New bobber project from 82 xj650r

Gt this as a trade for some parts I had sitting around. Started working on it but need some opinions and advice wabout what to do with it. It has been fun for the last month to clean some stuff up and redo all of the wiring... Just found a pair of forward controls and will be installing thopnse next weekend but I need some ideas. Biggest problem for the moment is the tank. The petcock is in the middle of the bottom and the filler is set a little back so I only get about 1 1/2 gallons of usable fuel.

 

I put my petcock lower left hand side. maybe something you could do also so you'll have more usable tank.

I would post a pic but don't want to Jack your Build thread

btw Nice job!

 

Like the bars. Interesting way to mount a head light. Harley style tanks just don't look good sitting on top of the backbone. The problem is the triple backbone, either mod the backbone or get a bigger tank and widen the bottom of it to fit. Maybe a Porkster tank or a V-Star tank( it will fit and looks like a Harley tank).

 

Please post the pics. The more help I can get the better. I'm just starting it.

 

I'll get some better pictures of this but this gives you the idea.
you can see the Bung and petcock on the bottom left. Orange-n-Black is right though these Sporty tanks get lost on these kind of builds. I'm going to either A: Cut the tunnel out and widen it 3 inch's or B: get a larger Tank.

 

A little more done. Ive got a lot of electrical clean up to do and some fixes on the frame to do as well.

 

Also got a start on the forward controls but gotta get the ball joints to finish.

 

More work done. I amin the process of working on this tank.

 

Looking good So far. I like it.

 

A little more

 

Lookin great man! I'm glad to see that headlight back up front where it should be!

 

Good job on the fender bracket.

 

Lookin' real NICE!!!

skillet
btw sure glad you moved the headlight...

 

I put in a new headlight hi/low beam switch. can u find it?

 

Man, that tank looks way better than the peanut tank. It looked a bit to much... just placed on top. The one you have now holds the bike together more.

 

Thanks. 100% agree. Now I need some drag bars and a better seat. What are people thoughts on whitewalls? I keep debating but dont think the rims will work with them.

 

I think whitewalls would work fine if you paint the rims black. Would create a much better contrast with black-white-black than black-white-gray.

 

pm'd you...

dave fox

 

Nice job! Personally, I would lower the headlight an inch or so (but thats just how I would do it).

Question: Did you take the engine out when you painted the frame, or did you just mask it? how much prep work did you do before painting?

 

Just masked it. No real prep. I still have some frame work I wanna do so I didnt want to dedicate too much time to it yet.

 

Man, I love what you've done with it. The curves from the tank, through the seat and rear fender is simply beautiful!

 

yeah man, great changes! bike looks much more pulled together and smoothed out- more along the lines of a well thought out plan and a finished product. great job! how does that seat feel on the road? im building a springer seat and wondered how thin a seat one could use, without getn a sore rear. did u use stock foam or high desity? thanx for sharing

 

On the neighborhood streets it seems fine. Too cold for a true test around here. I'll know quickly when I get it out of my families garage since I live on a cobblestone street. Thanks for the compliments guys. I'm in the process of building a custom seat that is generally the same shape as the one I have now but with a slightly longer back for more butt support. I figure then I'll be able to add an inch longer seat spring and it wont change the lines. That should improve the ride considerably. For now the seat cushion is actually three layers of yoga mat cut to shape and its quite soft.

 

New Sharpie job on the tank

 

Look's great.

 

I like this one. Simple, clean and neat....sweeeet. Very rideable.

Gary

 

Really like the rear fender brace and the paint.
I may have missed it earlier, but what is the bottle on the side for?

 

What's with the camping bottles hose clamped to the frame? I've seen those as radiator catch cans, but ... ? And one on each side?

 

Spare gas since i dont have a gauge. Both sides. Silly but I kinda like them.

 

I thought about doing the same, but thought that that type of plastic cap would get destroyed by the gas. Have you noticed any deterioration yet and how long have you been using them?

 

nice work, i really like the maxim tank and flat bars over the silly looking apes and peanut tank.

nice and sleek looking.

and am i blind or where is the battery?

nice job again!

 

love what you have done. I have an 83 xj 650 and i wanting to know how did you go about moving the forward controls and the rear break pedal forward. Are the off the shelf items / linkages etc etc. And do they bolt onto existing brackets / mounts.
cheers

 

I has similar cans for a coleman stove that I had for many many years and never had a problem with the caps. The stove ran off of unleaded fuel. Maybe it'll help you find what you are looking for.

 

I've thought about doing that too with 1 or 2 of these:

http://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/p2688/buy ... ve-bottle/

almost looks like the exact same bottle with some decals on it.

PS - love the bike man! Bravo!

 

Thanks Ted & Trailsnail.

 

No problem with the bottles. And the forward controls are from http://www.tcbroschoppers.com/index.php ... l-kit.html with a universal linkage kit.

 

Oh. The battery is down above the swing arm. A temp mount that I will fix later with a battery box.

 

I got mine from 5 below for $4 and used goo gone to remove the silk screened logo on them so they were plain.

 

Sharpie job but looks good. A clearcoat pulled it together.

 

The choke

 

The throttle. I finally got rid of the stock stuff. Now for new grips.

 

NICE! Where you get the little gizmo (technical term LOL) for the choke?

skillet

 

From http://lowbrowcustoms.com

 

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