1972/78 XS650 Heavy Metal Hardtail

[irk miller]

I did an experiment with a Chinese dune buggy brake. Since they have a cable operated parking brake, I thought I’d try one out to see if I could make it work. I like the idea of running a cable lever on the bars and no m/c up there. I don’t want an under tank m/c like I did on my last chopper. Before I was halfway done, I knew it wasn’t going to be a thing, but I saw it through anyway.

I woke up this morning and disassembled to do the real deal. I like these twin pot Tokico calipers because they’re plentiful on EBay and often in good shape. I make what I call a butterfly bracket because of the shape, and hook it up. A mod to this caliper takes just a couple of hours. One of these days, I’ll get a mill and do it in even less time. A little vapor hone to clean it up:

The truth is, with a vapor hone, a CB750 integrated lever and m/c is actually pretty:

 

[Jimbonaut]

Yeah it's pretty. I like those old school MC's and wanted something like it for my current build, ended up getting a Nissin retro mc that looks similar. Man, that vapour hone machine of yours sure is getting a work out

 

[irk miller]

Front brakes done. Used a caliper hard line from a CB750, machined down a dual brake splitter to transition from hard line to hose,

 

[irk miller]

Retrofitted a bullet turn signal with a red LED for a tail light. I’ll add a mini LED, in the center of the lens for brake.

 

[irk miller]

 

[john83]

I really like the hard line from the MC to the split. That’s a nice touch and looks really cool.


Sent from my iPhone using DO THE TON

 

[irk miller]

I’m using a vintage lantern for my electrical box. I machined a housing to replace the lens and installed my starter switch.

 

[Maritime]

Nice

 

[irk miller]

A little change to the tail light and struts...

 

[Maritime]

I like that. looks good.

 

[cxman]

that light on a hard tail shaker

hmm betting pool?

 

[Maritime]

locktight LOL

 

[pidjones]

LEDs

 

[Sonreir]

Angle looks better on the light. Nice one.

 

[irk miller]

Yes, LEDs. This is what it looks like inside. Still waiting on the lights for brake to be shipped here.

 

[Sonreir]

Does the LED have a driver? If the light is already bright enough you can add a 1K resistor to the power line to treat it as the running light and then another line with no resistor for the brake.

 

[irk miller]

Does the LED have a driver? If the light is already bright enough you can add a 1K resistor to the power line to treat it as the running light and then another line with no resistor for the brake.

Yeah, I have done that with these style bolts before, but I don't like the brightness of this particular model bolt. I know they make them brighter. I ordered a superflux 4 chip LED to try out and 2 mini surface mount LEDs that claim to be 5 times brighter to use in combination.

 

[Sonreir]

I got a few of these bad boys in the shop if you want to try them out.

http://www.sparckmoto.com/Products/Detail/87

They're pretty decent.

 

[irk miller]

Got frame, tank and fender painted.

 

[Maritime]

Nice