I've been gone for a while. Started my own shop. Our first bike. XS650

[Ethanol]

Hey all! I've been gone for almost a year. Started a new shop (well actually 2 out here in Albuquerque!). This is the first bike of many we have getting ready to come out (first through the shop that is). 1975 XS650. Let me know what ya think, good, bad, whatever.


Thanks!


Ethan

All of the excess tabs were cleaned off of the frame and it was repainted. A custom headlight bracket, seat pan, and rear cafe-inspired cowl were fabricated. The rear brake light was inset into the cowl for a super clean look. The seat has new foam and new, professional upholstery. The bike was left with a really nice natural aged patina. Starts and runs great.

The Resto-mod included:

Completely rebuilt motor
New Mikes XS PWK Flat Slide Performance carburetors and air filters
New reverse megaphone mufflers
New tapered steering head bearings
New swing arm bearingsNew chain
New dual sport tires
New shocks
New chain
Low rise tracker bars
New mini speedometer
New battery
New fork sealsCharging system updated with modern Regulator/Rectifier

 

[slim67]

Great looking ride- Love it!

 

[teddpage]

I really dig the build..but there are 2 things that bother me.
The first is a tiny, nit picking thing. The grips are on the wrong sides lol
The second though, lack of a front fender or fork brace is quite bothersome to me...
But aside from those...the bike looks great! I wish you the best of luck with your shop!!!!!!

 

[Ethanol]

Thanks Ted! Yeah the grips aren't my favorite. I like the vintage moto gp style balloon grips. Also I didn't notice they were backward! Damn.


Also the lack of a front fender is a pain. I rode to the shoot in the rain and I was soaked. I'm looking at throwing at least an aluminum brace on there.


Something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Motocross-Flat-Track-FORK-BRACE-universal-aluminum-blank-AHRMA-trials-/150900730249

 

[Ethanol]

Also this was a pretty quick/cheap build. We need to pay rent soon. But we did try to focus on work that would make the bike reliable and rideable versus crazy performance or aesthetic stuff. Thanks for looking!

 

[rodos18]

Well done!

 

[jetmechmarty]

It's eye catching. I like it. Does it have a battery? Kick only?

I noticed right away there was no fork brace. I'm not crazy about the license plate mount.

Do the tins have clear coat on them or are they intended to rust?

 

[Ethanol]

It has a battery mounted to the rear swing arm. Hidden but the electric start works well. The tins have been in about the same state, uncleared for a year and haven't rusted much. It's NM so it's very dry here. I just polish it every so often with some natural oil/wax stuff.

 

[Tim]

Like the offset frenched in tail light - looks good. Nice urban look to it - and its good to see the rear inner fender in there.

Definitely would benefit from a fork brace for handling. To get that I'd take the stock fender and bob the hell out of it. Keep cutting off fender till you like how it looks, and it protects from the puddles.

Anything that actually serves a purpose ends up looking good on a bike - rarely an exception. Even the coolest of old race bikes have fenders - because they serve a purpose, they look good.

 

[teddpage]

Even the coolest of old race bikes have fenders - because they serve a purpose, they look good.

I guess my race bike isn't cool...I have a fork brace, but no fender...although I wish I had a fender on it during my last race when it was downpouring...im guna see if funds allow for one next year...

 

[bcthomas]

The tail is awesome. Good luck with the shop guys.