Petew XS400 brat scrambler build

Petew

XS400 True Believer
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If you have read any of my prior posts it is clear to see that I am pretty new to this bike wrenching stuff. I have the desire and the time so I decided to get after a coupple of 1980 XS400's I had sitting around for the a few years. They had been something I planned on doing but a major surgery after an aortic dissection I suffered monstrous bout of vertigo and decided that bikes weren't the best choice. Time has past and so has the vertigo . i am retired and decided that I needed to occupy my time. I had 3 frames to chose from and i went with the cleanest of the 3. I have removed the engine to freshen it up and check it out. I decided today was time to start mock up...The tank was painted like that when I bought it, the bars are MX set that my younger brother had and I removed the cluster to ready it for a mini setup. I chopped and shaped the seat as a temporary solution. I have yet to shorten and shape the rear fender...
 

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Today I was able to the some time to inspect some things. I have an obvious problem with the rectifier and it will need replacement. I am tempted to just do a reg/rec combo unit to clean up the battery area. I am using stock air cleaner boxes on recommendation from a friend. I am beginning a clean up and overhaul the carbs as needed and cleaning up some ratty looking parts. I tested the engine that I removed and the crank spins nicely with good compression so I am going to put it back in the bike as a e-start only. I will also be using a fullsize battery and stock battery box. I feel like the progress is going well, from selling a broken bike for cheap to repairing and rebuilding it into something I will want to keep! It is pretty exciting!
 
Cleaned parts again, clean carbs up getting ready for o/haul, I bobbed the seat for scrambler look but I moved on already. Cleaning parts for a day of re-assembly.
 

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Removed seat brace from frame and modified the inner plastic shield so it doesn't interfere with mock up.I am keeping it to somewhat shelter the electronics that i have coming. I cut a mock-up of the seat pan and began to find the perfect location for the fender-which I will shorten.I realized today that the front blinkers have shorter stalks than the rear by an inch or so. I have a spare set of fronts so I will use them to "tighten up" things at he rear I opted for keeping the signals at this point. I am waiting on fork gaiters at which time I will also flip the headlamp mounts to lower the lamp on the forks. I am also toying with dropping the forks by 2 inches, I have short legs!, but I want to see what it looks like first.
 

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Still waiting parts...Decided it is time to do some of the "other stuff". Stripped finish off my tank that I am going to use.Bobbing the front fender. kind of like the raw look of the tank...tempted to just clear it and leave it...
 

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Meanwhile, I am getting the second frame ready to go to the welder... Another 1980 400 frame...haven't decided how far I'm going with this one yet.
 

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I am using it as a transfer medium. I have title to this frame and a complete bike with no title. I will probably go with a brat style or possibly a tracker. I would do a cafe racer but I don't care for the seating position of them.I want something pared down and individual. I would love a hard tailed bobber but where I live in Upstate NY the roads are not conducive for someone with back and joint issues.
 
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Made some progress today. I added fork gaiters and dropped the forks about an inch. Did front brakes and installed shortened fender.I reversed the headlamp ears and dropped the lamp down. I have decided on a white tank. I kept the flamed one around for the project. This is where we stand now. Ready to put in the motor as soon as some parts get here and I can finish it up.
 

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Looks good so far. I kind of like the white.
Thanks, I have a plan for it that involves a little color. I am waiting for the seat so I can fab the rear fender and lights. It has been an adventure so far. I have found out that diligence and patience are the biggest factors in dealing with these old bikes.
 
Thanks, I have a plan for it that involves a little color. I am waiting for the seat so I can fab the rear fender and lights. It has been an adventure so far. I have found out that diligence and patience are the biggest factors in dealing with these old bikes.



Patience :lmao: hell I have no time for that................................

I am waiting to and it sucks..........down to the frame and waiting for a seat also........I have a bunch of frame work to do but that's easy to me. My biggest concern is the motor......it ran but.

Ordered a new throttle that I found and well got this email............its on backorder and comes from Italy..........oh great.

Keep on posting pics I like to see what people are building.
 
Have you thought of tires or keeping whats there? I have been searching for some that are a little more aggressive and well no Bueno so far...........doesn't help I am a newb and well tire sizes make my head hurt........
 
Have you thought of tires or keeping whats there? I have been searching for some that are a little more aggressive and well no Bueno so far...........doesn't help I am a newb and well tire sizes make my head hurt........
I think I have found a set of Shinko 712's that I like. Same size as what is on there now. I am opting for handling and street-ability over "look" because II haven't found a trials tread tire I like within my measly price parameters. Check RevZilla.
 
I think I have found a set of Shinko 712's that I like. Same size as what is on there now. I am opting for handling and street-ability over "look" because II haven't found a trials tread tire I like within my measly price parameters. Check RevZilla.

Yeah wanting a little more aggressive tread design on my end. Thats what is killing me I think.......I really like the Kenda K761s but the sizes are just not there.

Do you have an 18 and 16? I am looking for 18s on both ends.
 
Yeah wanting a little more aggressive tread design on my end. Thats what is killing me I think.......I really like the Kenda K761s but the sizes are just not there.

Do you have an 18 and 16? I am looking for 18s on both ends.
Yes, I have an 18 and a 16.
 
Finally got a day when I had some parts and some time. My younger bother came up and help me set the engine in the frame and get it bolted in. I had already finished bobbing the frame end and cutting of mounting tabs so I was able to fit the seat properly.. I replaced the broken brake handle and perch and repainted the clutch lever and perch so they match. I have begun to relocate the ignition switch to clean up the front forks. I will install a mini speedo as soon as the bracket gets here. I need to finish the wiring and put on the chain, hang the exhaust back on, and it should be time to fire very soon.Still waiting on some more parts but I am seeing the end of the road finally. I am so glad I went the way I did, parting this out would have stopped me from an awesome learning experience!
 

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Coming along nicely...........where did you get the seat from?
I oredered it from eBay. I originally planned on chopping down the factory seat, did it and hated it. Started scrounging materials to build my own and came across this for under 40 bucks. I will be making the seat for the next one but this was a very cheap way to go. I had to trim back seat tabs and drill a couple of new holes in some tabs but altogether it went on pretty easily.
 
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