Nailbomb
Central New York XS650
Well, I' not exactly new to XS650s or bikes in general, but I've learned with other hobbies that advice from others often pays off in dividends(so long as you can sort out who to listen to!).
I've got two XS650 frames, and a few bins full of parts specific to them, as well as a whole lot of other bikes parts in general.
Grew up on and around bikes, and even took a stab at doing some work for others on them. Got kindof burned and mostly lost interest in doing it for others who aren't friends and family.
I'm no machinist, and won't claim to be. I'm a union pipefitter/welder and valve tech. So the mechanical inclination is there, I've just never used a lathe.
Got my first XS650 in 2007 and learned the hard way with it. It was a hack hardtail job, with a tired engine I struggled to keep alive, and no front brake(the mounts were bobbed off!). I loved it though, there was something there in my eyes, and I constantly fought to keep it going.
Sometime later I decided to strip it down and fix some of the UGLY welds on it to find some parts of my frame were more Bondo than metal! It looked like someone had heated up some conduit with a torch and hammered the frame into shape, then used fiberglass filler to make it round again!
The sawsall made a appearance, and the bike got put on the sideline for another bike build. My '59 chopper took two years of dedication from Family, Friends and myself and culminated in a article in Hot Bike magazine.
After that I got into doing some DIY home gunsmithing(and still love that) but the environment has gone due to laws(NY SAFE act).
I need a hobby to keep my hands busy, so my eyes are back on my old frame.
The garage, and the oldest pic I have of the XS650, pre-sawsall
Another pre-sawsall
More modern, this is while I was cleaning up the neck for some different gussets.(note parts of frames still missing)
I have a 2 down 4 stretch ardcore hardtail on order(put my order in over 2 months ago) and a quick search on the net told me they moved shop and have been on backlog, I'm just hoping I get my hardtail. I went with the ardcore due to it replacing a larger portion of the frame.
I've got a '80 or '81 engine with way less miles than the old one set aside with VM round slide carbs, and a bowyer ignition, though I' seriously debating going to a PMA, and pamco so I can do a battery delete. the bowyer can just go on the other bike when I get around to it.
In any event I wanted to say hi and introduce myself.
I've got two XS650 frames, and a few bins full of parts specific to them, as well as a whole lot of other bikes parts in general.
Grew up on and around bikes, and even took a stab at doing some work for others on them. Got kindof burned and mostly lost interest in doing it for others who aren't friends and family.
I'm no machinist, and won't claim to be. I'm a union pipefitter/welder and valve tech. So the mechanical inclination is there, I've just never used a lathe.
Got my first XS650 in 2007 and learned the hard way with it. It was a hack hardtail job, with a tired engine I struggled to keep alive, and no front brake(the mounts were bobbed off!). I loved it though, there was something there in my eyes, and I constantly fought to keep it going.
Sometime later I decided to strip it down and fix some of the UGLY welds on it to find some parts of my frame were more Bondo than metal! It looked like someone had heated up some conduit with a torch and hammered the frame into shape, then used fiberglass filler to make it round again!
The sawsall made a appearance, and the bike got put on the sideline for another bike build. My '59 chopper took two years of dedication from Family, Friends and myself and culminated in a article in Hot Bike magazine.
After that I got into doing some DIY home gunsmithing(and still love that) but the environment has gone due to laws(NY SAFE act).
I need a hobby to keep my hands busy, so my eyes are back on my old frame.
The garage, and the oldest pic I have of the XS650, pre-sawsall
Another pre-sawsall
More modern, this is while I was cleaning up the neck for some different gussets.(note parts of frames still missing)
I have a 2 down 4 stretch ardcore hardtail on order(put my order in over 2 months ago) and a quick search on the net told me they moved shop and have been on backlog, I'm just hoping I get my hardtail. I went with the ardcore due to it replacing a larger portion of the frame.
I've got a '80 or '81 engine with way less miles than the old one set aside with VM round slide carbs, and a bowyer ignition, though I' seriously debating going to a PMA, and pamco so I can do a battery delete. the bowyer can just go on the other bike when I get around to it.
In any event I wanted to say hi and introduce myself.
The stock pipe on the rigid frame Harley pan head exited the head and ran inside the frame rail and used an S pipe flattened in the middle to exit outside the rail. I should know I bought a factory chrome one for my 55 pan chopper up sweep pipes. You should know that if you built it. Better off not knowing original ownership I doubt I would show up on a computer files. Your dad didn't have a problem with it. New York or else where I worked with fitters from all over you should be able to work where ever you choose. 
