PROJECT JOP

[Jop]

Good morning all from South Wales, UK.

This is my first post on the forum and I'm glad to see the community is still active here.

Over the years I've bought several old broken bikes and brought them back to life, each time documenting the process on a forum like this.

This is my first XS400 and I'm planning to slowly do it up over the winter with the hope of it being ready for next spring.

I'll post a couple of photos of the bike in the condition I've just purchased it below.

All comments welcome.

 

[Jop]

 

[Jop]

 

[avemachina]

Welcome! That's a very blue bike you've got there--looking forward to seeing your progress!

What's all that going on over by the rear brake drum?

 

[Jop]

Are these risers standard?

 

[Jop]

Welcome! That's a very blue bike you've got there--looking forward to seeing your progress!

What's all that going on over by the rear brake drum?

Hi! Yes, I don't think I'll be keeping all of the blue, but not sure what to do yet.

By the rear brake drum is a nice little side mounted number plate.

At some point in the distant past someone really cared about this bike. According to it's title it's had at least 20 owners and hasn't been ridden in a long time.

 

[avemachina]

Lol, of course it's a number plate and light--at first glance it looked like some kind of crazy dynamo assembly; I see it now. It certainly looks well-kept, I'm so jealous of crisp everything looks.

The risers definitely aren't standard, they just had normal clamp-type bars from the factory. I'm not sure what to call this style, but it reminds me of a beach-cruiser bicycle--pretty unique to see a customization that isn't a bobber or cafe build.

 

[Jop]

Lol, of course it's a number plate and light--at first glance it looked like some kind of crazy dynamo assembly; I see it now. It certainly looks well-kept, I'm so jealous of crisp everything looks.

The risers definitely aren't standard, they just had normal clamp-type bars from the factory. I'm not sure what to call this style, but it reminds me of a beach-cruiser bicycle--pretty unique to see a customization that isn't a bobber or cafe build.

Yeah, my first instinct was to get it running then strip it and give it my own personal touch but I'm now feeling like I want to honour the existing modifications.

Maybe just nut and bolt refurb and say goodbye to the blue. Mostly black with a deep red tank? Or maybe it should be a more subtle blue

 

[CaptChrome]

Welcome to the forum!

That bike is very blue indeed! But, it also looks like you lucked out and have a fairly complete stock bike under all of that blue to start with. With the exception of the bars/risers and the spikes sticking out from the sides of the headlights it looks like a 1950's standard motorcycle to me.

If it runs okay, you might be a few cans of spray paint away from a pretty nice looking one-off bike. I can't wait to see what you do with it. Please keep us posted!