New member interested in bratstyle

[Unknownz24]

Hi all, I've been lurking the forum for a week or so trying to learn as much as I can and have picked up a lot of great information! There is a lot of knowledge on these boards and you have a great community, hopefully I can be a great addition to it!

A little background; I have a 1981 xs400 special II. It's my first bike and I've had it for 4 years but stored it for the past 2 years. I just finished tuning it up over the Easter weekend and realize how much I missed riding it. Anyway, I'm really interested in giving it a bit of a makeover, bratstyle is what I have in mind.

I have a couple questions, but I'll ask them later in a seperate thread, this is just my hello!

Anyway, here's a picture of my bike, and pictures of my inspiration.

 

[hardtailed77]

Welcome Unknown! Glad to have you here! The bike looks to be in pretty good shape, stick around and keep us posted!

 

[Requiem]

exactly what i started off with, except for the fact that i'd kill to have had those spokewheels instead of my mags! good luck with the build

 

[lhaolpa]

Hi! I also am new to this forum,but have many years of cycling fun and disasters.I have an xs400rj seca,a little different than the SOHC models. I like the mag wheels and I remember when they came out that they were very popular,in that they were different. In my opinion,the spoke wheels,while they look good,they are a pain when they corrode. lha

 

[Unknownz24]

Yeah, the bike is in pretty great shape and relatively low mileage. Runs fine, but has that common idle issue that I've read about here on the boards. I'm ordering a colortune so I can set the mixture a bit better.
Speaking of ordering things, I was looking at mikes xs.com and was wondering about some of the suspension components and what can be interchanged with the xs400. Does anyone know if the tapered roller bearings from the 650 fits the 400? Or how about the brass bushings for the swingarm? If anyone has any experience with these items, i'd appreciate any advise thanks!

 

[hardtailed77]

I'm not sure about the swingarm bushings, but I'm pretty sure that the 650 and 400 swingarm interchange with no modifications. Someone on here (can't remember who for the life of me) runs a 650 swingarm.

As for the tapered steering bearings, you can get a set made for the 400 on Ebay, but Drewpy informed me awhile back that they do sit a little tall. I hadn't got the chance to try them out yet though.

 

[drewpy]

you need 400 taper set, and they do sit alarmingly high and have trouble initially getting the triple tree nut on, but when you take up the slack you just get all the threads over.

I know that th xs can share stuff with the RD brigade, could try HVC cycle

 

[isigt]

welcome to the forum!

The inspiration bike has been on the forum before.
http://www.xs400.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4914&highlight=tomatoe
it was for sale a while back in sweden (after the thread), so I don't think BigSwede owns it anymore.

 

[Unknownz24]

isigt- Thanks for posting that link! Having those up close pictures is really helpful for figuring out how to execute that look! Thanks a million

 

[Unknownz24]

Anyone know of a good website or some books on how to build a custom seat? I need it to be a duel seat as well.

 

[Unknownz24]

A minor update. Chopped the frame slightly. Re-located rear signals. New tail light and license holder. Painted various pieces, new handle bar. Plans are in the works to go for a solo seat but with the ability to go tandum as well. I'll post progress pics of that as it comes together.

Edit: Also installed shorter rear short and lowered front forks 1"

 

[Unknownz24]

Updates!

 

[waycoolsportster]

I'm diggin the look you got goin....can you gimma a pic of the rear turn light mounts you made???? I need to make some for my Ol Lady's bike and I like how yours are mounted!!

 

[Unknownz24]

Thanks! I'm definately liking how it's started to take shape.

The brackets are just made of 1/8" steel plate that I hammered to 90 degrees. They are attached to the shock mount. It's a temporary thing until my new signals arrive in the mail.

I'll take a close up picture for you later today and post it.

 

[Unknownz24]

Here's a close up of the bracket.