My not so big arse first build... XS650 inside.

[PatDoody]

So I picked up this fairly decent running and complete xs650 from a local kid who bought it with dreams to modify it and lost interest. Ive wanted to do a cafe for years now, but never actively went out seeking a project bike till this one fell in my lap.. not bad for 800.00

Its got a little bit of an oil leak but I think its just the copper seal around the drain plug.


First mod was getting rid of the stock sealed beam for this cool VW rabbit smoked cross hair headlight I had spare from another project.

started stripping her down for a good degreasing and cleaning.

 

[PatDoody]

Main plans for the bike are to just do a different tank, seat, clubmans. Just to get the look down, so I can still get some riding in this fall, then really tear into it over the winter months.

 

[enur19]

Good luck with rebuilding it.
It looks like it's in real good shape. God i'd love to have an xs650 ..

 

[bananaclip]

Godd luck with your build! Very nice scoot to start with. I really am a fan of your headlight. My first car was a 84 rabbit gti.

 

[PatDoody]

Thanks guys here are some more photos of the progress. I been working on it for a few weeks now so dont think I am doing this all in a day.

The rear swing arm bushings were shot so I ordered up some bronze ones to replace them, and a new chain as well.

So nice and tight now.

 

[PatDoody]

Big ol pile of stock parts not going on the bike.

better shot of the headlight.

got my clubmans bar end mirrors and a few tune up goodies.

 

[PatDoody]

started fitting up the bars

Also got an xs750 tank that I want to use:

 

[PatDoody]

Also started shortening the rear hoop.

 

[SquadraCorse]

Looking good man. You don't happen to have another headlight do you? I've been looking everywhere for a VW Cross hair but can only find them in pairs.

 

[johnu]

Nice! You got a good donor bike right there. I bought one a while ago but couldn't deal with the weight of the thing so I sold it. Good luck with the project I'll be following along.

 

[PatDoody]

Looking good man. You don't happen to have another headlight do you? I've been looking everywhere for a VW Cross hair but can only find them in pairs.

I actually only have one I saved from a car that had an engine bay fire... Ive been saving it for years knowing that one day I would actually get off my ass and put a bike together.

 

[Tim]

Looking great so far. Any plans on going to an 18 or 19 inch rear rim?

 

[PatDoody]

Yes I want to do a set of the early xs alloy 19"-18" rim sets but I am having alot of trouble finding a set.

 

[gentlemanjim]

I'd stay with the wire spokes just re-lace with 17" or 18" front and rear.

 

[50gary]

The XS650 is one of the great bikes. The Yamaha cast alloy wheels are quite heavy. I'd lace up 18" front and rear alloy rims for better tire selection. Brace the frame at the base of the main downtube out to the "ugly plates" with 3/4" round. The brace will barely fit but I put one in on my XS and it helps to stabilize the swingarm. As it turns out I found out later that it's a racer's trick for the XS. Swap out the loose ball bearings in the head set for some tapered rollers that helps a lot as well. You can cut a lot of weight off the bike if you have the energy to make new parts?
A set of FZR600 forks will bolt up and R1/R6 calipers will bolt to the FZR lowers Race Tech emulators and your front end is a hot ticket. Your bike looks like a '79? I have a line on another XS also a '79 for $400 and it runs well. I better hang up I'll talk all day about the XS.
Cheers, 50gary

 

[PatDoody]

Hey gary thanks for that info! I was wanting to do a different fork set up and dual disks I will look into that swap.

Re-welded the rear hoop. I dont have a bender so I just took 2 inched out of the stock hoop and welded it back on. It actually works really well.

card board mock up of the seat.

 

[PatDoody]

I made the seat pan out of some rough steel. I dropped it off to have a seat cushion made for it. You can find a sort of diy for it here: http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=30341.0

Also spent some time grinding off alot of tabs and such I didnt think were gonna be needed.

 

[Cornish Pixie]

Hi, nice work there. You can't beat an XS650, so many options with what you can do with them and quite a bit of kit that will bolt right in.

I'm putting an 18 inch/19 inch (well actually I'm messing around with two i8 inch rear wheels, two 18 inch fronts and a 19 inch front) mag set up in my 650 cafe project. The 18 inch rear is fairly straight forward, especially if done with a Radian swinging arm swap. The 19 inch front is a direct lift from a 650 special with mags and is aneasier proposition than the 18 inch front wheel from the RD.

Good luck with the build