Swedish Scrambler ´71

[dPettson]

Hi,
A year ago I started to look after a bike that I could turn in to a scrambler. My biggest wish was to own a Triumph scrambler or XS 650 but I couldn’t afford it. I started to look into off-road bikes and found a few object, for about €1500, that was in good shape ready to be brutally developed into a sweet scrambler with 50-60s influences.

Six months ago my old man said that his friend had an old Yamaha standing in a garage somewhere. He told me that the bike was in good condition and that it was rebuild as a 70s chopper. Extended forks, modified seat (king and queen) with a narrow handlebar. I wasn’t interested at first once he told how it looked like. But I change my mind and told dad to call his friend. On a beautiful Sunday in august 2011 we went to look at it. In the corner, through piles of shit in his garage that he probably been collection since he was born, stood it. Sunlight shining at it, “-what a sight”. I knew it was a XS1 when I first laid eyes on it. The old man said that he bought it 1971 brand new, drove it for two summers and then decided to buy a car instead. And so he did, he placed the bike in the garage, over in the corner, with only with 11000km on the speed meter. And there it stood for almost 40 years alone. I bought my dream for €1000.

My plan is to turn it into a scrambler, BUT with only with minor changes. I don’t want to destroy or chance the look of it. I only want to give it a bit of a “dirt touch”.
So the plan is following:
-Higher rear suspension,
-Bigger off-road or dirt tires,
-Shorter fenders,
-tracker handlebar
-leather seat
-oxblood painted tank with two whipped-cream-white stripes

Due to that I’m not a native English speaking guy, I will not write so much in this thread. But as often as I can I will upload pictures of the bike, being slowly and gently caressed.

Regards from Swedish Dave

 

[dPettson]

The day I bought it.

 

[dPettson]

Pictures of the bike when carburetors are being checked. Trying out how it will look like with 340mm and 360mm rear shocks, and with a dirt handlebar.

 

[Furious D]

Your English is just fine Dave.

I am building some sort of Scrambler too but with with an addition of a sidecar. This bike has always intrigued me but I dont have much info on it.

Another one of my favorie Scramblers is forum members fancyketchup's bike, This is what I think of when I think of a scrambler. Something you can take out and ride in the mud, then take it home , spray it with a hose ,and walk away. I also own a Triumph Scrambler, Great bike but its a pain in the rear cleaning all that chrome after a day in the dirt.

 

[nj1639]

My vote is for picture #3.
Nice score! That looks like it came from a time machine....how I remember those days. I had z bars on my Triumph 500 and a friend of mine had the extended front on his Triumph 650.....handled like crap but did look cool.

 

[dPettson]

Cool, sidecar story! i like you pictures! Do you have a thread here as well?
My opinion of a scrambler is that it is supposed to be used. Like you said, ride it, hose it down and put it away. I love dirt and off-road bikes but they are too rough to ride longer distances. So why not combine? Here are some inspire ring pictures I've found

And here is some extra inspiration I've found !
Sidecar bike, ural, I think http://vimeo.com/31085779
A SWEET triumph scrambler, let me present THE JACKPINE!
Good explanation of a scrambler, http://vimeo.com/14754222 "- you feel bad in a good way..."
Cool movie, http://vimeo.com/18976012

 

[dPettson]

My vote is for picture #3.
Nice score! That looks like it came from a time machine....how I remember those days. I had z bars on my Triumph 500 and a friend of mine had the extended front on his Triumph 650.....handled like crap but did look cool.

Hehe I wish I could have lived through those years too

 

[isigt]

kul att se pettson! Sounds like a great plan!

Im also from sweden, building a hardtail.
Not updated my thread in a while, but eventually.

Where do you live? I'm from malmö.

keep em coming!

 

[Lasper01]

Hey Pettson.. og isigt.. Nice to see some scandinavian guys in here.. Im from Copenhagen in Denmark

I love the scrambler-look too and also thinking about making my new XS 650D into that style.. those two pics Furious showed are so cool!

Keep the pics coming

 

[nj1639]

Hey cousins....
http://www.colonialswedes.org/Forefathers/Rambo.html

 

[Bjorn]

Scramblers are cool!

Here's mine

goodluck with your build!

 

[arcticXS]

Hi, another XS riding Scandinavian her, from Northern Norway (lat.70)
I am happy to see more scramblers in progress. I am going in the same direction with my -77. Basically reducing weight, increasing ground clearance, improving suspension and brakes, new carbs, filter & exhaust, then upgrade the engine internals. My goal is less than 180 kgs with a full tank, and more than 60 rwhp. Not quite there yet, I have to admit.

So far I have got longer Ohlins shocks (made for the new Bonneville) around 342 mm long/100 mm shock travel, new fork springs, emulators, alloy front fender, Tarozzi fork brace, single 320 mm ISR front disc with a Brembo caliper from a Ducati, Pirelli MT60 tyres, RS34 flatslide carbs with K&Ns, 1 1/2" headers with Norton mufflers, working on homemade mild rearsets, Biltema (!) bar end mirror, alloy LSL handlebar, lighter headlight and mounts, short stalk XS2 indicator lights (much lighter than the later type), and a few other bits and bobs.

Once the engine is modified and running, I will decide if the starter motor will be removed, if so, I have a small Li-Iron battery I will use (weighs 0.45 kg or 1 Lb)

But what really would make a scrambler perfect is a "Bratstyle" seat that follows the frame loop radius, and still is as wide as the stock seat, making it possible to use the stock hinges and latch. I may even end up making a pan like this, and having it upholstered by a pro. You may have some good saddlemakers in Sweden, I am grateful for any tips!

Right now I am at work on a ship, riding out a storm north of Western Australia, but will try to get some pics of my bike when I come home in 3 or 4 weeks time

 

[uebe]

Cool, sidecar story! i like you pictures! Do you have a thread here as well?
My opinion of a scrambler is that it is supposed to be used. Like you said, ride it, hose it down and put it away. I love dirt and off-road bikes but they are too rough to ride longer distances. So why not combine? Here are some inspire ring pictures I've found

And here is some extra inspiration I've found !
Sidecar bike, ural, I think http://vimeo.com/31085779
A SWEET triumph scrambler, let me present THE JACKPINE!
Good explanation of a scrambler, http://vimeo.com/14754222 "- you feel bad in a good way..."
Cool movie, http://vimeo.com/18976012

The high exhausts on that Yamaha are great !

Anyone know where to get a set like that?

 

[adk_rider]

-Bjorn

Your bike looks great! I've just recently decided to go scrambler with my build after changing my mind many times.

Where did you get your rear fender, exhaust and seat from?

 

[dPettson]

Hi guys,
Today I'm updating the post with some pictures. Recently I just ordered new wires, spokes and clutch and brake handle covers (?) see picture from Germany. And I also found an old man that is willing to sell his entire front fork to me. Mine are a bit to rust and I can't find anyone that can restore them. Anyway, the bike is doing small progresses. I also sent my seat to a saddler that is going to sew my saddle in brown leather.
Things done recently are;
- Carbonators are ready to be used, new self-made oil proof jointing.
- Fuel crane has also new oil proof jointing.
A thing to do for upcoming week is;
- Add my new spokes to rear and front wheel.

Bjorn - Nice bike man, I love it. Not too little not too much and in Swedish terms, lagom =). I'm also interested of where did you get those pipes and rear fender from? How are those tires handling on road course? I can understand that the works perfectly well in dirt but, how are they to ride longer distances? And one last thing, could you please send some more pictures of the bike in profile from both sides. Just want to see how much the 342mm springs lifts the bike.



Take it easy guys!

 

[dPettson]

Scramblers are cool!

Here's mine

goodluck with your build!

Hey buddy, what kind of tires size are you using?

 

[arcticXS]

I use Pirelli MT60 on mine, 120/80-18 and 90/90-19, if i remember correctly. In Norway the cheapest supplier is www.motorsykkeldekk.com
These Pirellies were a lot lighter than the Bridgestone BTs that came with the bike, even when the BTs were half worn....

 

[dPettson]

thanks man, it help me alot! ordered my tires a couple of weeks ago so its almost on the rims by now.

 

[dPettson]

I use Pirelli MT60 on mine, 120/80-18 and 90/90-19, if i remember correctly. In Norway the cheapest supplier is www.motorsykkeldekk.com
These Pirellies were a lot lighter than the Bridgestone BTs that came with the bike, even when the BTs were half worn....

thanks man, it help me alot! ordered my tires a couple of weeks ago so its almost on the rims by now

 

[dPettson]

Hi folks
Haven’t been happening much here, sorry for that. Just don’t find the time to write.
But here we go, shot!
My planes have been changing lately. It doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a pure scrambler any more.
My toughs have been back and forth about riding real desert/Dakar tires and when I decided what to order I finally chosed Dunlops K81 which totally changed the whole outlook of the bike. I’m going for a more street scrambler/ tracker thing. I still think it’s going to be great.
Things a lately orderd:
• Dunlop K81 TT100 3,60 -19, 4,10 -18.
• New rims, XS performance, 1,95 -19, 2,15 -18. + spokes.
• Norton Commander Tracker handle bar (DIRTTRACK NORTON 22 MM.
)+ GRAN-TURISMO grips
• Ikon progressive suspension, 325 mm 7610-1348sp1
• New speedo meter. (REAL NICE ONE)
• Bates 5 ¾ headlamp.
• Bates taillight
• One complete front fork and tank from an nice old man.
And much more… So many things I can’t remember. It’s like Christmas every Friday when I get the stuff I ordered. I truly feel like a kid again and that’s nice.

Check out my pics, if you have any questions just ask me