The 'leftovers' project - XS650

11 years later, I have an Ontario ownership for the frame. Now the challenge is getting insurance for a custom unrecognized make of motorcycle.
 

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Couple of small bits done over the weekend. Throttle/carbs all sorted. Took some fiddling and deleting of some adjustment to allow enough cable length, but it's good to go and there's enough adjustment left to allow for free play etc.

Also corrected the spacing of the rear wheel - need some spacers made up. This was a bit of an error on my part, thinking the chain was aligned and it wasn't. The rear fender needs to move to the left about 1/4" at some point. Dumb mistake.

And I drilled a new seat mounting plate to move it forward 3/4". Looks better IMHO. This week I'll get some socket cap bolts for the clutch cover so I can button that side up and fill the motor with oil and confirm circulation to the top end. Need to measure up a battery box big enough to hold a decent battery and some of the electrical bits like the reg/rectifier, a starter solenoid and maybe a small fuse panel. The coil will likely hang under the seat.

Front brake and clutch cables need some sorting - will break out the solder pot and try swapping the end on a scrap cable for practice and then measure/cut/replace the end of the clutch cable to fit the lever and also shorten the brake cable to allow some stoppage.

IMG_0463.jpeg
 
I also bolted the grab handle back on, just to see what it looked like. It's set up to have a pillion seat behind it and I guess the handle is for a passenger.

I almost bought another identical seat, unused with the cover etc on it locally but I missed out on it. I might try for a cover some day - you can buy these seats new pretty easily.

https://www.scooter-center.com/en/s...e-frame-with-rivest-on-the-side-black-5420059
$120 er so Canadian if my math is right doesn't seem a terrible price for a ready to go seat.
 
I've never even sat on one like that, but it seems to risk being bit in a tender area if not covered or wearing thick pants.
 
I've never even sat on one like that, but it seems to risk being bit in a tender area if not covered or wearing thick pants.

It's actually very comfortable, but I haven't ridden it yet. A patch of sheepskin might be the go-to for the moment but depending on how the rest of the bike turns out, it might get a proper cover for a 'factory' look at some point.

I have the original cover for it, but it's falling apart.
 
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