Just a few tweaks to get it running :-) ........got a bit carried away !!! XS650 Makeover

lchris21 · Feb 20, 2020

These a just a few gratuitous pics of the bike I sent off to the Bikeshed Show https://thebikeshed.cc/bike-shed-london-2020-bike-submissions/ to see if I could get one of the 60 "shed row" plinths they offer to amateur builders for their annual bash............to my surprise, I'm in by the looks, just waiting on the final confirmation :thumbup:

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Ive started growing a beard in readiness as it will take me quite a while, probably longer than the bike build :laughing:

, checked shirt is on order and Im booked in a for a tattoo this weekend :whistle:

dobbslc · Feb 20, 2020

I'll see you at Tobbaco Dock then!

Exuptoy · Feb 20, 2020

If trophy’s are on offer mate I’d expect to be bringing home some additional hardware! It’s a thing of beauty.

lchris21 · Feb 20, 2020

dobbslc said:
I'll see you at Tobbaco Dock then!

I'll be the one with the brand new shirt, half grown beard and a fresh sore looking tattoo :laughing:

lchris21 · Feb 20, 2020

Exuptoy said:
If trophy’s are on offer mate I’d expect to be bringing home some additional hardware! It’s a thing of beauty.

Dont think it's that type of deal. More a show than a competition

. I've been following some others who will be exhibiting and believe me, the standard is very, very good. Just happy to be there rubbing shoulders with some quality craftsmanship and get some inspiration for future.

Farside · Feb 20, 2020

Good point about the carbs hanging in the breeze when the POs throw the airbox away. Mine are like that, and I've been meaning to support the back ends of them for ages. Much cheaper to knock up a bracket than to discover the rubbers are wrecked because of the stress.

RichardM · Feb 20, 2020

Looks good, highlight the NGK?

Carb support may increase vibes through the carbs and cause fuel frothing.

Farside · Feb 20, 2020

RichardM said:
Looks good, highlight the NGK?

Carb support may increase vibes through the carbs and cause fuel frothing.

The originals are supported, but on rubber tubes, so a steel strap with a small exhaust rubber might do.

lchris21 · Feb 21, 2020

RichardM said:
Looks good, highlight the NGK?

Carb support may increase vibes through the carbs and cause fuel frothing.

Was on the to do list the ngk highlights :thumbup:

There's a nice soft silicon sleeve tube around the screw so hoping that will help if it becomes an issue, it's just slotted in there rather than bolted firm through the carb body to stop it falling backwards

lchris21 · Feb 23, 2020

Just a quickie update. Managed to get the grips sorted yesterday. Machined from some alloy and some strips of leather...............20secs to fit some rubber ones..........weekend of machining and faffing for some leather ones :laughing:

....no wonder its taking so long :whistle:

Exuptoy · Feb 23, 2020

What did you use to machine the leather?

exceptional work mate. 3 pics in insta don’t cover it mate! Never realised you MADE the grip, thought you modified a set you purchased!!!

lchris21 · Feb 23, 2020

Ha...rubber ones just didn't cut it :rolleyes:

lchris21 · Apr 24, 2020

Wow.........2-months since my last update.its been a while (lost my mojo for a while between this that and the other :rolleyes:

)..........few things happened to planet earth since then!!!......anyway enough of killer viruses, lets get back to it.
Wanted to do something with the "empty" frame triangle on the bike, the look is more in keeping with the "cafe" style rather than "tracker" style I think. Kept coming back and fore to it over the winter trying to think of ways of breaking up emptiness without slapping a huge number board on there like some of the street tracker look bikes Ive seen.... :whistle:

So time time fire up the CAD (cardboard aided design)

lchris21 · Apr 24, 2020

Added some slots and more details, turned over the edges to give it a bit of rigidity, then into the oven at gas mark 10 for some powder-coat

lchris21 · Apr 24, 2020

The finished article......think it breaks up the sides quite nicely without being too intrusive..

lchris21 · Apr 24, 2020

Decided to re do the exhaust hanger bracket, didn't really like my first attempt so set about making an insulated version using some domestic electrical back box grommets. Also while I was down there I got rid of the adjusting nuts for the rear break switch for some knurled ones instead.

lchris21 · Apr 24, 2020

First time in over 2 years...using my old pull lift, it was time to get it off the work bench its been bolted to... :drunk:

....................soon realised my estimated side stand length came up a little short :laughing:

.................so needed some addressing.. :whistle:

lchris21 · Apr 24, 2020

Had to extend the side stand about 40mm to get it lean just right, no in progress pics, but back into the oven for some of the wrinkle finish then topped off with a stainless disc for the foot. I cannot stand seeing bikes in shows etc with the stands all chipped and scratched

lchris21 · Apr 24, 2020

Finally under its own weight I could set up the brake pipe up front and brackets etc. Made up a stainless keeper, mounted off the caliper to keep the hose off the tyre under full compression of the forks.

lchris21 · Apr 24, 2020

So when that was done..................first day the sun has shined in seems like 6-months, time to wheel it outside and get some better shots of it............prior to the first show which was supposed to be in a few weeks...little did we know at the time :doh: