my 1981 xj650 true hardtail project

Looking really good...can you make me up one of those seats? I am a carpenter, and it would be pretty cool to have wood seat...let me know thanks

 

hey man.. it wouldn't be that hard to make one of those seats... if you're a carpenter, wouldn't it be easy for you to make one yourself... just figured you have the talent... and mounting it wouldn't be that hard either..

 

Great job on the trees, you should start a side line job. Looks like you could have a few orders if the price was right, I'm sure some people would buy them just to be able to change to different style handlebars and risers.

 

Very nice work, and very well done. I love the design.

MN

 

thanks guys!
cafe_bobber_82, i agree with barefoot, might be a hell of alot cheaper for you to make one and you could probably do a better job than me.
I got some hours into that seat, more than i'd care to admit lol.

 

Just curious as to what your plans are for the motor work I see in the pic.

Thanks,

 

that's a junk motor, i just pulled the heads and cyls off so it was easier to lift in and out of the bike while i was test fitting stuff. The good motor is sitting in the corner in one of the pics.

 

Looks alot better without the squares. Nice and clean

 

thanks!


btw, wait till you see what i made today! i think you guys will dig it. pics tomorrow hopefully.

 

doh!

 

so i got a little work done on my headlight housing. I am making it out of red oak to match the seat. It will have the speedometer built in, which is the flat section you see with the rectangular pockets. I'll be making a custom aluminum speedo face that will fit perfect there and will blend with the housing. It will use the stock mechanical speedo guts though.
I glued a bunch of oak together and let it dry in my 20 ton press, then cnc machined it all out. I still have to "antique" it and stain it to match the seat, but i think it'll look ok. I'll also be making an aluminum "beauty ring" or whatever you want to call it to retain the bulb in the housing. I'll also be making a bracket to mount it to the forks.

 

wow. Im really diggin it man, nice work.

 

I hate to pee on your parade but your headlight bucket is going to warp n split with the sun and moisture. And I hate to see all that good work go to waste. I would recommend using a straight grain wood to cut down the warppage, or use what you have as a mold and make it out of carbon fiber or fiberglass.

 

it'll be fine, i'm not keeping it outside or anything. There's no moisture either, i live in San Diego. My buddy that has a surfboard repair shop and we're going to put a layer of fiberglass on it. It'll be clear when it's done so you wont see the fabric.

 

Cool, with the humidity we have around here, I'd swear metal would warp.LOL

 

oh i hear ya, it's wet down there (that's what she said!)
I grew up in CT, it was pretty bad there too. It's nice now being able to open and close the doors in my house year round without them sticking lol.

 

update:
two halves glued together. needs some sanding, stain, glass, and epoxy. I'll be making a retainer ring out of aluminum for the bulb, as well as a new gage face and needle for the speedo. The face will blend in with the flat spot in the housing. i just threw the bulb and speedo in there so you can get an idea what it'll look like.

 

Nice headlight setup! Are you going to stain it the same as the seat?

 

thanks!
Yep, it's already stained to match, no pics of that yet. I have to buy the epoxy and fiberglass for it still, i'll probably take pictures when it's completed since i'm starting to feel like a picture whore lol

 

Really nice, what are you going to use to seal the wood? Thompson's or something else?