New projects in the making.

I ended up giving my roommate a real cool 75 Honda CB400four. He's liking the caferacer look, so that'll be this Fall/Winter's project.

As for the bobber. I'm on the lookout for a more rounded "peanut" style tank- not the flat bottomed Sportster style-more of a Paughco type.

I also finally got tired of the points setup, so I threw down for an electronic ignition. Send me a message and I'll get you in touch with the fella who built it and sent it to me. Seriously! 10 minutes to install/time and I was on the road!

Thanks to the suggestion of Little Mike, I shortened the handlebars and moved the seat back about 2" and lower about 1-1/2". Looks better, I think.

Okie Twist-Off II Aug 8th & 9th

I entered the bike in that premier grease-a-palooza bike and ratrod fest we like to call The Okie Twist-Off this past weekend. Although no specific category existed for "ratbikeasianchopperbobber", I still ended up getting a pretty kick-ass trophy. Man! What a high!

This year was the second time the Twist-Off was held and I became the first two-time winner. What shall I do next year?

Here are the pics y'all have been wanted to see.

Bike is DONE!!

I've really had to depend on my buddy Richard the past couple of weeks. He has this sick-ass chopped Ford Shoebox...anyway, that's another story.



Richard is one of those old guys that knows a crap-load about nearly every kind of motor out there. He helped me to dial in the carburators and modify a Harley cable for the clutch.



So, I've gotten to tool around the yard a few times and around the block once or twice. That's when it happened...next morning, NOTHING!! It seems the charging system is all messed up. A couple more days in Richard's garage and we figured it out (between putting windshields in old shoeboxes and drinking WAY too much Jaegermeister), the combination Rectifier/Regulator that came with the bike (1978) won't work with the motor I have (1977).



After an exhaustive search of the net, I realize my quick and easy fix was going to take about $100 bucks and and a couple more weeks to get done. Since this IS a budget build, I decide to get on the net and find out these old XS650 guys are making thier own rectifiers and using car regulators!!

So instead of the $100, I end up spending about 1/2 that and I'm up and running again.

Just a couple of minor issues to address..ie, cleaning up the wiring mess, getting the brake light to work, and getting it insured.

As far as I'm concerned...THIS BIKE IS DONE!!!

See y'all at the Okie Twist-Off, Oklahoma City Aug 8th & 9th!!! :)

Ok, Dang! Here's your update.

Whew, been awhile. Ok here's how she stands. She's pretty much all there now, just a few bugs to work out.

I was getting ALOT of flash rust on my plain steel parts, so my buddy Richard clear-coated them for me in exchange for some pinstriping work. Looks kickass, Richard. Thanks!

Still looking for a throttle sleeve bracket/holder (whatever you call it)...the cheap eBay one I found broke on the first day...not such a bargain afterall.

I got her to start up the other day. Fuel and flames were pouring out of the carbs and backfiring all over the place...I guess I need to clean those again (for the 3rd time).

The stock coils were weak as all get out. So, I went and got a Harley-D coil from the local shop. Now I'm kicking 30,000 volts...yeehaw!!

Budget wise, I'm still ok too. Grand total to date is a little under $2000.

Sorry, no pics...it's a surprise.

...about the seat

Thanks for the interest in the seat!! The springs are a scissor-type that I love. Barrel springs can give a little side-to-side wobble, whereas scissor springs can go only up-down. I find mine on ebay for around 15 bones.

Seat Completed

Ok, since we're coming up on the end (I think) of this build. I'll probably not post any pics that will give it away...I'll save the good stuff for last. I will however, be posting pics and notes on some detail stuff as we go.

For Instance, remember the seat pan I built a few weeks back? Well, it's finished and on the bike. Looks just like I wanted it to also. Anyway, I glued some 3" foam to the pan and after it set, I brought it to shape using one of those electric meat carving knives like the ones mom used to use on the Christmas ham. Once in the general shape I liked, I used a bench-mounted wire wheel to finish it off--use a light touch here!

Once the foam was shaped, I found the color/feel leather I liked. Using a paper template first, I cut cut out the leather and sewed it all up. Some snaps found at the hardware store firmly secures it.

I went ahead and found some kick-ass "coke bottle" style grips to match...this thing is looking SICK!!

Frame Finished!!

The Frame is all painted now. Because of the use of body filler (specifically, JB Weld) it could not be powder coated. For the most durable finish I could find in lieu of powdercoat, I used Epoxy Appliance Paint found at Home Cheapo. If you look close you can see the seat and fender mounts I put on.

I had a few extra bones this month so I got caught up on my Ebay purchases in anticipation of moving this build along alittle bit. Vintage 60s (+/-) Z-bars, 1" handlebar risers, seat springs, carburators, tires, etc... Stay tuned 'cause it's gonna come together fast. I managed to try something I'd been thinking about for awhile now. I took off the front fender and put it on the rear. I think it looks tough.

I also couldn't resist sitting on it for a picture...and yes, I DID make vroom-vroom noises (as if you had to ask).

A little more on my position re: bike & car building

To continue... Those great old guys (my Dad included) who taught us all the cool-assed tricks, had it right. It doesn't matter what name is on it, so long as you could take what was available to you and make it better than it was. All you have to do is look at the great hot rods of that era to see my point. Our Dads and Grandads would buy a cheap car and put a small amount of money and alot of time into it...the cars that were the cheapest for them were the literally miles and miles of old Ford Model A's lying around. Same goes for motorcycles...old Harley D's in the 7o's were kinda the same story...Triumph too.

Go to a car show today and some get it, some don't. They would rather shell out 20 Grand for an old rusty shell of a car than take what's down the street for a couple hundered bucks. I hear it all the time, why build a YAMAHA??!! Because it's cheap and available...I think my old Dad would be proud.

Welding done (mostly)

Ok, Swig's cousin couldn't do the welding after all, so I had my buddy Chris do it up for me. He's pretty good, so I don't mind. Now to test fit everything before getting stipped down again and painted.

For those of you who aren't really getting it, you have to understand my mindset for this or any build (old cars too). The original hotrodders were guys like me and you; work all week, love cars and bikes, have families, money is tight, etc...

Everything I put my hands into has the same sort of ethic as well, build it, have fun, get your buddies involved and save as much money as you can. Don't misunderstand this to mean CHEAP or LOW QUALITY.

Some more free time

I had some free time during lunch yesterday and decided I'd try my hand at fabbing a seat pan. I found an old steel sign in one of the piles of junk that I miked out to be 16ga. After coming up with a suitable template, I traced it out on the sign and cut it out with some electric sheet metal shears. I then hammered out the shape I wanted...it only took about an hour and here's what I got.

Now, I'll tack on a hinge up front, weld some bracing in on the underside, get some springs for the rear and have it covered...I'm thinking calf skin...any ideas?

Ok, new post

Well, the holidays are over and I managed to get a few things done. The frame is fabbed up and ready for the finish welding. One of the guys from the Knuckledraggers Car Club (http://profile.myspace.com/276251016) gave me the hookup on his cousin in Kansas who'll do all the finish welding for me. I hear he's a hot-shot welder for one of the Harley Davidson plants...



Anyway, I also fabbed up a rear brake bracket and got a tank...so we're really rocking now.



Here she is, motor test-fitted for brake pedal alignment...all the grey stuff is what was original Yamaha, everything else was fabbed and fitted myself with a little help from Greg over at VooDoo Tap & DIE! Thanks, Greg.

Budget Update

Well, It's Christmas time and I'll be spending less time with the bike and more with the family. So in lieu of a fancy photo or a bunch of technical crap, here's how the numbers are lining up...

After the bike, rims, steel, etc... I'm currently $177.00 under budget. Of course, that could easily get chewed up if the motor has something wrong with it...

The Rims, The Rims...

Ok, by now you've probably noticed the rims are not the same. Good eye! During some down-time, I went over to A&A again and looked around the back field and found some original wire spoke Akront rims. I brought those bad boys back to the shop and after a little media blasting, steel wool, and some gloss black paint, this is what I got.

Now I just need to get some new rubber wrapped around 'em. I'm seriously thinking of getting some FAT white walls to set off the whole "old school" theme of the bike. Now I just need to polish the hubs.

Hardtail Begins

Ok, I put the swingarm and rear tire back on and using a stringline, a piece of conduit, and a level I made sure the back wheel was square to the frame. I found some 1 1/4 O.D. DOM tubing on the internet (I couldn't find it locally) and once I had my measurements, took it to a machine shop for bending. Tacked in place, the bike is really starting to take shape.

The swing arm

Ok, the most critical part of this build is the stretching and lowering of the whole bike...one mistake and it won't track right and will be VERY dangerous on the road.

For this I transported things to my shop, cut the swingarm and extended it 4 1/2 inches...

The purpose of the stended swingarm is to act as a sort of "standing jig" for the hardtail build. Once done, the swingarm will be cut off and trashed.

...and now the cutting

Alright, here's a pic of the cut off rear seat/fender support...trust me I know where this is headed.

Budget That Mother!!

I've allowed myself a limited dollar amount and time...money, for obviuos reasons; time because the Okie Twist-Off will coming around again in August. I want plenty of time to work out the bugs before taking on THAT show.

I've done up a budget in Excel and came up with a total of $1450.00...whew!!

The frame/motor/forks combo currently has me on budget.
We'll see how that goes...things DO crop up!

The Tear Down

Ok, i've gotten everything off the bike. All bolts, nuts, and other small items are bagged and tagged.

And the Winner is...

Ok, I found the bike I'm gonna use. I picked it up today for $300 from A&A Cycle here in Oklahoma City. "Mouse" over there is a good guy...give him a call if you need any old Japanese bike part.

The basis for this build is a 1978 XS650. I like the stock rake and the fact that it sports a big twin-cylinder 650cc motor. They are easy to work on and there is a good aftermarket for them too. I traded out the motor for one that is a year earlier (points ignition rather than CDI...I like points, but thats just me.)

The Grand Idea

Ok, maybe not GRAND...but for me it's gonna be cool enough. The Greaser in me won't let me sit too long without some sort of project to work on so with winter coming on, I really want to build an old school bobber. But, I AM a dad and a regular working joe, so money can be tight. The challenge here is to build something unique and eyecatching, powerful, and CHEAP!

Older Harleys and Triumphs can really hit you in the wallet fast...besides I don't have much experience with them. Any minor hickup in a build like this could easily set me back weeks and hundreds of dollars.

After looking around the net, I ran across a bunch of guys (and a few gals) who are building some nice rides out of older Japanese motorcycles. Having far more experience with Suzuki than with BSA, I think I'll give it a go too.