another XS 400 Bratstyle build

[MitchMotors]

Again it's been a while since I made progress on my own bike. Meanwhile we finished up a friends XS 650 in my garage but today I startet building my sissybar/fenderstrut.
Took some 12mm roundstock to a friends shop who has a better torch and startet heating/bending.
After I'm back from http://www.kustom-kulture-forever.com/ this weekend, I'll start bending the rest of the roundstock along the fender and add tabs to mount everything together.
Here's a quick mock up

 

[MitchMotors]

now all bending is done and I will shape some tabs that will be welded to the struts to hold the fender and to mount the struts to the frame

 

[MitchMotors]

I practiced my welding skills to the point where I was able to weld on the tabs on the sissybar.
Today I got the stuff back from powdercoating

I hope that all the wires and connections will fit into the box

 

[levdir]

Looking good! I'm liking the design you've sketched on the fender too.

 

[xschris]

Looks good. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation in that battery box or you will fry components.

 

[MitchMotors]

Again there was only little progress on my own bike.
Right now I'm waiting for a friend to finish my frisco style gas tank that will mount with no tunnel to the upper tube. When he's done I can figure out where to put the coil mounts. The old ones were cracked due to too much vibration.
I finished the rear section, made a side mount plate holder and installed the muffler.

 

[MitchMotors]

I just got the tank shell done. It was a lot of work and took plenty of practising, but it was worth it. It hold 7 liters, so I might get 120-150km out of it.

 

[JimVonBaden]

I like the sporty tank, I have one on my project, but why did you put the petcock on the back? Seems like you are endangering your jewels.

Jim

 

[MitchMotors]

It was neccessary that way.
The tank had 4cm [~1.8 inch) cut out to get a more frisco style look. Gas cap sits as high as possible, no tunnel at all and the petcock had to be as low as possible to get out as much of the little fuel that fits in.
There's close to no space for the petcock underneath the tank because of the upper frame tube, so I decided to place the petcock right at the back of the tank. That way I'll get to use almost every drop of fuel and it sits right above the carbs so the fuel hose will go through the gap in front of the original tank mount.
I'll solder a longer and slightly bent piece of copper pipe to the petcock. That way I'll have the fuel sight window and a working reserve lever.

 

[Wolfe_11B]

I like the placement, gives it a very industrial look. Just wear a cup while riding!