Hi Todd, I know a little about it, lots of missinformation on the net about that bike. It's NOT an "81" but a "78" see the rear disk brake, thats a give away that it's not an "81" The bike has a 4" stretch and is raked to 40deg. Also the bike was made to use those Firestone replica tires. What I mean is the final ride hight was designed around those tires. Any thing else just ask.
Hi Ironhead, I just ran a "T" spliter from a late model sportbike master and ran one line to the front and other to the rear. Stops fine without either locking up before the other.
Hi Jeff, I got all of your emails from the last 48hrs
I'm here a lot just not every day, sometimes I 
Ok, aircleaners where made useing pluming supplies from hardware store. Rubber reducers to go from carb to air cleaners, don't know if it will clear your frame or not, all customs are different. The tires are "Firestone replicas" from cokertire, 400/19 front and 500/16 rear. The brakes are connected together useing a regular "T" fitting and a modern sportbike master made for duel front disc's. The electronics are hidden in the frame gusset and headlight. The headlight is from a old Italian bike and made by "LEV". I make my own frames but the first bike I built the frame was made by Dave the "Tigman" at Worldclass welding, great guy and first class welder 
The bike used the stock length front forks with a 40deg rake in the neck. The frame hight with the firestone tires is about 4" off the ground. The exhaust was made by me, I make all styles of custom systems for the xs and have made over 200 exhaust systems so far. I have made so many because I offer a custom service and work with the customer to build the exhaust they invision. If I just mass produced a few styles the number would not even be close to that amount. I think this covers it Hope this helps Jeff, good luck on your build P.S Check out my Albums for more, just click on my name to get to them.
I have to join the long line of admirers of this bike. It's one of the nicest XS' I've seen yet. And I've been looking at LOTS of pics since I've started mine. 
Hi Nooovie, Glad you like the bike. The headlight is a 5 1/4 I think? I sold the bike so I can't go check but I'm pretty sure. About the pipes, look in my albums on this site http://www.xs650.com/forum/member.php?u=344 you will see a few bikes set up just like what you are asking for, so yes I can make pipes for use with forwardsHa ha nice!
I've been meaning to ask Scott about this bike for some time am really glad this thread popped up. Pretty much all of my questions have been answered... but one remains...
Scott what is the diameter of that headlight? I've been looking at doing a headlight with built in speedo like that and have come across buckets from Ducati, Sears, Puch and Benelli, but I found they vary in size from 3.5 in, to 4in, 4.5, and then to 7in. 7 inch seems huge on these bikes. So am curious, what size is the one on your build? Looks perfect.
Also, I'm going to be one of your customers soon for your exhaust. Are you able to make the shotguns for hardtails with front controls?
thanks and good luck with your build, make sure to post progress.
Hi Ironhead, I can make you any set of pipes you like, no problem
I am not doing frame work for customers right now but am thinking about it since I get asked all the time so who knows 
By the way, Roy Fisk is a friend of mine and I know your bike well, cool ride He was going to have me make hi-pipes for it but then.... well you know 
