Barn Build

[BrokenFang]

Hey guys new here of course. Im not a young dude 47 years old. Built cars bicycles worked as car mechanic in junk yard. Bought this puppy back in 01 road till 04 got something better for 45 mile commute one way working 3pm to 12 am. Im the only one in my neighbor hood riding every night that i can. Now on to the bike a 1981 heritage special "think" the plan right now is light and cheap.Just orderd parts to fix kick start electric dead when i bought bike.
gonna dock the tail shorten seat. I flipped the maxium bars to see if it would be comfy pretty cool. gonna leave shocks for now. was thinking of raisng top mout point 2 inches and slipping the front forks higher in triple tree to lower it 2 inches. This is the start of it.The pics are how it is now been working last 26 days so time is hard to come by ill keep riding my v star 1300 for now.If it aint raining when i come out the door i ride.

 

[CadXS]

Welcome to the forum mate, and good luck with your build

 

[drewpy]

welcome to the forum BF

 

[BrokenFang]

question is it okay to remove rear peg framework

 

[happy61]

I removed mine, no problem. Also I wanted a different solo seat but had some problems with battery clearance so I modified the existing seat and had it recovered. Looks like you have a good start. My commute for years was only 35 miles a day but mine never let me down. When it was cold I'd ride with one hand on the bar and the other on the engine to keep warm. Fun times, good luck!

 

[hardtailed77]

Oooh, front drum! Nice! Welcome man!

 

[BrokenFang]

Got a chance to take the plunge hello sawzall

 

[ahale2772]

throw on some clipons paint the swingarm red and thats exactly what my bike looked like when i got it... IDK why but i really like the frame cut off like that, wish it could be left like that without worrying about getting your ass chewed off....looking good

 

[BrokenFang]

Some mock ups of where its going.Think it could use flat or mx bars though

 

[drewpy]

yep, that's looking sick!

 

[BrokenFang]

Okay been tinkering. Got it running pretty good now had a case of sititis .Posting a pick of freeze plug in starter hole and some bike shots.Looks rough now cause im just trying to get it road legal.Kinda rat like right now.

 

[BrokenFang]

No new pics today. Put license plate on it fri and terrorized some country roads and did some dirt road testing. Have to hook up horn and highbeam indicator then im virginia legal. Carbs are being fussy gonna put new float needles in it; mine were scrounged off a 400 maxum in 2000 along with the floats.Little bit of flooding in right side at idle.

 

[BrokenFang]

The testing is done scoot is ready for inspection . Gonna ride it for now and clean it up over winter .Still needs some small tweaks to brackets and stuff. Still haven't decided what to use for seat. Here are some pics.

 

[tmatter]

Fang,

Just joined the site today. I see that you are located in louisa Va. I live over the mountian in Elkton Va I have a 78 that I have had since I was 16. I have torn it down and am in the process of building a nice simple cafe out of her. Once I get her all back together and inspected I think we should find a few other locals and organize an xs meet/greet/and ride.

Your bike is looking pretty nice. I am so glad that there are so many xs400 fans out there.

 

[BrokenFang]

tmatter
that would be fun but since i work when everybody is out playing things like that dont pan out well for me. I will keep it in mind though in case the opportunity presents itself

 

[BrokenFang]

Took the plunge motor off frame first time ever. These picks are where i want it to go. The x at the front of seat rails will get a v notch from underneath. Then cut back of rail loose and slide it down to approx where the lower mark is on back of frame where airboxes were. The other one shows about where i want top of shocks thats the last line on upper frame,want to get them almost to the vertical frame piece.

 

[xschris]

Nice to see you are still at it

 

[BrokenFang]

Okay i have been cutting and welding. Welds aint pretty but solid nuthin paint and a flap wheel cant fix. Here is the final shape of her.Cut the rails and made the shock towers. Still need to rebrace rear of frame and refab the rear tank mount

 

[BrokenFang]

I do belive this is what she wants to be. Got a test headlight bracket need to remake twisted a bit when i bent it. Fenders are not mounted yet just mocked up. I need to see if i can fix the rust line down the middle of rd fender i really like it.

 

[BrokenFang]

Well been getting some of it done welding is done on frame,now im stripping frame and headlight bucket. Filled in the sides of the tank 98% pluming solder 2% spot putty. tank was stripped to bare metal just got the first coat primer on it. Put the points in engine carbs have been cleaned and gone through again. Gonna put some etching primer on frame and headlight then try to fix rust line in back fender.Shaved top of tripple tree. Cleaned up the shock towers with a piece of 1/8 inch scrap i had. Threw in partial mock up of where its headed never was happy with first build on it. Also a pic of my new barn pal.http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o558/WLS4/2012-07-24_12-56-23_973.jpg http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o558/WLS4/2012-07-24_12-56-11_733.jpg http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o558/WLS4/2012-07-25_11-28-23_892.jpg http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o558/WLS4/2012-07-30_11-46-07_201.jpg http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o558/WLS4/2012-07-30_11-46-16_326.jpg http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o558/WLS4/2012-07-20_11-18-32_640.jpg http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o558/WLS4/2012-07-20_11-18-32_640.jpg