MmmBoost's '78 XS400 Cafe Project

I appreciate the input. The bike isn't at it's final setup, it's just loosely mocked up to do the frame modifications. It's also up on the center stand and on a block of wood which makes it look WAY higher than it actually is. I made the spacers for the shocks as long as I thought I could get away with because I can always make them shorter.

I'm definitely aware that raising the rear end will quicken up the steering. From everything I've read, these UJM bikes are pretty lazy on the steering tube angle. The front is much lower than I plan to run, so that will help and I'll also be adding an upward bend to the rear frame so I don't have to run such long shocks.
 
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Great project. Watching thread.
Question: what lense do you use?
I dont know a whole lot about cameras but i'd guess a 50mm or something with very narrow range of aperture.
 
Great project. Watching thread.
Question: what lense do you use?
I dont know a whole lot about cameras but i'd guess a 50mm or something with very narrow range of aperture.

Thanks very much! glad to have you onboard!

I'm mostly using a Nikon D700 (full frame) with a bunch of lenses.
28mm f/1.8
50mm f/1.8
105mm f/2.8
14-24mm f/2.8
24-70mm f/2.8
70-200mm f/2.8
 
Very neat. My gf is the one who really is into photography so I have some collateral knowledge. Your photos encouraged me to start borrowing her camera and try to get better shots. Someone up in the thread mentioned the rest of us go around with our iPhone photos and are jealous about these awesome shots which I 100% agree :lmao:
 
After a ton of landscaping this past couple weeks and cleaning up half a tree that blew over in a crazy wind storm we had here last week I finally found some time to work on the bike.

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Tire clearance with my shocks completely compressed and no bump stops installed. I may end up shortening my shock extensions a little, but I haven't finalized anything yet.
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Half-finished the final welding. I had to pull the motor so I could flip the frame upside down and finish the rest
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Shop dog approves
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Awwww...TIG...a little jealous here...

lol... sorry man. I LOVEEEEEEE my TIG. I bought it for a stainless exhaust project that I had on my Audi a few years ago, and now you couldn't pry it out of my cold dead hands. I can't go back to MIG.... TIG is just so controllable and clean. Pin-point accurate heat.....no sparks..... <3
 
It's been a while since I've been able to devote some time to my project...so here's a quick update. Parts are pretty much all here, the only thing I'm still waiting on is the signal lights.

I spent a lot of time cleaning up the welds on the rear loop as well as any other places I ground off tabs on the frame. After that I raised up the tank end about 3/8" in order for the lines of the bottom of the tank to match up with the lines of the frame and seat a little better. I also put the bike mostly back together so I could work on shorting up the wiring harness for the clipons and to fab up a tray in the frame for all of the electronics and battery.

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Looks like this is going to turn out nice. I like how those wheels look ! making me re think things.........
 
Thanks Spectra. Yeah I'm usually not a fan of blacked out wheels, but I think they work here. I would kill a man for a nice set of spoked wheels though.....
 
I love the spokes also but finding a good set without rust is almost impossible......I do like the disc set up much better than the drums though.
 
I spent a pretty good chunk of my long weekend working on the bike. Finally made some progress on one of the parts I've been absolutely dreading doing......the electrics pan.

I traced out the pattern on some 18GA steel and cut it out. Then I tacked on some tabs to help with the alignment.
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Trying to make sure the bottom of the pan is parallel with the frame and bottom of the tank
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Hot as balls in my garage..... Sweat dripping in my eyes while I was trying to weld
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Yeah.......I don't have a break
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Formed the sidewall before tacking in place
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Supervising is ruff...
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Pan all fit up and braces/brackets tacked in. The front bracket will be use to mount the pan to the bike as well as mount the seat. The rear bar is to mount the ban and offer support to the frame. I still need to put in 2 more bars across the frame to mount the seat mid-way up and at the rear.
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Starting cleaning up the wiring and fixing some of the butchered harness from the previous owner. Ditching all the starter circuit since the bike will be kick-only. Also getting rid of the signal canceller.
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Stormy afternoon today.... Perfect motivation to stay in and work on the XS
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Man it's been a LONGGGGGGGGG time since I've got around to updating this thread. I didn't really get much work done over the winter since my garage isn't heated, but I did design a battery/holder as well as a new fuse block. I picked up a 3D printer over the winter and have found many uses for it. I've also been super busy this summer with weddings and whatnot. Was best-man in 2 of my friends weddings (one Mexico one in BC) and I just got back from another wedding in BC 2 weeks ago. I've finally got around to getting some real work done on my XS.

I've finished up the electrics pan, finished the wiring harness, fabbed a tail light and license plate holder, fabbed signal brackets for the rear, machined signal brackets for the front. I think all that's left now is to sort out the rear master cylinder mount/linkage and put it all back together.

Without further ado......pictures:
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You should enjoy those bridgestone spitfires, I'm very happy with them. Good looking tread and great handling for the cost. You've a nice build happening here!
 
Great work and photos. Your examples with the 3D printer made me think differently about approaching the wiring harness on my bike...
 
For your rear shock extensions, what was the size and pitch of the thread for the top mount bolt?? I built a bike for vintage flat track racing and I can't use anything modern. I saw that you extended your rear shocks and I thought, "BINGO!" great idea!
 
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