New member with XS650 Special Cafe project

[XSFazz]

Hey guys!

So I'm new here, I have a 1978 XS650 Special that I am turning into a cafe racer with bolt-on parts only. I am not hacking up any of the frame or welding anything on. The bike is 100% reversible to stock.

Current mod list:

PAMCO ignition
HHB Fork Brace
K&N RC-0982 pod filters
LED tail light with integrated turn signals
DEI Exhaust wrap installed on headers
Motorcycleseatsdirect cafe seat (in the mail)
Motolanna stainless instrument bracket (in the mail)
Shorai lightweight battery (not installed yet)

To do list:

Dual disc conversion (in the mail)
Re-wire bike & make custom battery box for Shorai battery

Here's some progress pictures:

When I got it:

Filter install:

As she sits (minus fork brace)

 

[DreadRock]

Welcome to DTT !

Clean looking XS nice score on it ;D

 

[XSFazz]

Thanks!!!

That means a lot coming from you! I checked out your XS500 build thread -- freakin awesome! I may have to pick your brain about a few things I want to do to my bike

 

[coyote13]

Yup, very nice. Kinda what the tuner kids would refer to as OEM+

 

[XSFazz]

Yup, very nice. Kinda what the tuner kids would refer to as OEM+

I like that you said "OEM+" because that is EXACTLY my goal of this build. I am the same way with my cars. I own a 2008 Audi RS4 and I took the same approach, OEM+ look, all bolt-on parts. I like to be able to go back to stock if I want and also I feel like there's plenty of off-the-shelf parts for the XS650 where you shouldn't need to cut / weld / make brackets etc unless you are going all out crazy custom.

Still waiting on all my dual-disc parts to come in, as well as my seat, and new instrument panel bracket from Motolanna so I can do an LED instrument light setup. The stuff that I am doing to the bike that's not really reversible is the rewiring, but to be honest, if I was buying a bike I would love to have one that was re-wired in a modern way for reliability and to free up some extra room.

Edit: more on the wiring, I also want to switch to blade fuses as well and whoever wired up the PAMCO ignition used all inline fuse holders and just a big mess of wires. That's getting fixed ASAP. I am an amateur-intermediate at wiring, I can solder, shrink-wrap and tuck everything really well. I want to get an aftermarket fuse box for the PAMCO wiring and get rid of the inline fuses.

 

[xb33bsa]

great looking yamaha !
why are you going dual disc ? properly tweaked with good pads and a braided line a single disc is all you need for street cruising
the added weight of another already heavy yamaha disc and caliper will be a negative effect on handling and suspension
plus you will need a new master cylinder

 

[DreadRock]

Smart move on keeping it so you can go back to stock ! Only reason to go crazy mods is if it started as a POS LOL

 

[coyote13]

I like that you said "OEM+" because that is EXACTLY my goal of this build. I am the same way with my cars. I own a 2008 Audi RS4 and I took the same approach, OEM+ look, all bolt-on parts. I like to be able to go back to stock if I want and also I feel like there's plenty of off-the-shelf parts for the XS650 where you shouldn't need to cut / weld / make brackets etc unless you are going all out crazy

Funny, I also come from an Audi background. Just a little B6 A4 1.8tqa, nothing crazy. Just sold it a couple weeks ago for a new truck. Got a buddy with the same RS4 as you, friggin love that 4.2. Always tell him if he ever thinks to sell he has to come see me first...

 

[XSFazz]

Funny, I also come from an Audi background. Just a little B6 A4 1.8tqa, nothing crazy. Just sold it a couple weeks ago for a new truck. Got a buddy with the same RS4 as you, friggin love that 4.2. Always tell him if he ever thinks to sell he has to come see me first...

Nice!! Yeah I love this car man. I have this car so I can drive it 12 months out of the year, rain, sleet, snow, and still enjoy myself! I had 3 different MKIV Supra turbos over the last 10 years, but I was scared driving them as they got squirrely as soon as a drop of precipitation hit the ground.

Anyways, some more stuff to the XS:

Dual discs, about to bleed them:

Motolanna instrument panel with LED idiot lights (LEDs from radioshack)

Now to figure out the wiring to see which wires in the stock plug go to which light :-\

 

[bradj]

Your bike will be so much better once you get 19/18 spoked wheels. The 16' rear was and is a sin against mankind

 

[XSFazz]

Your bike will be so much better once you get 19/18 spoked wheels. The 16' rear was and is a sin against mankind

I actually like the mag wheels! I do agree the wheel is a bit small.. does anyone know if I can run a larger rear wheel while retaining the rear disc brake? I don't want any drum brakes and I've heard with the larger spoke/mag wheels you can only run a drum brake. Perhaps I heard wrong.

Either way -- got my seat from motorcycleseatsdirect.com. Bolted right up to the stock mounts! Good thing I sent pics of my seat pan. Here's some pics:

 

[DreadRock]

Looks good man !

Not 100% but RD400 mags would flip the bill ! Still mags , can run duel disks ( with right year mag ) , disk in back ! Most likely same bearings also , there's a axle chart some place here !

 

[bradj]

Or a xs500