New owner, help me finish this please

StephenSadler

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Hey everyone. New here and brand new to the 1981 xs400 special ii that I just got today. Can anyone help me figure out how to finish this cafe/brat style build that was started?
My questions are:
1. What do I need to finish rounding off the back?
2. What are my options of license plate and brake light mounting? In SC, the plate has to be illuminated so I don’t know how the old owner got away with having the plate on the left and light on the right.

Also, not sure if it helps, but the bike is kick-start only (which I love) but I’d like to figure out why electric start doesn’t work. My horn doesn’t work either.
I’ve included some pics and any help will be truly appreciated. I’ve owned numerous Harleys, but this is the first time I’ve wanted to actually do things the right way and finish a build.
 

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That is one of the laziest "builds" I have ever seen. Some people shouldn't be allowed hacksaws.

1. What do I need to finish rounding off the back?
A tubing loop welded on. $15-$30 all over eBay.

2. What are my options of license plate and brake light mounting? In SC, the plate has to be illuminated so I don’t know how the old owner got away with having the plate on the left and light on the right.
Options depend on your budget and level of skill. There are tons of them.

Some sort of a strip-shaped taillight in the middle of that loop. Or a small round one. Or, replace the OE turn signals with combination ones that have marker lamps and have just a stoplight in the middle. Seriously, there are so many ways to go, it's really what you want it to be.

For the plate, lighted holders are plentiful. You can get one that mounts in that same goofy spot you got it now, or something that would go on the back. With or without taillight.

Also, not sure if it helps, but the bike is kick-start only (which I love) but I’d like to figure out why electric start doesn’t work. My horn doesn’t work either.

Are your bars painted? If so, your switches aren't grounding. Scrape paint, or do a wiring mod. There are posts about it here.
 
Yeah the guy I got it from definitely seemed a little off, but with only 11k on the clock and $600 I couldn’t really say no. Yeah the bars are painted black, and so it the exhaust haha. Gonna take a few to get it right but I appreciate it.
 
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