Blu's XS400 Brat Style

Blu

XS400 Enthusiast
Messages
96
Reaction score
18
Points
8
Location
East Peoria, IL
Figured I'd start a build thread on this thing. Picked up a running XS400 pretty cheap and I'm gonna do a brat style out of her. Got a table slapped together and started teardown Saturday night. Gotta pick up some steel for the backbone (hopefully today) and I can start on the frame fab. For now all I've done is get the electrical out, tacked on a kickstand, removed the front fender, drilled out and knocked off
20170114_152154.jpg
20170114_193929.jpg
20170114_194132.jpg
20170114_210147.jpg
the front tank mounts and cut the original rear tank mount out of the frame.
 
The seat section is a little tiny but I worked with the bends I had. Can't decide if I want to run a sprung solo seat or make a pan and build up some foam in the dip area. Either way I'm probably gonna cover it in leather and basket weave the outside edge with some kangaroo lace. Won't be doing anything tonight on it, a friend in my riding club lost his dad on Monday so we're meeting up at my other friend Carr's place and driving to Indiana for the visitation tonight. Won't be home till just before midnight. Might take tomorrow off and get some more done on her...might not lol. Gonna look through some fenders when I get to Carr's, maybe I can make a decision on the rear hoop at least.
 
Got a little more done this weekend, got the rear hoop figured out and tied the front tubes by the carbs back to the back bone. Still working on the seat mounts (gotta run to the hardware store) and I'm gonna cut up a CB750 oil bag for the electronics box. Making progress slowly.
 

Attachments

  • 20170121_113953.jpg
    20170121_113953.jpg
    120.9 KB · Views: 359
  • 20170121_131913.jpg
    20170121_131913.jpg
    162.3 KB · Views: 357
  • 20170121_132237.jpg
    20170121_132237.jpg
    146.2 KB · Views: 357
  • 20170122_165139.jpg
    20170122_165139.jpg
    101.4 KB · Views: 336
  • 20170122_165144.jpg
    20170122_165144.jpg
    65.8 KB · Views: 344
After talking to Wino at the club festivus I decided to stretch the frame five inches. Got it cut and lined up last night, need to drill some more plug weld holes for the slugs (which are about 9 inches long) and pick up a short piece of tube for the backbone. I'll have to move the rear motor mounts forward which should leave plenty of room for a battery/electrics box behind the motor. Designed up some forwards in cad and will hopefully have those cut soon as well.
frame_stretch.jpg
 
Thanks Doc, it's a learning process for me. This is the most modification to a frame I've done on a build. Finished the stretch this weekend and moved the rear motor mounts forward, re-mounted the seat and got it covered in some snazzy purple yoga mat foam too. I have to figure out something for an electrics box and I need to mount the battery yet but getting closer. New seals and covers for the forks came in the mail, new headlight is on its way as well. Should be able to complete the build by the 8th of August for our annual Moonshine run.
 

Attachments

  • 20170211_142749.jpg
    20170211_142749.jpg
    142.4 KB · Views: 314
  • 20170211_142811.jpg
    20170211_142811.jpg
    141.5 KB · Views: 315
  • 20170211_152948.jpg
    20170211_152948.jpg
    138 KB · Views: 322
Got the engine cleaned up and painted this weekend and even got a ride in.
 

Attachments

  • 20170217_181528.jpg
    20170217_181528.jpg
    95.2 KB · Views: 349
  • 20170218_113910.jpg
    20170218_113910.jpg
    161.4 KB · Views: 356
  • 20170219_203837.jpg
    20170219_203837.jpg
    101.4 KB · Views: 356
  • 20170219_151316.jpg
    20170219_151316.jpg
    222.4 KB · Views: 352
  • 20170219_151335.jpg
    20170219_151335.jpg
    151.9 KB · Views: 363
Got the new electrical box mounted up and made a rear rack for it, got everything torn down and started the bondo on the frame. Wanna get the front end rebuilt with new seals, front and rear wheel cleaned, frame and swing-arm painted by end of the weekend. New stem bearings should be here by Friday so I'd like to be working on electrical by mid next week.
 

Attachments

  • 20170226_121848.jpg
    20170226_121848.jpg
    103.9 KB · Views: 348
  • 20170226_121853.jpg
    20170226_121853.jpg
    128.5 KB · Views: 320
  • 20170226_121900.jpg
    20170226_121900.jpg
    110.6 KB · Views: 324
  • 20170227_062345.jpg
    20170227_062345.jpg
    81.4 KB · Views: 325
Ok, I'm going to run pod filters (54mm I think, can anybody verify that for me?) and no muffler. From what I've read on here that means I need to go up 3 sizes on the main jets and 1 one the pilot jets....is that a good place to start? What size jets would those be exactly? I think the stock ones are 135 main and 42.5 pilot but I'm not 100% sure. Trying to gather parts I'm going to need, I have 1 month to get her back together.
 
That is a good place to start on the jetting, but I would order the next size up and next size down just so you have them on hand. Nothing more frustrating than trying to tune and not having the right size jets. Also 54mm are what I used although I'm running a DOHC but I believe both bikes have BS-34's. With these carbs being CV style, they really like pulling air from a common plenum. I would recommend the use of some sort of H-pipe. Dave on here has a good post about what he did, or you could weld up your own like what I did. Either way It makes tuning more "linear" and enjoyable.
 
I'm keeping that stock H-pipe deal with vent hose, will that work? I also bought new carb boots cuz mine appeared cracked in a couple places. As far as the jets go, what increments do they go up in? If my stock jet size is 135 is the next size up 136 or....???
 
Jets go in 2.5 increments. So 135 then 137.5 and 42.5 to 45 and so forth. I would use uni type pods or REAL K&N on the stock H-pipe. You say no muffler? I would use some sort of back pressure for your exhaust as none will mean much less power for the bike.
 
Ok, good to know. I ordered an exhaust tip for it but misread the listing so I need to order another or get an adaptor. I'll throw a baffle in for a little back pressure. I ordered a kit for the carbs that should come with everything I need to re-jet, bought one from the same place for my Vulcan and was very happy with it. http://www.6sigmajetkit.com/
 
Front end rebuilt
 

Attachments

  • 20170304_093455.jpg
    20170304_093455.jpg
    104.6 KB · Views: 309
  • 20170304_124339.jpg
    20170304_124339.jpg
    96.3 KB · Views: 335
  • 20170304_153442.jpg
    20170304_153442.jpg
    134.4 KB · Views: 325
  • 20170304_154306.jpg
    20170304_154306.jpg
    139.5 KB · Views: 291
Frame and some other bits painted and back together
 

Attachments

  • 20170304_112952.jpg
    20170304_112952.jpg
    297.2 KB · Views: 318
  • 20170305_161131.jpg
    20170305_161131.jpg
    146.3 KB · Views: 301
  • 20170305_205528.jpg
    20170305_205528.jpg
    125.8 KB · Views: 307
Gut has been bugging me lately (reoccurring thing for me) so I didn't get much done last night.
Gonna try to get the headlight bracket fabbed up, new kicker arm welded, kickstand shortened and new foot, motor in and pipes wrapped tonight.
 

Attachments

  • 17097452_1347914338606810_3153808573390545068_o.jpg
    17097452_1347914338606810_3153808573390545068_o.jpg
    168.5 KB · Views: 338
Back
Top