This is my first attempt at a build thread. I have to blame this project on punkskalar. After I seen his awesome bike build, I had to try it myself. This is my first attempt at building a bike so if you see anything wrong let me know.

It took a couple of weeks but I managed to find a nice running 1979 xs650. After getting it home, it was disassembled. After looking at the frame it was decided that it would quicker and easier to build a new frame than to chop up the old one. The steering stem and the rear axle adjusters were just about the only part that I reused. The frame was streched 4 inches and the neck was raked out enough to give the bike a low 3.5" ride height.

The orignal plan was to use the stock forks, but after searching on ebay I found a old springer frontend. I think the springer came off a harley sportster but not really sure. I shortened the springer by 9" so that it would be the same length as the stock forks. I got lucky in that the bearing stem on the springer was able to be pressed out. I turned a new shaft, so that it would match the yamaha steering stem.

Here are a few pictures of the bike as it sits now. I did not plan on making a build thread so there was not to many pictures taken. Ill be sure to take camera out in the shop from now on.

I did some more work on the bike this weekend. I chose to use a springer seat. I mounted it up but after sitting on it I think I need to change the angle a bit. It also is gonna come kinda close to hitting the fender so that will have to be fixed. I found a set of handle bars that I might use. They are 12" rise ape hangers. I really like the look of not haveing any controls on the bars so I installed a internal throttle. I had to turn the throttle down so that it would fit the 7/8" bars.

I was able to attend a local swapmeet yesterday. I got really lucky and found a new set of rims. The rear rim in the pic is a 18" rim, which will get replaced with 16" rim. That way I can put a thicker looking tire on it and still be at the same ride height. The new front rim is a 128 spoke, looks a nicer than the 36 spoke rim.

I also found a small peanut tank. The tank is not mounted but looks like it should work. Sorry for the blurry pic of the throttle (did not set the camera up right) Let me know if you want another on taken.

I like it, subscribed :smokin:

This one is a little closer to what I'm planning with my XS. I already have a springer front end that is roughly 1/2" shorter then the stock forks.

Looks kick ass so far!! Keep us posted on the progress. :beer:

I'd love to find a old bike to build like that, but there just doesn't seem to be many cheepies around here. With gas being the way it has been here lately, bikes seem to be turning into gold (even old one's).

What are your rake/trail numbers with your weight on the bike? I know the numbers can be confusing as hell to enter into a normal rake/trail calculator because angle on the bottom rocker of a springer is always changing and that changes your offset.

Looks like a trend

I should be posting more pics later tonight. The rake of the bike is 35 Degrees, and the trail is 7.09 inches. I think I did the math right for the trail. I checked it with a tape measure and ruler and it came out pretty close.

I managed to find some time this weekend to work on the bike. First I made a speedo delete for the front wheel. Just a simple turn job but it will make the front wheel look 10x better.

The Springer forks did not have a steering stop on them. So I made a small ring that would acted as a stop. That way these forks could be used on any xs650 steering stem. Once I had the steering stop done I mounted the fuel tank. Inorder for me to get the tank to fit and not hit the bars when turn i had to do some trimming. A friend of mine give me a neet looking light off a 50's automobile. I mounted it up for a headlight. It is kinda big but it should work.

Enjoy the pics

Well I managed to find some more time to work on the bike. I got a new set of tires mounted. The rear is about 1.5 inches wider than the on that orginally came with the bike. It is a 140/90 16 tire. There is not much clearence between the chain and tire but is should be ok.

I was able to hide out in my machine shop for a while last weekend and made me some forward controls. I patterend them after a 20mm shell I got at a airshow a long time ago. They turned out pretty sweet, the copper bullet is replaceable as it threads onto the casing. So if the bike gets tipped or peg get road rash I can just replace the copper and not have to make the whole thing.

The exhaust is just tacked up for now. A friend of mine has been bugging me to put those high stacks on so I did for now. I dont know if im gonna keep them or not. If I do ill have to move them back quite a bit so I dont acciendly lean back against them.

Anyway I still have lots to do. The seat and rear fender need to get mounted, tank needs to get pressure tested, motor needs another mount, a spot for key switch and alternator control, and the rear brake control arm. Here are a few pics of the progress, let me know if the exhaust looks stupid or not.

Looks pretty nice so far, but those pipes are going to make you deff.

Love it:D

Definetely keep up the pics. Who's internal throttle did you use?

I dont know who made it but here is a link to it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Internal-Throttle-Needle-Bearing-Return-Spring-Const_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1171Q7c66Q3 a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293 Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZit em140308571955QQitemZ140308571955QQptZMotorcyclesQ 5fPartsQ5fAccessories


It is of surprisingly good quality. The throttle has 6 bearings and a dual helix. It is super smooth. Working on getting seat and fender mounted this weekend. Should have some more pics soon.

Thanks man. When I put mine together, I looked at a few but was leery about the fact that those where 1/3 the price.

Nice work, except those pipes look like ass!!

What is the deal with everyone wanting a Yamaha XS to build?? I have had a couple and they were the biggest pieces of shit I ever owned- so bad they made me swear off Yamahas for good.

I like it. Not big on the pipes but meh they are your ears.:flipoff2:

Well did some more work to the bike, not all of which was constructive. I was testing my tank for leaks, and had them all found and fixed. Went and ground up the welds to make it look good again. Got interupted by another project, can came back to check the tank one more time just in case I ground the welds off to far. Plugged the air line in and heard a pop. So enough had the valve open on the tank. Needless to say a motorcycle will take 145psi with out leaking. However the cutout for the down tube on the bike managed to get popped out the opposite way :(. Not a good day.

I tried to fix the tank but it got messed up to bad. So I fabbed up another one. I think this one looks better than the last. I also managed to get the seat mounted. All the wiring for the bike will be hid in the box beneath the seat.

The fender got mounted and I decieded to put a small sissy bar on back to hold it up. It will also give me a place to mount the lisence plate. The pipes are still in limbo if im goona keep them or not. Here are a few pics.

THIS is not my fault, and I take no responsibility!! :grinpimp::grinpimp:

I hate you for finding those XS wheels with extra spokes. Damn impossible to find, so keep em nice.

What you doin with the stock wheels? I'm thinking of running some back up wheels with dirt tires if you wanna sell em'

Like the speedo delete, I did the same and it makes the front look soo much smoother.

Oh yeah, where you located?

Right now there is another set of those rims like mine ebay. The auction # is 260388580860. It is kind of funny the guy that is selling them is only about a hour and a half away from me. Must have had a dealer nearby that sold alot of bikes with the high count spoke rims. I am located in wausau wisconsin, right in the middle of the state. Need to get working on the bike it is started to get warm enough to ride :)

Well I finally got around to take a test drive today :). Only went for a short ride kinda of rainy and cold out but i had to give it a try. I put a baffle in each of the pipe, and it really helped to knock the noise down. I might have to pull them out because i was getting harrased for being to quiet lol. Any way here are a few pics of the bike all put together and painted. Still need a tail light, to make it legal. Also need to get ahold of the painter and have him put some pinstripes on the tank and fender.

That looks badass!!! good job man!!!

Me likey :cool2:

WOW thats nice...can I have it???? :D

If you don't want to put your plate on the sissy bar, you could always fab up a side mount plate/tail light. I found some sweet old tail lights off of e-gay for the project I was working on. This right here makes me wanna go find a old cheep jap bike and build me a bobber/bar hopper out of it. BY FAR my fav. style of bike!!