Ideas for chassis mod

I LOVE those old WW2 looking bikes... in fact, I'm thinking seriously on modify my XJ 750 Seca to looks like one of those IMZ-Ural bikes... but I don't know how to weld... and my budget is really low... so... one part at the time... I upload a Photoshop mockup... do you think this could work?!

 

Hold on to your dream. Take a welding class. Save up to get yourself a Ural, Chang Jiang or a Dnepr. Please don't hack a good bike. If you really want to modify a bike from the 80's to look like one from the 30's get yourself a Suzuki.

 

Well, this certainly would be cooler than yet another bobber...

 

Design wise, there are important lines which feature in the Ural but not your mockup.
From the headlight, through the tank and down to the top of the shock is one continuous line which complements the other long continuous line along the bottom of the machine.
Just like how Cafe racers like to have a long horizontal along the bottom of the tank all the way under the seat and ending in the pointy bit at the end, these lines must be preserved for the design to work.

To get these lines on your bike you'll need to extend the frame a lot (which would prolly benefit from a less steep rake/trail, get a smaller tank, run a new exhaust with long mufflers etc.
It's a serious uphill battle, especially for a new welder who would have to make his own jig.. Surely there are other bikes with better bones for this kind of thing.
also, our engines are soo chunky. There is a lot standing in the way of this dream.
having said that, if you do get a new bike and start this project (mebbe bmw?) I'd love to see you succeed.

 

You wouldn't re-use the ally peg-bracket, but I know it was in your picture, so you left it.

Make a natural copper oil tank to house the battery and air filters, and excess electrical components.

Make a clear window for the clutch cover !

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35 year old hydraulic brakes need all-new rubber parts. "