XS400 Bobber build/first post

[volcomskater77]

hey guys. im new here so i apologize. im a senior in high school and i cut up and restore 60's fords for my job and i just purchased a 1979 Yamaha XS400 with a siezed engine for $150. the little kickstart support girdle in the block is cracked off. bad idea for a purchase? please let me know i might part it out and recouperate my losses ir i might just stick it out and sell what im not using and build it to shove in peoples faces who already said i cant do it.

Ideas:
Very Low Budget (make most things in shop class)
Drag Bars
TC bros universal hardtail kit
new chain
a stretch so the tire is just about where the battery box is, maybe an inch.
http://www.xs650chopper.com/2009/10/xs400-sratch-that-xs650/

shop made forward controls
tank? and ideas?
re-wired and small speedo and a little Sun tach for a car. prob 60's era
Header wrap.
shop made seat with springs off a bike just like above /\
something different for the kickstart no 'nades or brass knuckles (maybe)
half helmet with WWII bomber goggles

This is my first bike build so im learning as a go. any info about parts, ideas or anything would be great. a new lower crankcase is also in the works...?
fell free to comment on anything im all ears. lol
and Kick ass site btw!

 

[Ebola Monkey]

Was that the 76 xs400, that became an "rs 500" off craigslist yesterday?

 

[volcomskater77]

im in illinois. i picked this up about 2 weeks ago in decatur and joind the next day, ive just been trollin around and gettin ideas.

 

[volcomskater77]

so no haha

 

[Ebola Monkey]

ah, OK. I'm 20 minutes from Tinley, and saw 1 on craigslist in Midlothian yesterday.

 

[volcomskater77]

sweet im in tinley i just moved from frankfort.

 

[lukach4]

crystal lake here guys. apperently there are a bunch of us on the site in the chicago metro area.we all should plan a ride/show this spring.

 

[AceofSpades]

count me in.... if my build is done in time.. full custom fabbed frame in design process as I type

 

[volcomskater77]

hell yeah. i should be done by then i wanna make a removable rear seat pad but i have to figure out how to make brackets that dont look like the seat is even there when i take it off. anybody have an idea of how to do that?

 

[XSLeo]

Suction cups.

 

[Tech7]

hey guys. im new here so i apologize. im a senior in high school and i cut up and restore 60's fords for my job and i just purchased a 1979 Yamaha XS400 with a siezed engine for $150. the little kickstart support girdle in the block is cracked off. bad idea for a purchase? please let me know i might part it out and recouperate my losses ir i might just stick it out and sell what im not using and build it to shove in peoples faces who already said i cant do it.

Ideas:
Very Low Budget (make most things in shop class)
Drag Bars
TC bros universal hardtail kit
new chain
a stretch so the tire is just about where the battery box is, maybe an inch.
http://www.xs650chopper.com/2009/10/xs400-sratch-that-xs650/

shop made forward controls
tank? and ideas?
re-wired and small speedo and a little Sun tach for a car. prob 60's era
Header wrap.
shop made seat with springs off a bike just like above /\
something different for the kickstart no 'nades or brass knuckles (maybe)
half helmet with WWII bomber goggles

This is my first bike build so im learning as a go. any info about parts, ideas or anything would be great. a new lower crankcase is also in the works...?
fell free to comment on anything im all ears. lol
and Kick ass site btw!

How about getting it running first? Hardtail, tach, seat and stuff won't be much fun without a motor. First half of "motor"cycle, right?

 

[Teebs]

a stretch so the tire is just about where the battery box is, maybe an inch.
http://www.xs650chopper.com/2009/10/xs400-sratch-that-xs650/

Not really sure what you mean. That scoot has a 6 inch stretch. Were you just using it for reference on the inch or so of stretch you're planning?


Don't worry about getting it running first. If you build it and then it doesn't run... you can't call it quits.

 

[volcomskater77]

yes i want a 4 or 5 inch stretch. and im gonna just get a new (for me) engine, after i build the bike

 

[volcomskater77]

i have a problem. how can i blow apart the engine if it's seized and the master link is nowhere to be found?

 

[Travis]

What are you talking about? If, you're talking about the cam chain? You can either cut it, use a chain breaker tool, or slide the bearings off the end of the cam to get enough space to remove the cam.

 

[volcomskater77]

yeah i just used a chain breaker.
thanks. and i was talking about the cam chain

 

[volcomskater77]

what it looked like when i got it

Kickstart journal bearing ...setback...

 

[Chickenone]

Seal the Kickstart hole and make it a electric start only......Or... what i did.. i bought the same xs400 and swapped motors cuz i already hardtailed it....sucks cuz it was running good and i wanted kickstart only..... so back to the beginning haha..

 

[volcomskater77]

yeah im just gonna get a new case and have it be kickstart only.
im goin for a look basically the same as this

http://www.xs650chopper.com/2010/05/raw-and-simple/

 

[drewpy]

here's a bit of inspiration for ya