Bury Me In Smoke
Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.
WARNING! What you’re about to see here is a garage born chop, slice, dice, and grind Frankenstein of a build. I’m paying absolutely zero homage to the XS400 in it’s original form and going straight for my vision of how I’d like this bike to look. The images on display here may roll a purists stomach so please turn your gaze elsewhere if you can’t stand frame cuts, tins from other creatures and/or bits and pieces where they shouldn’t be. Otherwise, this should be a pretty fun adventure.
Okay, so where do I begin? I’ve been wrenching on bikes, quads, cars, and trucks ever since I could say Snap On. My dad is a body and frame technician and I cut my teeth rebuilding salvage cars with him to flip starting in the late 80’s. I’ve owned countless dirt bikes, quads, and a three wheeler. My passion for road biking really began at 14 with a 1978 Honda 185T Twinstar. I owned a Silverwing, a Nighthawk, and even a Triumph 750 Triple briefly. Now, yes, I must confess my daily (weather permitting here in The Mitten) driver is a Harley-Davidson bagger (2003 Ultra Classic). I also owned a 2005 Sportster for about 8 years. I love Harley’s, but I’m not so brand loyal as to not appreciate other makes.
I’ll shut up now and get to the point. This past fall I stumbled across a non-running 1976 XS360 with a gas tank full of rust and gummy carbs. I pulled the tank, put her on a auxiliary fuel cell and did some light carb cleaning. IT’S ALIVE!! Well it was, on life support, and tender massaging of the throttle. It coughed and sputtered and begged for fuel. So naturally I starting hacking chunks out of the frame... Because obviously that was the problem. Oh yeah, Bicentennial because it’s a 1976 frame and other bits and I’m using a 1981 (my birth year) motor and bobs.
Here’s a few pictures and more to come...
Okay, so where do I begin? I’ve been wrenching on bikes, quads, cars, and trucks ever since I could say Snap On. My dad is a body and frame technician and I cut my teeth rebuilding salvage cars with him to flip starting in the late 80’s. I’ve owned countless dirt bikes, quads, and a three wheeler. My passion for road biking really began at 14 with a 1978 Honda 185T Twinstar. I owned a Silverwing, a Nighthawk, and even a Triumph 750 Triple briefly. Now, yes, I must confess my daily (weather permitting here in The Mitten) driver is a Harley-Davidson bagger (2003 Ultra Classic). I also owned a 2005 Sportster for about 8 years. I love Harley’s, but I’m not so brand loyal as to not appreciate other makes.
I’ll shut up now and get to the point. This past fall I stumbled across a non-running 1976 XS360 with a gas tank full of rust and gummy carbs. I pulled the tank, put her on a auxiliary fuel cell and did some light carb cleaning. IT’S ALIVE!! Well it was, on life support, and tender massaging of the throttle. It coughed and sputtered and begged for fuel. So naturally I starting hacking chunks out of the frame... Because obviously that was the problem. Oh yeah, Bicentennial because it’s a 1976 frame and other bits and I’m using a 1981 (my birth year) motor and bobs.
Here’s a few pictures and more to come...
