.
Thanks for all the help you guys gave me, I spent hours and hours searching this forum
First a little background about myself. Im 19 years old currently going to school part time for engineering and am an mechanic at a bike shop (bicycle) and on the side i do a lot of metal fabrication work. I was always into dirtbikes growing up and a little over a year before i started this build my dad bought himself a harley and i decided i needed my own bike, One day saw a xs650 bobber online and fell in love.. and welp a week later i bought one.
I did 100% of the work in house, from the fab work to powder coat and paint.
So on October 7th, 2011 i bought a 1981 xs650 from a member on here. This is what i brought home.
Next day i stripped the frame (well what was left to be stripped)
Engine with about 7000 stock miles
Wanted to see if it really ran so i rigged everything up on my bench. Started right up!
fast forward a month and i finished the engine.
The shop at the current time (a lot has changed since then)
Chopped
Tc bros hard tail.
First ride was in April i believe.
Stayed raw for a few weeks while i worked out all the kinks then tore her down again.
Worked with leather for the first time ever...not perfect, but im happy with it.
I then powder coated everything.
And about 2 months after the first test ride, and 8 months after i started i ended up with this.
Fast forward to today i have put over 600 awesome miles on it and plenty more to come. Still have much more to do till its "finished" such as a rear fender (which i ordered from 7 metal west over 5 weeks ago and still waiting..), turn signals, and a pma kit.
I also just made a new set of pipes last week, which i think are much better then the last.
Thanks for all the help you guys gave me, I spent hours and hours searching this forum