***Brute Bobb Build***

The seat is wicked nice job just a couple quick questions, I'm still very new. Will I have to drill any holes or do any modifications to the bike or new handlebars when I swap handle bars. Also did you have to do any cutting on your rear fender ? Thanks for the help!

 

you shouldn't have to modify anything when you put on new bars as long as they are 7/8" (jap bike size). Now on the otherhand if you go with taller bars you might need longer cables.

The fender is stock just painted a different color

 

Impressive sir!! And well documented too - love it

 

Damn! My son's pretty darn talented!!!! Awesome work!!!!

 

^^^lol, i don't know if this is accurate. My fiance was inside baking while i was working on the brute. She starts getting angry and comes outside yelling "how come your house doesn't have a mixer?" I tell her, "calm down calm down. I can help you."

So, i gave her this.....Is that the talent you were speaking of dad? lol

 

Better get her some safety gear for when you give her the reciprocating saw to cut the Sunday roast.

 

Lol that's funny

 

lmao!!!! it works though! i bet you got the stink eye for that one!

 

Lookin awesome! Love the paint and seat.

 

once again i appreciate all the comments!

Heres a little update

did a bit more engine detailing with the case covers and polished the stator cover. (i have a few extra touches to finish but you get the idea.) also added some stainless bolts to off set the black

 

started a little assembly. (bars are just temporary, its easer to move around with bars on )

 

Shame winter is on it's way. I like the way that little fender follows the lines of the frame. Almost there!

 

1) yes i agree, its a shame winter is coming but that just gives me enough time to do all the fun electrical gizmos i plan on.....wink wink

2) finally someone sees how my fender was supposed to work...lol

 

Lookin' nice, really like the rear fender. Just the right length.

 

just out of curiosity, what is the cost of doing something like this? If someone could get a 81' 550 for $200, bob it and sell it, how much would you make on it?

 

just depends on time of year, type of buyer, and to be brutally honest....how good it looks.

Ive had buddies buy bikes for a few hundred, bob them over winter and make a grand. so its fun but i guess you could be profitable. You must also remember though that not a lot of people are into a bike thats 30 years old like we are. we are a different breed!

 

Thanks, I got my eye on a 550 that i was going to use for parts for my 650 but they are not compatible. I think i need to finish my current project first though. Maybe i should still pick up the bike. For $200 cant really go wrong.

 

Not all the parts are compatible but I guarantee u can make money parting that baby out. For example I'd like the airbox and maybe motor lol

 

Well, in that case i just might pick it up. what would you be willing to pay for those parts?

 

Well I didn't forget about you all. In the process of getting her back running again. Found out that a few wires don't totally match factory diagram

 

little update. came home today and did some digging through my dissassembly electrical pictures. i had a two wires with no homes and couldn't figure out where they went. sure enough with the help of this site, a semi-decent owners manual, and some creativity, i figured out that a few wires were backwards, GOING AGAINST what the factory manual says....urg. but o well.

the big news of the day.....SHE RUNS!!!!

 

the bike runs but not entirely. the bike is actually open air box (straight carb, to see if she runs) and mufflers removed. i'll probly add pods until i can get a cheap airbox. The stock one was cracked somehow, so.....if anyone has a connection to one let me know!!!

anyhoos, i shot a little starter fluid in the carb and she fired right up! man does she sound glorious!

 

Got bored and did a quick fuse box upgrade:

got a blade fuse holder with waterproof seal on ebay for super cheap.



old fuse block was in rough shape




cut open sheath to reveal wires for extra slack


keep wires together. i wrapped the left four and labeled "L" and also labeled their order with hash marks (I, II, III, and IIII)


and out came the old tube fuse box....ew


had some connectors lying around. make sure you have the small and large sizes. three of the wires are of larger wire.


cut and sheath the end enough to slide into new connector


voila. four new nicely clipped wires (the blue connector is the larger connector)


connected wires back together



One finished fuse block!!!

 

did a little bit more messing with the bike today. I added the stock airbox after a little chopping and a bit of epoxy to fix the hole

 

Installed the most important part today....my guardian bell. Remember you cant buy one for yourself, they have to be gifted to you to keep their "power" against pot hole gremlins and road demons.

mine was given to me from my cycle instructor quite a few years back. Its been good to me ever since



heres a quick video of right after i got her started. theres a little hanging idle issue in the video but its fixed now. i'll post another video tomorrow

 

Vans made a special edition Max Schaff shoe that came with little 4Q guardian bells. I'll have my girl get it for me for X-mas. =D

 

Still loving it, especially the way it sounds. I'm doing the same thing, getting my handle bars in tomorrow got my mirrors in the mail today. I need a seat and 4-1 headers and a muffler, how much were yours and where did you get em?

 

please specify what you are speaking of

exhaust- stock with mufflers removed
handle bars- stock but bent forward
mirrors- there are none
seat- custom made

 

started putting the front brake assembly back together. Im also a little torn on what to do about the bars. Idk if i like the stock setup just bent forward or if id like to buy some drags

 

Sorry should have clarified, I meant all that stuff haha. This might be yet another stupid question but did you rejet or plan to after removing your muffler?

 

i might in the near future but as of right now it runs fine. The plugs aren't white so i know its not running lean and going to burn up the motor. i might still rejet later with a stage 2 or 3 over winter

the only thing im in the process of right now is making butterfly baffles for the muffler tips. This will help with backpressure and give a little more resistance

 

Now that I would like to see Alysiak!

 

no problem. ive been taking pictures along the way. ill have a write up in a day or two about how its done!

 

Hey Alysiak. First off, fantastic job. I am working a lot of my bike modeled after your approaches. I had a question on what you did to paint your frame. Did you use the airplane remover on it first? Sand? or did you send it in to get blasted? Also, If you used the airplane remover on the frame, what did you use to remove the paint?

 

I had a hive in the exact same spot

 

i actually just scuffed it up and wiped it down with acetone to remove any oil. by scuffed up i mean some sand paper. i used 80 and then 220.

i didn't mind the minor grooves in the frame because i used a pretty thick paint. its the textured paint from autozone. its very thick and fills in pretty much everything while being extremely durable.

 

lol i thought the hive was startling at first but made for a good scare tactic with the girlfriend

 

Makes sense. Did you have any re-fitting problems due to the thicker paint application? Did you add a re-finish or prime to frame before you applied the dura-paint?

 

there wasn't any refitment issues at all. i primed the frame with reformer which blocks rust and acts as a primer.

 

Throwin' a woop woop yer way for a great build bruddah!

Once I get my float problem straightened out and she's riding good I'll be doing similar project over the winter

 

right on! keep us informed on the process...pics are always welcome. if i can help in any way let me know

its nice seeing older bikes being restored, revamped, and rejuvenated. (the three R's)

 

Anything new?

 

hows the build going, looking forward to seeing the progress

 

lol hello my distant friends.....the build is still going good but a little slow due to the fun ohio weather and the holidays. Ive gotten her atleast running but not perfect.

as of right now i'm gonna get a new battery and keep searching for a 550 airbox assembly thats not $200 lol.

Im also starting to re wire the starter button to a hide away spot on the frame rail.

Definitely pictures to come.....

 

Word...getting mine tuned up and ready for a winter build...wish I had a little extra cash I'd do what you did, but rake the neck out a few degrees.

 

that would be sweet. I had plans of doing that but between cash, age of bike, and bike stance; I decided to keep the stock size because it keeps that vintage bobber compact look

 

Yeah looks a lot like what all the Triumph bobbers look like these days on ChopCult.com

 

those bikes have always inspired me. I love working on this bike but i've had a few things come up.

-got engaged
-keep working on my new saltwater tank build
-needed truck fixed
-stupid odds and ends
-a think called "life" happened lol

 

okay so a little update. I FOUND A NEW AIRBOX!!!

you would never guess how hard it is to find a flippin airbox for these things. Apparently the xj550 is like one in a million and everyone wants $150 for an airbox.

I came across one on ebay that was up for 27min and i bout it. $23.99 with $11 shipping. Bingo

 

So some picture updates soon...

You had the most intense build thread EVER, then you stopped. Its like if George Lucas stopped production on Star Wars after Luke crashed into the swamp...