This was my first bike build. I did it for my Senior Thesis in Industrial Design at Appalachian State University. I know, I know.... Jap bikes suck... Well, I decided to make sure mine didn't suck, and on a student budget, and only about 16 weeks to build it, I needed cheap and fast. Enter the venerable XS650. I took a night job on campus in the metals department to be able to access the lathe, mill, TIG, etc... I never really used the equipment more than about 10 minutes each before this project...
This is the ugly I started with:
I wanted to use Akront style drop center rims, and scrounged some off of an Ossa and Husky Dirtbike. I laced them up myself to the XS60 hubs, which I machined and polished. 21" Front and an 18" rear.
Everyone does a 3-4" stretch on an XS, so I decided to keep mine short, real short. the wheelbase is actually shorter than stock. I shortened the forks myself, trimmed down the fat on the trees, and had a roller.
Next up was the engine. I had a roommate with an XS650, and it seemed to vibrate alot. ALOT... After doing some research, I found lots of Internet Ninja's discussing re-phasing of the crank and cam. Like all Internet Ninja's, all they did was talk about it, so I decided to do something and make it happen. Stock XS engines pistons travel up and down at the same time. Unacceptable! I altered the crank by rotating 1 set of flywheels 83.something degrees. Then the cam had to match, at an even 41.something degrees, so I cut apart 3 cams before making this one work! So far soo good, no vibes, and 10K plus RPM make this thing a torque chop if there ever was one. Add in some 707CC pistons, overdrive 5th gear,some headwork, custom pipes, and a set of vintage Lectron Flatslides, and this thing just hauls ass...
After that, I couldn't just throw any old set of aftermarket bars, seat, etc... on it. So I made em all to fit my style. I made the bars from some stock ones I cut down, hammered out the seatpan and covered it myself, made my own rearsets, controls and grips, and topped it all off with a hidden footclutch mechanism and hand shifter. Basically, the only thing let unmolested was a headlight and a taillight.
Basically, I wanted to learn all I could and test things that I'd never seen done before. Overall, I've been extremely please with how it came out. I built it for me, but its nice that others dig it too...
Owner/Builder: Hugh Owings, Boone NC
Bike Name: I'm bad at names, so this is just my XS650
Engine, year and make, model, modifications: 1981, XS650, Slightly Modded...
Frame: Stock front loop, stock length hardtail.
Fork: Shaved and lowered. smoothed trees, integrated headlight mount.
Chassis mods: Custom Rearsets, fat free frame, handbent hardtail section
Tire/wheel size and style: 21" Akront with an Avon up front, and 18" Akront with an Avon out back
Favorite thing about this bike: James Fuel tank, only seen 1 other ever...
Next modification will be: Longer fender and a sissybar for the long trips... That side bag would be sweet too!
Other mods, accessories, cool parts, etc: Handmade exhaust, controls, seat, bars, fender stays, gas cap (yeah, even the gas cap)
Any building or riding story or info you'd like to include: I'm 6 foot tall, and a short chop is too damn fun. With the right bars, and controls, this thing is just right for a 5-7 day trip... Now the seat on the other hand, well...
Thanks to: Brewdude for the powdercoating, And Mitch from Bling Cycles for the encouragement and support. Last but not least, my friends over at Pirate4x4!
Check out the build thread here: "Punskalar Builds a Bike / Chopperthing"
And you can here it run here:
Hugh Owings Motorcycle Bobber Chopper XS650 XS 650 Honda Rebel CMX250 Hughs Hand Built HughsHandBuilt
This is the ugly I started with:
I wanted to use Akront style drop center rims, and scrounged some off of an Ossa and Husky Dirtbike. I laced them up myself to the XS60 hubs, which I machined and polished. 21" Front and an 18" rear.
Everyone does a 3-4" stretch on an XS, so I decided to keep mine short, real short. the wheelbase is actually shorter than stock. I shortened the forks myself, trimmed down the fat on the trees, and had a roller.
Next up was the engine. I had a roommate with an XS650, and it seemed to vibrate alot. ALOT... After doing some research, I found lots of Internet Ninja's discussing re-phasing of the crank and cam. Like all Internet Ninja's, all they did was talk about it, so I decided to do something and make it happen. Stock XS engines pistons travel up and down at the same time. Unacceptable! I altered the crank by rotating 1 set of flywheels 83.something degrees. Then the cam had to match, at an even 41.something degrees, so I cut apart 3 cams before making this one work! So far soo good, no vibes, and 10K plus RPM make this thing a torque chop if there ever was one. Add in some 707CC pistons, overdrive 5th gear,some headwork, custom pipes, and a set of vintage Lectron Flatslides, and this thing just hauls ass...
After that, I couldn't just throw any old set of aftermarket bars, seat, etc... on it. So I made em all to fit my style. I made the bars from some stock ones I cut down, hammered out the seatpan and covered it myself, made my own rearsets, controls and grips, and topped it all off with a hidden footclutch mechanism and hand shifter. Basically, the only thing let unmolested was a headlight and a taillight.
Basically, I wanted to learn all I could and test things that I'd never seen done before. Overall, I've been extremely please with how it came out. I built it for me, but its nice that others dig it too...
Owner/Builder: Hugh Owings, Boone NC
Bike Name: I'm bad at names, so this is just my XS650
Engine, year and make, model, modifications: 1981, XS650, Slightly Modded...
Frame: Stock front loop, stock length hardtail.
Fork: Shaved and lowered. smoothed trees, integrated headlight mount.
Chassis mods: Custom Rearsets, fat free frame, handbent hardtail section
Tire/wheel size and style: 21" Akront with an Avon up front, and 18" Akront with an Avon out back
Favorite thing about this bike: James Fuel tank, only seen 1 other ever...
Next modification will be: Longer fender and a sissybar for the long trips... That side bag would be sweet too!
Other mods, accessories, cool parts, etc: Handmade exhaust, controls, seat, bars, fender stays, gas cap (yeah, even the gas cap)
Any building or riding story or info you'd like to include: I'm 6 foot tall, and a short chop is too damn fun. With the right bars, and controls, this thing is just right for a 5-7 day trip... Now the seat on the other hand, well...
Thanks to: Brewdude for the powdercoating, And Mitch from Bling Cycles for the encouragement and support. Last but not least, my friends over at Pirate4x4!
Check out the build thread here: "Punskalar Builds a Bike / Chopperthing"
And you can here it run here:
Hugh Owings Motorcycle Bobber Chopper XS650 XS 650 Honda Rebel CMX250 Hughs Hand Built HughsHandBuilt
Comment