pod questions?..mikuni 33...?....81 maxim 650....85 700 engine swap ..wiring...chopped bobbed

Why do guys act so up righteous, and arrogant when someone tries to explain a problem, and offer advice to help them?
Why do guys intentionally destroy good quality parts/bikes just to show that they could care less!

The attitude starts with the comment "You don't like bobbers?"

If dull, unimaginative, and poor quality is a signature.
You really should listen to people once they walk away from looking at a rat bobber bike. It would surprise you how much what gets said changes. What a piece of crap is a common phrase!

So flat black paint to hide poor workmanship quality. Pods because a proper air filtration system can't be used. The intake system wasn't taken into consideration when the frame was modified. and hardtail frame because every body else has done it!
Every truly CUSTOM motorcycle I have ever seen has had one thing in common. They were all different!
Not some cookie cutter copy that everyone and their bother has already built.

The flat black rat bobber has been so over done, It has gone way past being boring to the sickening point of not another one now!
When was the last time you saw a good 70's style Old School Chopper build?

So be different!
Do something other than a hardtail frame.
I would truly like to see some one do a softtail type frame to hide the shocks (I want to steal the idea!).

Use something other than flat black for a color scheme.
There is only about 16 million known different colors. Ever notice how people are drawn to the bright shiny bikes?

Use a good sounding exhaust.
Not some obnoxious sounding garbage just to piss people off!

Do something other than what everyone else has already done to death!

~Ghost

 

Well i'm sorry that mine isn't flat black like you say everyones is MiGhost , and believe it or not i really do get alot of complements on my bike . No i didnt hardtail it so i guess its not a true bobber , but it's what i like and i don't believe i have ever acted arrogant or righteous with any of my comments on here . I really thought this forum was for guys that like the same bikes and to help each other out with issues that they have with their XJ'S , but i guess i'm wrong . I'd like to say i'm sorry if i offended you hardcore stock XJ guys but if you guys get offended that easily then maybe this isnt the forum for me .

 

One of the very few that isn't flat black. A refreshing change!
And the turn outs are a nice touch. And you kept the airbox. Good job!

No you didn't hard tail it, but it does appear that you didn't restore the structural cross bracing either. What was done to keep the shocks from pushing the ends of the frame in/out? That stamped tin fender will not have enough strength to provide the bracing needed. Even in stock form that rear leg of the triangle needs to have an X brace added.

Not sure what the chain is about. If that is your muffler hanger? You seriously need to do something about the length that is dragging on the ground. If that gets caught under the tire. It won't be pretty!

It also appears that the fuel tank is not attached properly as it is not seated on the frame correctly.

That's 3 quick issues from a very brief look at your pics. With those issues glaring at me I can't enjoy the finely etched side covers or hand embroidered seat.
That is what I look for. Problems that could potentially be dangerous!

Far to often we get a new member with absolutely no experience whatsoever with a motorcycle, No riding experience. No building experience. Nothing!

The first thing they want to do is hack off the back of the frame and build a bobber. Without even the first clue about how it is going to affected the integrity of the frame or what the changes are going to do to the handling. As I have said before. The factory frame is marginal to begin with and really could use some help. Once you start removing what little bracing/support the frame has it might as well be made of spaghetti!

They will look through the builds and study every detail and think these issues that never get fixed are normal and expected. Then Johnny Newbie goes out and starts building his bike following every poorly done detail. If he doesn't lose interest dropping the project midway and completes the build.

He now gets to learn how to ride on a bike that is going to have all kinds of weird things happening to it. He will lean into a turn expecting to go around a curve. The front end responds but the rear wants to keep going straight because it is flexing so much. In panic mode now because the bike is starting to walk out from under him he jerks the handle bars to correct it sending him and the bike uncontrollably to the end.

Did Johnny Newbie do something wrong? He built the bike just like everyone else so it must be right!
But he didn't have a clue that just shifting the weight from side to side would make the frame twist and throw off the handling of the bike.

I know it is not your style but take a look at the cafe builds sometime. They cut the back of the frame off also!
The big difference and one of the reasons they do not get ragged on is that they immediately weld a hoop on restoring the frame integrity.
Another thing that makes a difference is that cafe's are usually finished off in bright flashy colors. Even Granny Walker likes looking at bright shiny things!

Enough of the soapbox opera and my apologies to the OP for the hijack.
~Ghost

 

Thanks i guess. lol Unfortunately from the pictures i posted on here you cannot see the brace i ran across from one side of the frame to the other . It is also what im using to mount my seat springs too . My gas tank isn't bolted down yet because i'm still working on the bike and it's not road worthy yet . I just set it on there to get my pics to give me an idea of what it is going to look like . Yes i am a newbie at this as this is my first bike build and i really don't think i'm doing that bad of a job at it so far . The chain is an idea i'm playing with and not a for sure part of the bike yet and my rear fender is actually the orignal fender off the bike that i cut down and remounted . So its not done yet but getting close , it's ok if you don't like it , but i'm pretty happy with my progress so far for being my first bike . Thanks for your comments MiGhost.

 

It does not matter if I like it or not. It is not my bike.
Just a thought on the chain. If you could fasten it to the rear peg mounts then up to the shock mount into a loop behind the seat. That would give you a lot of strength back on the rear of the frame and look cool at the same time. It would be a lot of welding as each link would have to be welded.

Paint the rear fender and side covers the same color as the tank to tie it all together. and maybe think about filling in that small pie slice above the side cover with a piece of sheet metal to blend it into the seat pan. Just some simple thoughts you can think about.

The wiring for the tail light is causing a big distraction. The area is already busy enough with the light and plate. If you could find a way to hide the wiring it would help clean things up around there.

~Ghost

 

Check out the new shock mounts i made?

 

Assuming that you are going to attach the cross bar to the sissy/back rest at approximately the seat pan height it should give plenty support.
I still think the angle of the shocks will be a problem.

Are the eyes red LEDs for brake lights?

~Ghost

 

No they're just bullets but thats a good idea..hmmmmm..
i was just planning to relocate my current brakelight..
and yes i agree the shocks may be an issue..they may be 8 to 10 degrees in from stock from what i can tell without installing them ...but i have seen shocks that are made to handle a more severe angle ...aftermarket...$$$!
i have one adjustment left on these stock shocks to loosen them up ..
Ill keep yah updated thanks...
i think the bracing will be bulletproof
...thanks again

 

Your thoughts on ...
Best plugs and plug wire upgrade?

 

Putting the shock at more angle will make the spring rate lower and make it softer,better i think

 

I like either the dyna or cb750 coils with solid core wires and ngk plugs