XS650 Bobber

2009-12-08T10:38:00.002-05:00

Well I have ripped the ugly stock 81 apart. Motor was from a different bike. I traded the good one for this stuck one. It ends up it just had been sitting and had a lot of carbon deposits. Thankyou Marvel Mystery Oil. Motor is in great shape. In the lower pic I got some 11.5 progressive springs. I am making some bushings so the fit snug. Top rails are cut and will be removed once the shocks are on good.

Lamp

2009-11-18T11:09:00.002-05:00

A lamp I made for an auction to raise money for a family who's father was killed by a drunk driver.

for Kitt

2009-11-09T09:46:00.004-05:00

Seat pan and shocks are from chopper shoxs. I drilled holes in the pan, transfered them to leather. Punched the holes in the leather. Died it black and put the leather on the pan with screw rivets and locktite.
The light mount used the exist holes on trees with 1/4" plate.

Bike #2

2009-10-05T09:41:00.003-04:00

81 xs now in pieces and on its way to something like this.

New photos

2009-10-05T09:39:00.004-04:00

Legal

2009-08-14T17:04:00.001-04:00

Passed inspection I am legal.

Almost finished

2009-07-16T22:10:00.004-04:00

They are not the greatest photos but here are a few clicks from the alley in my backyard. Fender struts have been raised for new tire and need to be finished. Some wires need tucked away and I need a longer clutch cable. Pretty good for a 40-year-old with no experience.
What has been done.

Top end rebuilt, blasted and painted.
New Mikini VM34 carbs
Relaced wheels, new bearings and oil seals
Pipes were make by Scott Gordon http://mysite.verizon.net/reszw9bp/
8" mini apes http://road6customs.com/
stock clutch and throttle.
mini button turn signals
New chrome headlight and Model A Ford tail light. http://www.lickscycles.com/
Forks were lowered 1 inch.
Boyer Brandsen ignition http://www.boyerbransden.com/
New electronic box inside fake oil tank.
Chain roller http://www.tcbroschoppers.com/
New tank and paint by jeremy.
Other small parts were from http://www.mikesxs.net/ and http://www.650central.com/

first start

2009-07-13T11:00:00.002-04:00

Wiring Sucks

2009-06-30T08:42:00.003-04:00

Not much else to say. I think I got it

Drilled Rotors

2009-06-18T21:54:00.002-04:00

Well I drilled my first rotor tonight. I am very happy with the way it turned out. Thanks to whoever made the pattern. there are cooler patterns but more holes than I wanted to drill.

Getting close

2009-06-14T19:46:00.002-04:00

I got some work done today. Fork were lowered an inch and installed with new tappered bearings. A new speedo and head light are on. I spent most of my time polishing the bolts. I hope to get the rims trued and mounted tomorrow.

2009-06-12T12:00:00.002-04:00

It has been awhile. The top end of the engine has been rebuilt, boyer ignition, front forks lower an inch and paint. The paint is shimmer HOK orion grey and silver. Bars and pipes are back from chrome so I should be moving along once it pick up the small painted parts. Thanks Jeremy.

Engine tear down

2009-04-01T21:05:00.002-04:00

Well I broke a bolt on the jugs, then proceeded to break the EZ out inside the broken bolt. That made it s way to the machine shop. I broke a piston ring and had a bent intake valve stem. While waiting for parts I started cleaning. This is a photo of the almost finished chamber.

2009-02-15T11:47:00.002-05:00

Motorcycle Girl

Correct

2009-02-10T11:52:00.003-05:00

Okay, now that the triple trees are on the right way this is what it looks like. I move the foot peg back and started work on the brake pedal. I had a blown moisture collector on my air compressor and fixed that. I got my pressurized sand blaster working and am read to clean for paint.

On backwards

2009-02-10T11:50:00.002-05:00

Well I posted a photo of my recent progress and was told to check out my triple trees and I had the top on on upside down.

running mids

2009-02-05T12:09:00.002-05:00

Running mids should be easy but a variety of factors including my exhaust led to this crazy setup. The brake is not anywhere finished. I will clean it up and make it look nice. I am just glad it works.

New pegs

2009-02-04T14:32:00.001-05:00

Well I finally got some foot pegs and here they are.

Katie'sHellmutt

2009-02-04T14:31:00.004-05:00

Katie newly relined helmet from http://www.hellmuttliners.com
A photo of Katie and images of her helmet are on their website in the gallery section. She loves it and took it Daisies to show her friends.

2009-01-13T12:48:00.000-05:00

Well I finally got something finished. Pipes are on, brake stay and mount for mids is tacked. I remounted the seat shoxs a little more verticle. I have the brake pivot ready to go. It has to sit higher that the pipes go back down and under the kicker to work with mids.

2009-01-10T17:54:00.001-05:00

Some of my favorite links.
Cool bikes.
http://www.bobbertalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=2793

2008-12-29T16:55:00.003-05:00

I took the photos of the bike outside and one of the back showing the fender struts.

new photos

2008-12-29T16:52:00.003-05:00

I mounted the battery box but it was in the way of the chain. Four new holes fixed that.

What kind of gas cap do I need?

2008-12-13T20:38:00.002-05:00

Brake stay

2008-12-04T22:23:00.004-05:00

Check out this site and look at this brake stay, it is the nicest one I have ever seen. Check out his post it has other nice items like foot pegs.
http://xs650temp.proboards29.com/index.cgi?board=project&action=display&thread=11264

Bars

2008-12-04T22:15:00.003-05:00

I got my bars and it was a wise choice not to make them. I got them for 6 Road Customs in Nebraska and the welding is insane. It makes my welding look like .... The fender is next. I am make the bungs right now but have to go back to work tomorrow.

battery box

2008-12-04T22:08:00.003-05:00

Well I finished the basic battery box. I put angle iron on the outside to break up the flat metal. I am going to attach or make buckles for a leather top. I put rubber mounts inbetween the box an the channel. Hopefully, the battery will fit.

First time rider!

2008-11-27T09:11:00.001-05:00

I love those chopper shox

2008-11-26T22:18:00.004-05:00

Well no handle bars yet. Bitwell stopped making the 7/8" last year even though it is on their website. I kind of like the ones by 6 road customs on ebay. I really like some made by Kansas Customs by they are expensive. I wish I could bend tubing. Another tool I want by don't really need. I installed chopper shox they are pretty much straight but off a little on one side. Pretty good for one person in a tight little space. I receive my new caliper piston, installed it but a little mouse carried away the brake shoe screw. I am working on fabricating the battery box and brake stay. Oh, just a little hint for photographing metal objects. If you surround the object with white it will look like metal and not turn black.

Roller

2008-11-13T12:28:00.002-05:00

Well I have the roller started, after buying parts for months. I am waiting for the chain and some other parts from mikexs. Once the rear wheel is lined up I will be able to install the fender. I bought seat pan and shox from Dave at Choppershox.com. The caliper piston was pitted so I bought a new one and will install that when it arrives. I am looking a t bars. I am trying to decide between Keystone's by Bitwell or or some mini apes on ebay. I bought the sportster tank at a swap meet and mounted that last week.

1980 xs650 Bobber

2008-05-08T10:50:00.004-04:00

A month ago I decided to build a motorcycle. I can weld (self taught) and I build metal furniture in my spare time. My problem is I couldn't fix lawnmower engine. I decided to buy www.chopperassemblyvideos.com.
I need to see something done to do it and after the video I decided, I could do this!

I wanted a bobber but couldn't afford a V-Twin. It came down to either a CB750 or an XS650. After bidding on numerous engines on ebay(which I hate),I finally found a 1980 xs650 at Cycle Salvage in CT. Shipping was fair and they had quick responses to my emails, so I bought the engine. The engine arrived Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Out of money but with plenty of scrap iron I am building an engine stand. I am using the plans by Ken Ravell & Dave Sentz located at http://www.650motorcycles.com/XSstand.html

My goal is to post my progress, the good, bad and ugly, to get feedback and help so others can get their hands dirty. I am a photographer www.jcwphoto.com, so I should be able to get some good images of what I am doing. I will post videos on youtube.com and link them to this site. I am going to even rebuild the engine. Hopefully, I don't screw it up too bad. I found a really good webpage http://www.bikerworld.co.uk/tech/XS650engine/
that shows step by step of what to do. It is not perfect but hopefully I will be able to use this site to fill in the voids. Like piston ring gap. How to you measure that?
A timing light what exactly are you looking for?

Any information would be helpful. My next step is to save money to get a frame for mock-up. No, I am not going to build one. I have been looking at Tigman http://www.tanksbytigman.com/ and G&L Choppers. http://www.freewebs.com/glchoppers/index.htm
It could be awhile so be patient. Gas prices are killing me!

I joined xs650 Garage

Rapid Flash Bracket

2008-02-21T10:28:00.000-05:00

Rapid Flash

I made this because I was sick of the flash not firing! Even with a Quantum turbo battery the flash could not recycle as fast as my camera can fire. I have used some old SB-25' an SB-28's on the bracket. I like the SB-28's because you can change the power in 1/3 stops. At half power they will blast away all night long. At full power after a couple shots the flashes seem to take a little while longer to recycle. If you switch to continuous low this seems to fix the problem at full power. I am using two turbo batteries but a turbo 2 would be idea. If you use pocket wizard I think you will need the expensive ones to get the sequencer function. I works without the turbo batteies as well. I shot a skier going off a jump and wanted a fill and was able to fire off 4 shots in a row. If you are interested call me at 717-919-3284. My web site is www.jcwphoto.com. You can email me from there.

This was shot with rapid flash off to right and an on camera strobe. Note the side light. It was shot with Canon Mark III 300 sec. F3.2 800 ASA. Flash was at 1/2 power and gelled with tough green.

Watch it work on youtube.