xs650 build/entry : part 2

Purple Rain has been sitting for a couple of months while we decided where we wanted to take the modifications. I tossed around hard-tailing this or a Brat Style bike. But all of that has been done to death. I figured we would De-Special it. Back in the early 80's the all the Japanese motorcycle manufactures wanted to capture the American buyer and in the good ol USA we like choppers. The Japanese "Manufactured Custom" of the day consisted of a stepped king and queen seat, Shorty exhaust, Pull back handlebars, a teardrop gas tank and a sissy bar. Some of the models had mag wheels and 16 rear wheels to run the Harleyesqe rubber.

The reason for playing around with this XS650 is we plan on heading to Arkansas to the Ozark Mountains in June for the “Ozark Mountain Scramble”. This is a grass roots style event that you show up and ride with like minded people. I am sick of the rolling shopping malls that most of the rallies and large bike events have become. The premise of the run is the bike cannot be newer than 1980, not larger than 750cc and not cost more than $1000.00 inclusive of purchase price and getting it ready for the run.

We added a tank from a 1976 XS650 that is a little rounder with the filler in center of the top.



The pullback bars had to go. We replaced them with a set of Vintage Style Motocross bars.



A before photo of the seat and the Sissy bar. with the new tank installed.



The rear 3/4 shot with the sissy removed new bars and the '76 Fuel tank.



Right side view with the changes so far. I am starting to like this little bike. We will see what other parts we can dig up or modify to get this thing completed within budget.

Tim

cb360-1 build/entry : part 2

Making a little head way on this bike. Tires on. Fly screen or gay SOA fairing on. Seat cover on.

James

cb360 build/entry : part 4

I did a little more tinkering on the bike today. Topped off the oil, fabbed and painted a new and slightly longer battery tray, rerouted the wiring, slipped on the new mufflers, and fired her up to check the clutch. Earlier in the week I reassembled the rear brake linkage and pedal. So technically I have a rider now. I rode it a few feet around the carport. It still doesn't look like much, but I'm quite pleased.

Andy

cb550 build/entry : part 2

Some more pics of the 2012 OMS bike. Got it stripped down, fender trimmed, rear frame hoop hacked off and tacked up some handlebars. I guess I'm waiting for the perfect tank to fall from the sky. Maybe I'll stumble on to one. I'd love to go with a Triumph tank but it'd probably be waste of a good tank.

Brad

cb360-1 build/entry : part 1

Another build saga begins for the Ozark Mountain Scramble.

My name is James. I just bought a 1974 cb360t for 450 bucks. The plan is to paint it, and do something with the seat. I would like to do something with the exhaust as well. I got it running and rode it, but blew the back tire out. Had to buy some new ones, sucks but oh well. Started on my seat today, and will have it in primer Tue. ready for paint on Wed. Will send pics of it done and as things progress.

James

xs650 build/entry : part 1

Tim has sent me a little info on his chosen work horse for the 2012 Ozark Mountain Scramble. Below is the first entry for his build saga.

I went for a bike ride and found this gem at a local yard sale. All I could think of when I saw it was Purple Rain, Puuuurple Raaaaiiiiiiiin! So with all its gayness I decided the price was right so I picked it up. It is a 1979 Yamaha XS650 Special. Back in the day when this bike was new I never gave these little machines a second look. All I wanted to do was go fast and if it did not have a 3 cylinder 2-stroke or an inline 4 cylinder UJM I was not interested. I have been noticing a few of the XS's modified and I am impressed with the results. The plan for right now is to get it running and mechanically sound to make sure we have a solid foundation to chop from. I will leave it a swing arm bike as Western NY roads are pothole riddled and the only way to ride fast is with a suspension. I plan on doing the entire build myself just like when I was younger and a lot more broke and had no choice in the matter. We will see where this takes us Stay tuned.






Barn Fresh

Dirty, Rusty and Bone Stock

Ultra Gay

Washed Up! Ready for a new Look!

Tim

cl350 build/entry : part 4

A week or two back, I decided things were just getting overly difficult hunting down a bunch of stock parts that should have came with my cl350 donor. My budget was going to swell to the point that I wouldn't be able to get a few key items I really wanted to make it right. Luckily an inexpensive cb350 cafe basketcase popped up on the local CL harnessing 95% of the parts I need to make it work. What's left can be put together and sold off to fund other future projects or maybe even flip into 2013 build material(doubtful). Even so, the money spent on the basket was less than the parts I need sourced separately, so budget crisis has been averted. With that said, I snatched the cb350 forks and front fender with quickness to put on the cl. I kept the 19" cl wheel which fits the cb fender profile nice and snug. Intake boots robbed as well, so I am getting a tad closer to the first fire. Also got a bro deal on another front fender, that will help me lengthen the front and back to match my rendering. I'll hold off on that for the moment, as I really want to get the seat and rear fender figured out or at least under way before that becomes priority. All in all, not much progress to take pics of, but a steady amount of work ahead.

ozark mountain scramble 2012 ride map

Check it.

3 days of awesomeness grace this here map. Click for an overly exaggerated large print to see what's in store.

ozark mountain scramble 2011 pics

Now that cold weather is creeping in, I'm even more amped for next years ride. I've been getting a good amount of commitments from all over the US, so it sounds like it's growing a fair bit. If you haven't rode through the Ozarks, then you need to make this run a priority.

cb360 build/entry : part 3

I ordered an SLA battery last week to save space and weight. Since I'm going kick only on this little guy, I got a UB 1220. I had thought I picked up a 2.2 amp, but I think the 2 amp will be fine. I'm only going to run a headlight and taillight/brake light. This little battery looks a little like a VHS tape in size. I think the measurements are close to 6" x .75" X 3.5". After having a few cold ones with Captain Awesome, I talked myself into rewiring the bike from scratch. What's left of the stock harness I modified for this one is pretty ugly, and I'd hate to run into issues far from home because of 35 year old wiring. I also snagged some CL350 bars and a sheet metal seat pan from the previous iteration of this bike.



Battery tray and fuse block in progress.







Andy

cb550 build/entry : part 1

Brad's back with a new steed for next years ride. Here's the scoop...

I started on the '75 Honda 550 for next year's scramble. I think I'm going to build a four into two into one exhaust using a Flowmaster 2 into one that I got at a swap meet for $10. I removed the mufflers that were on it and now I've gotta find some pipe with a lot of bends(need 4 - 90s and some straight) or some tubing with a wall thickness that I can bend in my harbor freight bender without mangling it. 1.25" OD pipe will work.

Brad Green #1

cb360 stocker

Didn't take too much to get it running good. Replaced a coil, threw a Radio Shack rectifier on, cleaned the petcock bowl and tank out. Still got some cleanup and fine tuning to do, but not too shabby so far. Crappy video proof below.

ozark mountain scramble 2011 pics

More pics from this years run.

2012 ozark mountain scramble

Winter is creeping up, so why not procure a project bike to keep yourself warm with?

tt500 + cb360 = kz400?

Over the weekend I agreed to trade a couple project bikes for the kz400. One being a 80 tt500 needing some love, and the other a 74 cb360 with a spare motor and assorted parts. The tt500 will be a long term project, while the cb360 will be a rider until my cl350 hits the streets. As if that wasn't enough, last night I picked up a cb350 basketcase and some extra parts to help fill some voids on the cl350.

The tt500 had a beat up tank, so I threw on a cb350 spare I had laying around. Didn't take much to make it fit, so I think it's going to stay. We'll see, as I have yet to nail down any sort of plan at the moment.



The cb360 just needs a quick rewire and some tuning to be roadworthy. The front fender is in good shape, and will be thrown on once the front brake is sorted.



I'll see about snapping some pics of the cb350 basket later this afternoon.