XS650 Project Black Beauty --- On The Road Yet???

[Tim]

Re: XS650 Project Black Beauty --- Its Alive Inside

Love the first-start videos - have one of my own

Just wondering about your coil location - any concern about getting a nasty shock by accident one day? Don't go riding in the wet with your leg resting beside your coil

 

[leggers]

Re: XS650 Project Black Beauty --- Its Alive Inside

I just joined this forum because of this thread.

LOL thanks that makes me feel cool 8)

Congrats, man! It's always a great feeling.

Thank you, yea I'm really excited.

Love the first-start videos - have one of my own

Just wondering about your coil location - any concern about getting a nasty shock by accident one day? Don't go riding in the wet with your leg resting beside your coil

Yea Tim good eye the coil was next to the seat simply for testing reasons, it has since been moved to just behind the neck. I will have to post some updated picks because I have been slaving away on this thing.

btw I am close to making a chain tensioner but I really didn't want to fork over 40 bucks for a skeleton skateboard wheel LOL (cheap skate I know) So I bought a simple black wheel and painted my own!

The wheels I purchased were 54mm and came with a set of bearings. I will put a layer of clear coat over the design so it might last longer...

This is the design that I copied, that many people like to use on their bobs

 

[Pattheswede]

Re: XS650 Project Black Beauty --- Its Alive Inside

Really beutiful build!
Will start work on my XS500 later and found a lot of inspiration and ideas from your bike!

 

[mnraider]

Re: New Guy xs 650 build

I'm still looking into whether I should have this welded or just get a new case... I will measure to see how much area is actually exposed.

In the meantime I've been working on the wheels, thought I'd share some of my progress:

The dirty drum on the left, and a good sanding from 150 grit -220 - 320 - 400 final wet sand on the right

Polished with green and white compounds on the wheel.

Trying to lace her up. This heritage special is a 48 spoke rim and it was a nightmare, took me 4 attempts just to get it right. But I felt like a badass after finishing it. lol

Laced and polished ready for a fat whitewall tire!! w00t

Wow that is some nice work there.

 

[mnraider]

Re: New Guy xs 650 build

Thanks! Will do!


Another 650??

I couldn't resist myself. A co-worker pointed out this 1975 XS650 in poor shape on craigslist. For two hundred dollars I couldn't say no. Of course it wasn't running when I purchased it. But a little time spent on it over the weekend and she was running in no time. It still needs more attention, but now its got a new lease on life. The instrument cluster will need some work since its a jumble of wires right now. Headlight and turn signals will also have to be checked out as those don't work either.

Anyway here's a shot of ugly betty in the driveway.

​

Someone was hardcore and put the 10" mini-ape handlebars on lol. I think someone also removed the baffles in the exhaust because she has a rough sound to her.

Here's a vid of me kicking her over:

1975 Yamaha xs650.avi

Well I am glad I am not the only one this happened to. I picked up a XS a few months ago then the next thing I know I am driving down the road and see a CB350 setting there calling my name so I picked her up. Then a few weeks later a buddy of mine that is moving out of state calls me and says he wants to sell and XS he has instead of moving it. Now I have 5 bikes in the garage and no room for the car or truck! LOL

 

[mnraider]

Re: Building Masculinity and a XS650 Engine

Shaving forks
I really like the look of polished forks. I keep seeing them online and I thought since I know how to polish I would give this a whirl. I figured the most difficult part would be the actual cutting of material. Mostly the entire process was difficult though.

Here I'm using paint stripper to remove the original paint. Buy a GOOD stripper. I didn't find the best stuff and I paid for it with a longer removal process involving several coats...

Grinding off the tabs for the fender and left brake were not terribly difficult, just time consuming. I used my Dad's air powered cutoff wheel.

From there it was a matter of grinding the material flush with a 90 degree sanding wheel (also the old man's). Then sanding through the grits as usual... (I did use some scotch bright pads to make the grinding cleaner before sanding)

I polished with two compounds black (coarse) and white (fine) to make them really shine.

I would say the whole process took me about 5 hours

Wow very nice work that is beautiful!

 

[teazer]

Re: XS650 Project Black Beauty --- Its Alive Inside

Polishing looks great and that's quite a wheel with 12 pairs of 4 spokes.

So, no fender and no second disk. Hmm. That's some sort of commitment. What sort of fork brace are you planning on using?

 

[leggers]

Re: XS650 Project Black Beauty --- Its Alive Inside

Really beutiful build!
Will start work on my XS500 later and found a lot of inspiration and ideas from your bike!

Glad to hear that, thanks man!

Well I am glad I am not the only one this happened to. I picked up a XS a few months ago then the next thing I know I am driving down the road and see a CB350 setting there calling my name so I picked her up. Then a few weeks later a buddy of mine that is moving out of state calls me and says he wants to sell and XS he has instead of moving it. Now I have 5 bikes in the garage and no room for the car or truck! LOL

Yea, Its hard to resist collecting more bikes for the barn. I actually fixed this xs up and sold it for money on the bobber project.

Polishing looks great and that's quite a wheel with 12 pairs of 4 spokes.

So, no fender and no second disk. Hmm. That's some sort of commitment. What sort of fork brace are you planning on using?

Yea the heritage rims are something. I didn't like them at first, but they have grown on me.

There's a fender. Its over the back wheel ;D Gosh, I figured I'd be ahead of game since most guys run zero front brake and drum rears but thanks for looking out for me.

I'll have to post some more pics and vids, I did take her around the block for the first test run. It felt good. I'm still working on a reasonably priced kickstand and I need to weld on a the chain tensioner.

 

[Bobbed_out]

awesome build...

 

[leggers]

awesome build...

Thanks!


Here's some obligatory shots I took yesterday:

Things still left to do:
Relocate petcock
chain tensioner
kickstand
single front brake hose
carb jetting
clutch adjusting

Winter tear down and powder coat/paint everything

 

[JRK5892]

i LOVE those bars man!

 

[JustinLonghorn]

Hell yeah man!

 

[Tim]

Is this thing running yet? I'd leave it as-is. Save your time and money, don't paint it! Ride it to death!

Inspirational for my upcoming winter rigid XS build...

 

[ProSimex]

and how many winters will that be Tim?

 

[Tim]

Well up here its winter all the time so... One.

 

[SloKrt]

Beautiful bike!

Nice work. I have to agree, I like it as is. But taking the last steps and finishing it off will make it that much better.

 

[leggers]

i LOVE those bars man!

Thanks! I think my next bob will be a harley

Is this thing running yet? I'd leave it as-is. Save your time and money, don't paint it! Ride it to death!

Inspirational for my upcoming winter rigid XS build...

She's totally running now. I was fighting some gremlins with her at first. Couldn't get past 2nd gear but adjusted the shifter and clutch and running through all now. Also still fighting some leaky seals around the points covers but that should be an easy fix.

I feel you Tim. Its ratty and I love it lol. I want to paint it this winter, but until then I will be riding it around "as is" at least for the rest of the season.

I should get a vid of her running up soon.

Beautiful bike!

Nice work. I have to agree, I like it as is. But taking the last steps and finishing it off will make it that much better.

Thanks! yea I really like how it came out and its not what I had on paper but I think a lot of people can relate that every bike has its own evolution as its built.


Wanted to give some quick updates too for anyone interested:

New Headlight

Unfortunately the NASH headlight I got off egay was just not bright enough at night. I went with a new light that has high low to help. I still might look for an amber tinting kit though because I love the amber headlight look.

Kickstand is now on also and I love it. NO MORE BLOCK OF WOOD LOL

And chain tensioner is on and working. I will probably switch to the hand painted skeleton wheel after I see what happens to this plain black one.

Full Beauty Shot

 

[Bobbed_out]

She is a beauty...