XS400 Bobber build/first post

volcomskater77

XS400 Chopophile
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hey guys. im new here so i apologize. im a senior in high school and i cut up and restore 60's fords for my job and i just purchased a 1979 Yamaha XS400 with a siezed engine for $150. the little kickstart support girdle in the block is cracked off. :banghead::doh: bad idea for a purchase? please let me know i might part it out and recouperate my losses ir i might just stick it out and sell what im not using and build it to shove in peoples faces who already said i cant do it.

Ideas:
Very Low Budget (make most things in shop class)
Drag Bars :bike:
TC bros universal hardtail kit
new chain
a stretch so the tire is just about where the battery box is, maybe an inch.
http://www.xs650chopper.com/2009/10/xs400-sratch-that-xs650/

shop made forward controls
tank? and ideas?
re-wired and small speedo and a little Sun tach for a car. prob 60's era
Header wrap.
shop made seat with springs off a bike just like above /\
something different for the kickstart no 'nades or brass knuckles (maybe)
half helmet with WWII bomber goggles

This is my first bike build so im learning as a go. any info about parts, ideas or anything would be great. a new lower crankcase is also in the works...?
fell free to comment on anything im all ears. lol
and Kick ass site btw!:thumbsup:
 
hell yeah. i should be done by then i wanna make a removable rear seat pad but i have to figure out how to make brackets that dont look like the seat is even there when i take it off. anybody have an idea of how to do that? :confused:
 
hey guys. im new here so i apologize. im a senior in high school and i cut up and restore 60's fords for my job and i just purchased a 1979 Yamaha XS400 with a siezed engine for $150. the little kickstart support girdle in the block is cracked off. :banghead::doh: bad idea for a purchase? please let me know i might part it out and recouperate my losses ir i might just stick it out and sell what im not using and build it to shove in peoples faces who already said i cant do it.

Ideas:
Very Low Budget (make most things in shop class)
Drag Bars :bike:
TC bros universal hardtail kit
new chain
a stretch so the tire is just about where the battery box is, maybe an inch.
http://www.xs650chopper.com/2009/10/xs400-sratch-that-xs650/

shop made forward controls
tank? and ideas?
re-wired and small speedo and a little Sun tach for a car. prob 60's era
Header wrap.
shop made seat with springs off a bike just like above /\
something different for the kickstart no 'nades or brass knuckles (maybe)
half helmet with WWII bomber goggles

This is my first bike build so im learning as a go. any info about parts, ideas or anything would be great. a new lower crankcase is also in the works...?
fell free to comment on anything im all ears. lol
and Kick ass site btw!:thumbsup:
How about getting it running first? Hardtail, tach, seat and stuff won't be much fun without a motor. First half of "motor"cycle, right?
 
What are you talking about? If, you're talking about the cam chain? You can either cut it, use a chain breaker tool, or slide the bearings off the end of the cam to get enough space to remove the cam.
 
what it looked like when i got it

Originalsideshot.jpg


OriginalBackRightShot.jpg


crackedjournal.jpg



Kickstart journal bearing ...setback...
 
Last edited:
Seal the Kickstart hole and make it a electric start only......Or... what i did.. i bought the same xs400 and swapped motors cuz i already hardtailed it....sucks cuz it was running good and i wanted kickstart only..... so back to the beginning haha..
 
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