Was just reading through this thread I started several years ago. Boy, we all have to start
somewhere don't we? If I knew half of what I know now this bike would have been running
a few years ago.
I have not died but was rather in purgatory. I like to buy things that don't work. It's a sickness.
I own a XS650 that is in pieces, now my third XS400, a '69 Dodge Dart(needs a brake booster)
and a '46 Spartan Manor that had only a few windows and holes in the roof when I bought it. So many projects,
not alot time and even less money.
Towards the end of last year I made the decision to leave Apple, a company I had been with
for 5 years. To work at a
motorcycle co-op
I assisted in opening 3 years ago. Being back at the shop, now full time, I started working on this
particular bike again.
Hard to catch you up on a few years of odds and ends that have been done. But I'll bring up
the gist of it. I had exhaust pipes made by a fella named Matt in Austin, TX
@workingmanscustoms
on instagram or
workingmanscustoms.com
Matt also welded a few odds and ends for me. He also hammered out a seat pan.
As cool as the skate deck seat would be I know having a nice seat will benefit me in the long run.
If it wasnt mentioned before my brakes, forks and carbs have all been gone through and redone.
I managed to build a dirty looking battery/electrical box out of scrap at the shop. Welding is not
my area of expertise as you will see in the photos. I do need to go through and check all my bolts
on the frame to make sure they were all tightened down more than finger tight. I'm having to do
all my electrical from scratch. That is currently in progress. I have purchased a new headlight,
battery, front and back blinker's and a few other things. I really want to get a new tire on the
back. That tiny thing is just not working for the look I want. Maybe I'll part with it on the forum here.
Pics are not current as of the last few months but they are what I had on my phone.
I've been lurking for the last few weeks as I just picked up another pretty stock '81 XS400H
for $100 off craigslist. No carbs or title but definitely worth it. Got it running yesterday. After
a full tune up and some new cables it will be road worthy.
On that note I will be keeping up with this thread pretty regularly until the bike is done.
- Rusty