Frenchtom
New Member
Well - I finally pulled the trigger after months (years?) of lurking here and other sites. Found a 1977 XS750 that came with 2 XS850 engines and the nice standard tank, not the teardrop style. The engine in the bike supposedly runs, the one on the floor does not but seems like it would with only some select parts added back. What you cannot see are the three or four storage bins full of parts behind where I was standing when taking the picture. The PO chopped the frame which made getting a title a 4 month affair. Just got it this week after buying the bike in September and now its titled as a 2017 custom. Kinda weird but oh well. My plans are a cafe racer style with more emphasis on the racer part and less so on the cafe part. Other details:
Convert the engine to an 896 big bore
Maybe do a cam upgrade
Weld on a hoop and fab a nice teardrop rear fender
Fab a seat
Maybe rearsets although I do not want to lose kick start capability. I may need it with the high compression 896 kit, the starter may not do the job.
No pods!
Powder coat the frame and other select components
Relocate the upper rear shock mounts to a more forward leaning position
New shocks and front springs, progressive rate
Digital ignition module in place of the points and condenser type
Build a new exhaust system (current pipes are chopped up MAC's and probably not salvageable
Tires, brakes, maybe clutch plates, fix second gear, LED brake and signal lights, etc
Paint, buff, polish, the works.
I live about 1.5 hours from Virginia International Raceway and have a stretch goal of running in an old fart's division where passing happens only on the straights and everyone values their real job.
The first advice I would like to ask for is what kind of welding system should I get for the exhaust fab and the shock mount relocation? I have single phase 110, and 220 access and no experience whatsoever.
Thanks,
Frenchtom
Convert the engine to an 896 big bore
Maybe do a cam upgrade
Weld on a hoop and fab a nice teardrop rear fender
Fab a seat
Maybe rearsets although I do not want to lose kick start capability. I may need it with the high compression 896 kit, the starter may not do the job.
No pods!
Powder coat the frame and other select components
Relocate the upper rear shock mounts to a more forward leaning position
New shocks and front springs, progressive rate
Digital ignition module in place of the points and condenser type
Build a new exhaust system (current pipes are chopped up MAC's and probably not salvageable
Tires, brakes, maybe clutch plates, fix second gear, LED brake and signal lights, etc
Paint, buff, polish, the works.
I live about 1.5 hours from Virginia International Raceway and have a stretch goal of running in an old fart's division where passing happens only on the straights and everyone values their real job.
The first advice I would like to ask for is what kind of welding system should I get for the exhaust fab and the shock mount relocation? I have single phase 110, and 220 access and no experience whatsoever.
Thanks,
Frenchtom