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

[Shox Dr]

How about an exhaust rain cap like the trucks have to be different?

You mean like this


Put it on to wind a mate up

 

[stuvy]

I’m not so keen on the exhaust I think it should follow the line of the subframe line

Just my 2p’s worth

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Excuse my 'higgorance' about all things 2-wheeled , but is this going to be a solo bike? Otherwise your pillion passenger is going to have a case of hot leg syndrome......

 

[lchris21]

..............the pillion has got a car so she has

I’m not so keen on the exhaust I think it should follow the line of the subframe line

Just my 2p’s worth

the latest angle is more in keeping with the subframe than the original I think

 

[Wallace]

Ladies can sit side-saddle.

 

[zx9]

Ladies can sit side-saddle.

Ladies can ride their own bikes.

 

[lchris21]

Been cracking on with the exhaust this weekend. Simple jobs but just eat up the time. First up is a little hidden bracket to secure the silencer. Rubber mount to hopefully allow for some expansion and vibration insulation.

 

[lchris21]

You know when you convince yourself itll be a quick easy job.....One thing which has been bugging me since I bought it the exhaust was the 2 into 1 collector. It's a pressing with a particularly ugly seam. Hardly noticable when the bike is on the ground and the foot pedal obscures most if it. Anyway after I thought would be a 5 minute job to grind it off and just seem weld it back flush.....it was paper thin and sort of got away from me a bit......like a scab it just got worse as I picked at it.....so after several hours grinding, welding, polishing.....repeat......it's done and I can sleep tonight

 

[zx9]

Nice work on the collector flange, it might have been a right pain in the asp but well worth the effort.

 

[lchris21]

Few spring tabs, bit of scotch brite, and some copper flashed locknuts later it's all done. End of another weekend...time to clean this lot up now

 

[lchris21]

Onto the fork dust seals.....
Last year I finished off "modifying" the seal retaining washers with some little tags welded on. Was never really happy with the look so spent all day racking my brain for a better solution.
Problem is the brace occupies the seal retaining groove so tried a few different combinations....
Eventually gave in and made my own from scratch.....
They are £8/ pair and two day delivery for the off the shelf ones...hand made exactly how you want them are a bit more expensive and time consuming

 

[magicgrotto]

4th pic down look better

 

[addjunkie]

Why are you doing the chuck in chuck thing, also whats the black material?

 

[lchris21]

Why are you doing the chuck in chuck thing, also whats the black material?

The internal bore too small to get the bigger chuck jaws into the part and didn't want to mark the outside surface. Quick easy short cut.
Black material is some sort of plastic...I've grooved it for an o-ring. Should keep small animals and pedestrians out of the fork seals

 

[lchris21]

Few more form the weekend...
Got the fork dust seals fitted. Much happier now
Next up the headlight mounting. It's an offroad type looking unit, small enough to get the proportions correct....in my opinion
Tried a few different types but settled on the rock guard look, its going to be a flat tracker/street-scrambler, so fits in with the theme...............bit marmite but hey...............I'm in charge here
As it was only mounted at the base, I wanted to add an extra month, plus break up the top fork stanchion area. I used a couple of bicycle seat tube clamps and then turned up some spacers to suit.

Used a couple of seat-post clamps off a bicycle, bored out and matched to some spacers. The light is only mounted at the bottom originally, so wanted to get away from the "bobber/harley" look

 

[lchris21]

Offered up the handlebars to see what its starting to look like.....
Went for the Steve McQueen "triumph" bend as they call it? They look wayyy too wide at the moment, as there is no ornaments fitted like levers etc, but should all come back into proportion when its fully populated..... The "ape hanger" look should also be toned down a bit when the tank is fitted
The XS650 engine is often mentioned as a copy of the Norton & Triumph styling at the time..............I suppose the Japanese designers back in the 60/70's are akin to the Chinese bike designers nowadays...

 

[dobbslc]

The XS650 engine is often mentioned as a copy of the Norton & Triumph styling at the time..............I suppose the Japanese designers back in the 60/70's are akin to the Chinese bike designers nowadays...
Except they made some very good bikes that are still around today! I doubt any of the Chinese s### will be in 30 years time.

 

[dobbslc]

Love the work @lchris21!
Really do wish I could get on with mine but the house has to get finished first! Then the workshop is it ever gets done

 

[lchris21]

...indeed, Gumtree and FB are littered with 2-3year old knock off bikes

 

[lchris21]

Love the work @lchris21!
Really do wish I could get on with mine but the house has to get finished first! Then the workshop is it ever gets done

I've been there........few years back...........built a house/kitchen extension. Took nearly a year..........