Custom Vintage Motorcycles: Archive

Jul 30th

muggs828 asked: Hello Jay,
I am about to purchase an '81 XS650 and want very much to emulate (OK blatantly ripoff) your "Bandit" bike. I love the sprung bobber look, and I have some questions.
1. Did you cut both the front and rear of the seat stays, or just the rear and heat and bend the front?
2. What shocks did you wind up using on the rear? What's the Eye-to-eye...

Jul 30th

Copper Devil- Update 7/25

I got the copper lines formed today, which will enclose the plug and timing wires. That was a horrible task which I will never do again. Clutch cable has been figured out and small issues fixed. Just need to make a grip for the shifter handle and add a Devil Head shift knob as the finishing touch. Still on the scout for a new tank. I must get something soon. The Sportster tank just wont do. Soon...

Jul 26th

Jul 23rd

Jul 19th

1 note

Jul 17th

Jul 16th

XS500 Completed!!!

The, yet-to-be-named, XS500 is basically finished. With the exception of a new shifter and handlebar grips, she is ready to roll. I fired her up for the first time in two months since the preliminary test run before the tear down. Everything has come together very nicely and I’m truly happy with this build. I’m also considerably lucky that this motor ran without any problems. If any...

Jul 14th

Jul 11th

1 note

XS500 Exhaust progress

A trip to the local LKQ on Saturday provided me with the remaining piece to the puzzle, the prized stainless steel exhaust flange! So, tomorrow I’ll be grinding, welding and finishing that sweet exhaust.

Jul 11th

Jul 10th

XS500 Progress

As of right now, the bike is about 90% finished, though I still don’t have a name for her yet… Spent the past two days completing the electrical system, which to my delight, works! Headlight switch, headlight and taillight have yet to be installed. I spent the afternoon roughing out the exhaust system (photos to come). I had to figure out a two-into-one collector for the exhaust to...

Jul 10th