Introduction and Cafe build log

I made a clamp using 2 long threaded rod, fixed to the bottom shock and a clamp to hold between the top part of the springs to compress them. you need to undo a nut under the cover so the spring has to compress about 1/2".
 
I made a clamp using 2 long threaded rod, fixed to the bottom shock and a clamp to hold between the top part of the springs to compress them. you need to undo a nut under the cover so the spring has to compress about 1/2".

Don't happen to have a picture of it do ya'?


BTW installed the solenoid a couple minutes ago pressed the button and everything worked perfect. Started right up and ran like a champ :thumbsup:
 
Don't happen to have a picture of it do ya'?


BTW installed the solenoid a couple minutes ago pressed the button and everything worked perfect. Started right up and ran like a champ :thumbsup:

I still got the tool somewhere, I'll dig it out and take a picture
 
great thanks, I came across a description of how to do it with ratchet tie down straps too i'll give that a try as well
 
Well I got the seat pan rough formed, now i need to do some sanding and filling in with bondo. Sheesh! That is a lot of time and work for one part! The one i wanted cost about $150 plus shipping so I figured I could make it for about half the cost in materials, (especially since I am cheep and shop at construction recycling shops) But if i were to do it all over again I think I would have just forked over that cash and walked to the mail box:)

But at least I can say "i have done it" and chalk it up to experience.
 
I mentioned earlier that the front brake lines are way too long with the clubman bars on the bike. Does anyone know of a bike that uses a 26"-28" front brake line to help me with my search?
 
found the tool, here it is

d42fb12d.jpg
 
found the tool, here it is

d42fb12d.jpg

Thanks I'm kinda a visual person, i needed to see it. I think i'll make one!


Well for what I am using this bike for, an economic daily rider I kinda figured SS would be a bit overkill, and since i am building this on the cheep, i'd rather not pay the extra $ for SS lines if i don't really need them. I'm not expecting much "brake fade" on my commute to work. But the price for a single line on that page is not too bad. I may look into it. Track season is coming up too, i may even get a pair for my SV1000 (She is feeling a little neglected these days i think :) )
 
So the seat pan I was making is almost done, its...eh...so so. Anyway, I have the joy of inheriting my Scottish family body build of short legs long torso. ( I was an all-american sprinter in college and my coach used to say i should have been Nat Champion because my legs were short and i took twice as many steps to cover the same distance as anyone on the track) When i sit on the seat my butt is right against the cowel on the seat and my riding stile is that i move around on the seat alot. I'm afraid the fiberglass will get worn out, or crack sooner or later, so i am considering one of those soft cafe seat covers like this: LINK I haven't been able to find any specifically for the xs400, but there are quite a few for XS650's and RD350-400's.

Have any of you used these? AND would the XS650 or RD cover basically fit the XS400 pan? I'd like to know before I shell out $150 for it. Thanks
 
make your own. Get some foam, cut it how you want and get the missus/girlfriend/mistress to stitch it for you
 
Well here is some updates. Got the turn signals and will get them wired in hopefully in the next couple of days. I finished my home made fiberglass seat pan and it was just ok, not something I wanted to mount though. It was a good first attempt and i learned alot in the process so it wasn't a complete waste of time. I checked my local upholstery shops and they wanted way too much $ to make a cover for a custom seat so i decided to get a tracker seat from hotwings glass. It should arrive next week. I am planning on mounting it to the original seat pan so that I can still use the hinges and latch on the seat (hopefully it wont take too much modifying)

The big project I have been working on is repairing a very dented and rusty fuel tank i got off Ebay for $35. After lots of dent removal work sanding filling priming and painting this is what it looks like at the moment.
IMG_0326.jpg


My wife had a pretty cool idea to add some bullet holes to the tank before i clear coat it. So i think i will try that and see what it looks like. But i really like the way it turned out so far.
 
Dangit! I had that in mind too! Like a ww1 bomber. Looks great! I don't have the art skills to make it look that nice
 
I dig the bomber look.
How about some mission kill decals too? (I hope I haven't offended the cat lovers)

:D
 

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I also had the same idea but my grandpa and many other vets my have reason to kick my bike over being an American symbol plastered on a japanese bike, good luck with that!:doh:

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Dangit! I had that in mind too! Like a ww1 bomber. Looks great! I don't have the art skills to make it look that nice

Well it is actually a decal i got from Military-graphics.com (kinda cheated I know) It's not actually a flying tigers decal. I guess the Flying tigers shark teeth is actually copyrighted. so the only places that make them charge an arm and a leg for them since they have to pay a licensing fee.

I also had the same idea but my grandpa and many other vets my have reason to kick my bike over being an American symbol plastered on a japanese bike, good luck with that!:doh:

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Well I live in Vancouver, WA not too far from where General Marshal pieced together the "Marshall Plan" to rebuild Japan after WWII, and made it possible for companies like Yamaha to build things like motorcycles in factories to rebuild their culture, economy and infastructure. So i guess cause of Vets like your grandpa and Pilots who flew P-40's I can put the shark teeth on a Japanese bike... I'm gonna start preaching so i'll just stop there :thumbsup:
 
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