July 2011
19 posts
What shade of red is the speedster? I'm looking at PPG "fast red" for my project. Do you paint or powdercoat your wheels. If you paint, what do you find holds up the best. Again, many thanks, Jim
Not sure what the PPG match would be..
I painted the wheels on the Speedster. I like to use Rust-Oleum’s Gas & Oil resistant automotive paint. It really holds up well and it really is relatively unaffected by gas or oil..
Great looking bikes! I'm building my first custom out of a cb360 (traded a table saw for it) it runs good but has a rusty tank. I've got a bonneville tr6 tank to use, and was thinking of fabbin my own fork covers. on the speedster, did you fab the fork covers and headlight bracket or are these stock pieces. just looking for some tips to get a similiar look to your "speedster"
Thanks! That tank sounds like a good combo. Sumbit a pic of it when it’s done. I just used the stock two-piece fork covers, they look good for stock.
Los Muertos - For Sale again!
Here we go again, after two deadbeat buyers, the Rat Bike is up for sale again at the price of my previous reserve:
For Sale $2,500 - here on eBay
Updates From The Shop - 7/25
Los Muertos Vivientes - Rat Rod xs650 - SOLD (maybe, still no money yet..)
Copper Devil - xs650 - Still for sale here on the site but I’m not wasting my time with eBay and picky people. I’ll ride it and have fun and when the right buyer comes along, they’ll enjoy it too. $5,000 - no less.
The Speedster - CB350 - Done, Done & Done!!!!!!!!! After another set of rebuilt carbs, and an updated charging system, she lives! I added the finishing touches today, including some new velocity stacks. Pictures to come.
The Drifter - xs650 Brat-style bobber - frame fabrication is complete & ready for paint, tins are ready for paint, got lots of sweet parts rolling in & some cool, cool custom fabricated stuff is being made.
2 Pending Customer builds: an old-school brat-style xs650 & either a Honda CB or Yam. 650 vintage stripped down tracker
Name that Wheel..
And the winner is —- conservance - for correctly figuring out my unknown front rim. (I don’t know what you’ve won, but i’m sure it amazing..)
Also thanks to Badseed for taking a shot at it too. That’s a huge help, Thanks guys!!
Anonymous asked: … I recently aquired a 1956 Norton rolling chasis frame (that is what I was told it is) that has been turned into a rigid hardtail. It has an early harley peanut tank, harley rear fender, a 70’s chopper diamond pattern style button seat, original norton risers, drag bars, 80’s model jap wheels that I don’t have a clue to what they are or where they came from, a set of both 16” spoke wheels from a 70’s harley bike with 130 60 16 tires on front and rear and both with disk (both wheels were thrown in as part of the package), and what I believe to be harley front forks and triple trees, again I have no clue to what the forks are from, just a guess…
…what all do I need to do to them to make them work, fork size to use, hubs bearings, axles, chain, sprocket, etc. Any help would be very much appreciated. Oh and also, I do not have a motor, and in your opinion, what size, type, manufacture do you recommend?
Umm….. uhh….
Wow, man, I believe you have surpassed the term “project” and have dove into what may only be so simply described as a Pandora’s Box! I dont have the foggiest idea how to even begin to MacGyver that all together.. Some heavy fabrication will be in order for sure. You’ll probably have to find a good machine shop to lathe a set of axles down for those wheels, and as far as putting a motor in it, well, finding one to fit and properly adapting it into the frame will be a feat in and of itself. Best of luck my friend.
Aloha from Hawaii.
I am gunna start an xs650 build soon.
I have looked around the internet alot and think that
your bikes are some of the best built. I really like The Royal but after some thought
I was thinking a brat style like The Bandit would be more comfortable to ride. I want a bike for show and go not just to look at. Since you have ridden both types can you give some feedbike and advice? I wouldn't mind buying a bike from you but the price for shipping to Hawaii just might kill me. Thanks for any help..."Book 'em" Danno....
There is a little more comfort in having a set of springs to cushion the beating from rough roads, but having stiff springs on a swing-arm frame or some soft seat springs on a rigid frame doesn’t make much of a difference (to me at least).
You can have a cool looking bike either way depending on how you set it up. Me, I’m young enough, so I’ll take form over function any day, at least while I can.
Hey Dude, I'm just starting to get into cafe's and I'm really really digging your stuff. The Speedster looks so badass, I'm interested in buying it. Could you tell me an estimate on how much you might be selling it for? I'm in Baltimore MD, how would shipping work? If thats even an option...
The Speedster still needs a little work before it’s ready to sell. When it’s ready it’ll be up for sale for approximately $5,000. Shipping is up to you. You can try uship.com, where shippers will bid to ship your item. You can get some really good deals. Send me your email address if you’re interested.
Relisted Copper Devil on eBay.
The Copper Devil XS650 drop-seat bobber has been relisted and at a discounted price! Yep, thats enough cash to pretty much pay for the shipping!!
You wont find another like this one. Get it here
Hi how's it going, This may be kind of wierd, but I was wondering how tall you were? In some of your clips you look like you fit the xs650 well . I am 6'1" and am afraid of look huge on the 83 xs650 I just bought. Also could you suggest a stretch lenght? Thanks for your time
It’s a good question actually. I know I fit on some of my bikes and look ridiculously large on others.
I’m 6’-4” & the 650’s seem to be pretty comfortable for my size. I don’t like stretching the frames, not a single one of my bike have been stretched!
