1972/78 XS650 Heavy Metal Hardtail

I have progressed from the "I think I want a chopper" to the justification phase of "I am fairly certain I need a chopper".
 
My first bike was a chopper (Triumph TR6C). Glad I got that out of my system while I still had a young back.
 
I have a SL350 frame I want to hard tail.

Then either make it full chopper, or bobber.

Don't have the skills nor equipment to do it.

But......someday. I'm in a parts gathering mode right now.

I just love the way this one is taking shape, Eric, you always amaze me with your builds.
 
Last edited:
I sold my Evo powered rigid frame chopper two days ago. I still have another old Harley chopper so I'm good.
 
Cobbled together PMA

9FC7021D-14F2-487F-9B34-C6B8DADF3F24.jpeg
225B4D80-A5F2-4E9F-9196-49AFA4B75D71.jpeg
75EFAF38-3285-4540-AB69-99A11EA48A72.jpeg
 
Super close. I just need to mount the coil. Wire it and the ignition, and retrofit the front motor mount.
76064191-A70A-438C-BF46-699DBD7A52D3.jpeg
9C7B8070-EFF8-4C72-BC4B-6C4FE611A28E.jpeg
 
Glamor photos, but still no startup video.
I had to pull the clutch cover, because I have something assembled wrong with the kickstarter or there's something wrong with the clutch. The kicker doesn't turn the engine over, and unfortunately I converted it to kick only. I think the clutch is slipping, at least that what it feels like. I'll have it running in the next 24 hours, unless I am buying more discs.
 
That PMA looks neat. Is that off the shelf or super custom? If the latter, would you mind sharing the secret.
 
That PMA looks neat. Is that off the shelf or super custom? If the latter, would you mind sharing the secret.
VZ800 stator (all years are the same)
Banshee flywheel, lightened and balanced
Banshee stator timing plate (Ebay reproduction) and Hugh's Handbuilt adapter, so the stator mounts to the Banshee plate, then the Banshee plate mounts to the Hugh's Handbuilt plate, which mounts to the engine case. I had to cut off the Banshee timing scale, as it interfered with the mount. Not sure if the actual stock plates have a removable scale or not.
5 wire Reg/rec from Mikes XS

As I understand it, this is Hugh's design base, though he may be getting more output if he's having stators custom wound. His flywheel has a keyway to match the XS crank's keyway. I had to file the bottom of the 3/16"x5/8" woodruff key to match the XS crank keyway. I'm also running a tiny Yuasa 1.2ah sealed battery, but I know people go capacitor only. The Yuasa battery is only $10 and weighs 20oz. I suspect my battery isn't much heavier than a large capacitor (blindly guessing) and it's only roughly 2" x 2" x 4" and 25% cheaper.

I'm also running the Pamco style ignition with the stock advancer. I'm trying to decide if I should go electronic advance.

All in, piecing the kit together, I have under $200 spent (excluding the ignition parts). A good Banshee flywheel is the most expensive part. Lots of stories of the cheap Ebay flywheels coming apart. I don't know if those are truth or internet forum lore.
 
Last edited:
Woah. That's impressive.
I was planning on sticking a GSXR PMA unit on the end of aGT750 crank. It's inside out and the GSXR shaft is larger than a GT shaft, so that needs an adapter too. Needless to say it's still on the shelf. Somewhere.

edit: I didn't realize that the VX was almost the same as an 01 GSXR inside out unit. That's a neat arrangement.

Lately I have been looking at the Cycle-X idea of slapping a Lucas PMA on the end of the crank, but I am having a hard time convincing myself that a 50 year old Prince of Darkness design could be better than a modern Japanese system. I did that on a pre-unit T100 back in about 1970 and something tells me that modern units have to have made some advances.

Any idea what the output curve looks like compared to stock?

Did you look at using the Banshee pick up and a modern ignition system? Might be a bit pricey to use a Zeeltronic, but it's an idea.
 
Last edited:
Woah. That's impressive.
I was planning on sticking a GSXR PMA unit on the end of aGT750 crank. It's inside out and the GSXR shaft is larger than a GT shaft, so that needs an adapter too. Needless to say it's still on the shelf. Somewhere.

edit: I didn't realize that the VX was almost the same as an 01 GSXR inside out unit. That's a neat arrangement.

Lately I have been looking at the Cycle-X idea of slapping a Lucas PMA on the end of the crank, but I am having a hard time convincing myself that a 50 year old Prince of Darkness design could be better than a modern Japanese system. I did that on a pre-unit T100 back in about 1970 and something tells me that modern units have to have made some advances.

Any idea what the output curve looks like compared to stock?

Did you look at using the Banshee pick up and a modern ignition system? Might be a bit pricey to use a Zeeltronic, but it's an idea.
I kept the Banshee pickup for potential future use. I'd love to make it work. Seems to me running ignition of the crank would be more reliable, and the XS ran a pickup and CDI on the last years engines, iirc. I'm interested in your GT750 plan. I have the CB550 framed CB650 powered build that is on pause because of trying to dial in the ignition. It's the same crappy two copper band/brush charging system these XS run. I've thought about doing something similar for it. The CB650 runs the stator on the inside of the cover, so it would be a matter of running a flywheel something like that VX. GN also has the reversed flywheel. The VX800 uses the same stator that I used, so if that VX fits your crank then you might have your conversion.
 
Back
Top Bottom