Rob's XS 650 bobber build [Archive] - KCSR

MUCHADO

2011-03-04, 06:05 PM

Last year I was rockin' a rat bike XS 400 I bought for dirty cheap off craigslist and fell in love with bobbers... The 400 sucked on the highway and an ankle surgery put me out for the whole riding season so I sold it...

With the few nice days we had in February I got fired up to build a new bobber. This bike I chose to be my platform is a 1981 Yamaha XS 650 Special II... The guy I bought it from has a wax-curled mustache and works at a prison. Pretty awesome.

Stock
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/07e7b375.jpg
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/4d43c371.jpg

Started molesting it this week:
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/06bb3061.jpg
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/ed7e41b0.jpg
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/44253738.jpg

I'm using the TC bros hardtail, "axe" tank and biltwell seat... Lotsa little parts that add up but I won't waste my time listing everything...

Putting curved drag pipes from Gordon Scott (just sold my 2-1 mac setup), change up the rear tire and make my own bars... Hoping to have it rideable by early April.

...should have quite a few bobbers popping up locally as several of my buddies are all building these up at the same time. Photo below is Mike and his hard-tail frame + motor in a box..

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/af3b7817.jpg

MUCHADO

2011-03-05, 12:48 AM

Got the rear end welded up tonight.. Took me a while to pull the trigger on the hot glue gun because I am so anal about making sure things are square... Got a little carried away with my digital angle finder only to realize the seat bar was tack welded in slightly crooked from TC bros(they tack it so you can move the bar to adjust your seat postition). The fully welded cross brace was straight though so I checked my side to side between that and my motor mount.

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/5e7ef6f0.jpg

WRX

2011-03-05, 02:23 AM

Sweet. Cant wait to see this in finished form. My buddy just bought a KZ400 bobber, hes turning it back to stock :thumbsdown:. Everyone else thinks it looks bad ass except him...

grunt2001

2011-03-05, 09:24 AM

i definitly like where you are going with this.how long it take to get the hardtail?

SupermanChevelle

2011-03-05, 10:48 AM

I hate that you posted this now I reeeeeaaaaalllly want one

MUCHADO

2011-03-05, 10:56 AM

i definitly like where you are going with this.how long it take to get the hardtail?

I ordered last Saturday---they shipped Monday and it was here Wednesday. TC Bros is awesome because they have the hard-tail kits in stock ready to ship. With the David Bird one I was looking at from LowBrow Customs it would have been 4-6 week lead time... The Bird one is sweet but I am not patient enough, I wanted to start immediately so I can have this thing done.

Sweet. Cant wait to see this in finished form. My buddy just bought a KZ400 bobber, hes turning it back to stock :thumbsdown:. Everyone else thinks it looks bad ass except him...

Ah man! Sounds like more work than it is worth... Stock 80's Jap bikes look gheyyy

I hate that you posted this now I reeeeeaaaaalllly want one

DO IT!!

grunt2001

2011-03-11, 12:05 PM

MUCHADO

2011-03-12, 05:36 PM

whats the status? by the way paint wise go to your local john deer dealer and purchase blitz black its 25.00 a gallon wich is dirt cheap, asll the old school hot rodders use it. I am still looking for a decent bike what you pay for yours?

paid $750 for it... Have another friend paid same for his.. and my roommate paid $550 for his but his was not running and had title issue both issues now fixed.

Thanks for the paint tip. Right now I'm waiting on my rear tire to show up so I can mount fender and seat... Have some other parts ordered and in transit. Going to the dunes thurs-sun so probably won't get anything done worth posting about this week.

grunt2001

2011-03-13, 10:59 AM

MUCHADO

2011-03-13, 10:18 PM

i bought kawi kz440....ill post build thread.I plan on getting a bunch of guy's together and riding down hwy 62 in arkansas very famous road for riding and wont kill ya with hardtail let me know if you and buddies are interested:cheers:

KZ 440--is that an inline 4 or a twin? I have two friends with KZ 4cyl's

I'm down for a ride in Arkansas and I'm sure my buddies are too--just depends on timing!

Spent the day prepping my quad and letting my liver recover from a good weekend... Did a little tinkering though, dropped the forks 1.5 inches and removed the gauges (won't be using any).. Also took off the side mount brackets for the headlight as I'll be using a bottom mount style light.

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/4d87cef9.jpg

Oh and also cut the side cover down.. Compare to earlier picture, looks a lot cleaner this way.
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/f6ad8d8b.jpg

grunt2001

2011-03-14, 08:53 AM

Lifted94XLT

2011-03-14, 05:43 PM

Lookin good Rob.... I needa get the rest of my projects done so I can get started on my KZ.... Arkansas trip would be killer.

snm95ls

2011-03-14, 06:16 PM

I love the profile on that thing man. One of my buddies built one out of an XS 650 as well. Turned out pretty damn neat.

MUCHADO

2011-03-14, 06:58 PM

SO u gonna throw a jocky(suicide shifter on this) mines will have one lol.dude your bike is very inspiring you give me dates you can do this ride andwe will go from there i already have 5 bikes attending.

Right on I'll get with the guys.. We gotta get our bikes done first!

and NO on the jockey shift. fuck all that! ha ha

MUCHADO

2011-03-14, 09:57 PM

Made my iPhone mount tonight.. Using the case from Xshot. Reason for this is so I can use it as a speedometer.

I have it on a pivot so I can shoot video from my bars... Either forward or back at me.

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/c7c809b4.jpg
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/74be1b39.jpg
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/IMG_20110314_212456.jpg
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/IMG_20110314_212506.jpg

Lifted94XLT

2011-03-14, 10:48 PM

Looks good man

grunt2001

2011-03-15, 08:13 AM

Thats definitly bad ass rob ,btw my name is rob as well:cheers:

MUCHADO

2011-03-16, 11:12 PM

Right on man!

Put my new tire on before leaving for the dunes tonight... I think it'll work. I like the width/tread pattern a lot.

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/9258ccdb.jpg
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/764263ac.jpg

grunt2001

2011-03-17, 07:06 AM

Did ya buy the tire locally ?If so where at:mrgreen:

Lifted94XLT

2011-03-17, 07:10 AM

Pny Pwr

2011-03-17, 08:24 AM

:drool:

MUCHADO

2011-03-17, 01:59 PM

Did ya buy the tire locally ?If so where at:mrgreen:

I believe he bought it from Cycle Gear (not 100% sure though), and I'm pretty sure its was under $100..... Definately a cool lookin tire.

Have a good time at the dunes man... and btw, you're a dick for goin! :fu: lol

Yep it's a shinko classic and Cycle Gear was able to order it in for $95..

Ryan--dunes are so fuckin smooth today :fu:.... I hope you're comin with us to Waynoka in 2 weeks!!! Gonna be a good/big group. Maybe I can loan you my fronts and I'll use my brother or dad's twin ribbed...

Lifted94XLT

2011-03-19, 01:11 AM

Yep it's a shinko classic and Cycle Gear was able to order it in for $95..

Ryan--dunes are so fuckin smooth today :fu:.... I hope you're comin with us to Waynoka in 2 weeks!!! Gonna be a good/big group. Maybe I can loan you my fronts and I'll use my brother or dad's twin ribbed...

I bet with the wind blowing around down there they're really smooth.... still planning on goin, would love to borrow your fronts but my front pattern is yamaha. :thumbsdown: which sucks.

grunt2001

2011-03-22, 10:06 AM

any updates? i am subscribed to this thread man:loco:

Lifted94XLT

2011-03-22, 03:44 PM

He sold it to start a new hobby...... yeah, he's taking up kangaroo calling. Odd, I know, that's what I said.

grunt2001

2011-03-22, 06:11 PM

:lolg:

Lifted94XLT

2011-03-22, 08:58 PM

I'm just kidding. I was over there the other night and had just got back in town from the weekend.

grunt2001

2011-03-22, 09:22 PM

ill be definitly be buying some WWfor my bobber also:cheers:

Lifted94XLT

2011-03-22, 11:07 PM

White Walls do look very good on hard-tailed bikes

MUCHADO

2011-03-22, 11:17 PM

Yep out of town for 4 days and Monday night was customer appreciation at Bonita's so no progress on the bike--just glittery boobies all over the place...

Between all that chasin kangaroos, I was able to get a little done tonight. Got the seat mounted... I have the rear seat mount bar just tack welded in place so I can move the seat back a little bit... Kinda thinkin it needs to be closer to where the fender will be.

Oh and they are blue walls, not white walls! ha ha...

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/1ba5b512.jpg

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/f6e39657.jpg

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/ba61c1f1.jpg

Lifted94XLT

2011-03-22, 11:19 PM

Is that second pic projected fender placement or you just finishin for idears Rob?

MUCHADO

2011-03-22, 11:29 PM

Oh I think that's where it'll go--except spaced off the tire a little bit.. and I mean a LITTLE bit.

Was going to mount fender before seat, but I am still undecided on how exactly I want to mount the fender. Several ideas running through my head.

Lifted94XLT

2011-03-22, 11:35 PM

Was going to mount fender before seat, but I am still undecided on how exactly I want to mount the fender. Several ideas running through my head.

Duct Tape, Bailing Wire. Done. :cheers:

MUCHADO

2011-03-22, 11:43 PM

Duct Tape, Bailing Wire. Done. :cheers:

Since Mike is going to paint it for me.. I actually want to do it "right"... unlike anything I ever did on my rock crawlers LOL

Lifted94XLT

2011-03-22, 11:43 PM

very true

MUCHADO

2011-04-13, 11:25 PM

Been busy/distracted but here's a few update pics.. got apes and pipes on... Ryan's (lifted94xlt) KZ550 in the background.. We chopped it bratstyle(keeping the soft tail)

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/309be487.jpg
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/5c3e3724.jpg
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/3fc9695a.jpg
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/d479aefc.jpg

grunt2001

2011-04-14, 05:32 AM

very nice build man

Lifted94XLT

2011-04-14, 07:05 AM

Man, this weekend we needa get to work on gettin that damn thing wired and see if we can get it started.... I'm thinkin its very doable. That way I'm not riding by myself in the next week or so!! :cheers:

MUCHADO

2011-06-09, 11:33 PM

I've been slackin on the build because I got a rzr XP.. ha! If you've ridden in one, you'd understand.

....got it running tonight though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iJbzzoQugQ

Uncle_Willie

2011-06-12, 01:30 PM

I dig it! Subscribed!:cheers:

MUCHADO

2011-06-12, 01:32 PM

tag/tail mounted

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/91eea991.jpg

Lifted94XLT

2011-06-12, 01:49 PM

Lookin Good

MUCHADO

2011-06-12, 03:12 PM

Lookin Good

Yours is too!

LED's are pimp.. wish they were my idearr. Please dont steal my fingerpainted gas tank idea lol

BIGT94z

2011-06-13, 12:40 AM

loving the build so far man :cheers:

Billy Mild

2011-06-13, 12:17 PM

MUCHADO

2011-06-13, 05:07 PM

What is the deal with bobber's? Are they a Japanese bike version of a chopper or what? I understand the chopper's and cafe bikes, but this just seems like a chopper. Don't take any offense Just curious. I'm a vintage bike type of guy.

nah no offense taken

Bobber is pretty much a chopper minus big rake...

from wiki

"Bobbers vs. choppers

Bobbers are related to choppers in that they represent a minimalistic approach where the motorcycle is stripped of parts or accessories not needed but bobbers generally leaving the characteristics of the stock frame.[7]

The principal difference between a bobber and chopper is that bobbers are typically built around unmodified frames. Chopper frames are often cut and welded into shape. Bobbers also often lack most of the chopper's aesthetic characteristics such as chromed parts and elongated forks. Thus, bobbers are fairly easy to create from stock motorcycles and are generally hand built.
The term chopper started to be used from the late 1960s onwards, for motorcycles whose frames had been customized to have a greater angle at which the front suspension protruded with smaller fuel tanks and tall handlebars called ape hangers.[2] For many owners, the difference between bobbers and choppers doesn't come down to what's on the motorcycle but what isn't on it and whether it has a short front end or a long front end, stretched suspension defining it is a chopper.[8][9]

Whereas customized motorcycles can be extremely expensive, bobber builders tend to adopt an economical approach involving old, second hand, recycled parts [10] and hand machined items redolent of the period before the mass-market motorcycle accessory industry had developed.[4]"

ZimStang

2011-06-15, 01:41 AM

Good looking build man. I'm in the process of building a 72 cb750 cafe bike.

Billy Mild

2011-06-15, 09:12 AM

Good looking build man. I'm in the process of building a 72 cb750 cafe bike.

Make a thread. Also get rid of the CV carbs if it has them.

BryanW203

2011-07-18, 04:51 PM

Love the build man!

I need to come out and see it.

MUCHADO

2011-07-19, 10:50 PM

Thanks Bryan! Man it's been too long.. Last time we hung was quads/fishing at your family's place. Gotta kick it some time.

Took the bike for a spin tonight---Feels great with the apes and forward controls. I rigged a few things to get it rollin' down the road so I'll have to work out the bailing wire, bungee cords and zip ties lol. BUT hey it works! Hard tail doesnt ride as rough as I imagined. We are taking a trip to the Niangua River a week from Friday on our bikes so I gotta work the buts out by then.

Here's a pic of it at Stilwell Station.

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/62ac21ad.jpg

Bike will get painted this winter..

SupermanChevelle

2011-07-19, 10:55 PM

Sooo badass

MUCHADO

2011-07-31, 07:10 PM

Took a quick clip of my brother taking my bike for a quick spin..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TORSYlMQDgQ

I just got my permanent magnet alternator kit in--ditches the crappy factory charging system... Was having trouble with a parasitic drain. Looking forward to getting it back together for Friday night a few friends and I are gonna ride up to Grinders.. Which is a pretty good haul from where I live 199th/69 hwy..

ZimStang

2011-08-01, 12:55 PM

Looks sweet man. Hope you like filling stations! That tank wont get ya too far hahah

grunt2001

2011-08-01, 03:01 PM

VERY,VERYnice build brother

Bustin Dailey

2011-10-25, 03:27 PM

Very cool build, sir! I'd like to do something similar over the winter... hmmm.

2012-02-24, 09:49 AM

Ready for Daytona?

MUCHADO

2012-02-26, 10:08 PM

Wow this thread is way out of date! I've since ditched the apes for drag bars.. replaced cables this week. Need to re-do my rear brake lever and some other minor detail stuff. As Erik eluded to, I'm bringing the bike to Daytona bike week for a few days with another friend that's got a XS650 bobber also.

...oh and I finally got my Class M license---been riding on the street for 4 years now w/ an IP.. time to get legit lol..

I'll post some pics up--bike looks a lot different with drag bars, I like it.

YourWorstNightmare

2012-03-02, 12:06 AM

Robbo! That shit's legit.

I dig it.

:thumbsup:

acvw_insanity

2012-03-02, 09:25 AM

post up new pics you must!

(yoda speak... since you have yoda in your garage...seewutididthere)

MUCHADO

2012-03-04, 07:31 PM

did a quick gopro video Saturday... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7voVL-6Qy0

Bike has a bit more surface rust on it now, tank and pipes are covered. I'm being pretty indecisive on paint color/design for the tank and fender... Pipes will probably just get painted a hi-temp flat black.

Ordered new rear brake linkage, hardware and the drum housing.. Had an indicident with that last summer and been riding no rear brake since. Kinda sketch but eh ohwell I'll get it fixed next week.

Also ordered a mini speedo and bar-end mirrors. It's driving me nuts not having a speedometer and current mirror sucks...

MUCHADO

2012-03-04, 08:53 PM

Here's some pics with the drag bars... I feel like I have so much more control than with the apes. Took the pics with my phone so they are kinda washed out..

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/d17b0cc3.jpg

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/2acb262c.jpg

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/89af59c4.jpg

random plug---- @robdubroc on instagram
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/432ef783.jpg

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/a59add01.jpg

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/f7134d94.jpg

http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae123/duner450/2270118e.jpg