Ben – My new build is centered around 23″ rims. This was inspired by the ‘Board tracker update‘ post on this site. I loved the look of two 23″ rims and a leafer front fork. So I started the search for rims and began gathering little bits and pieces for my build. I started the bike in November of 2012 and finished it in late June of 2013. Not bad for being broke and a full time student. My wife bought me a David Bird looped hard tail for a Christmas present, so I ordered it 3″ drop and 6″ stretch. I’ve always been a fan of the Fong Brother’s frames where they keep the swing arm bracing on the stock frame. So I worked that into the frame mods as well.
Other mods where using a backbone from another frame to make a single down tube in front of the engine and a goose neck look. I stretched the top tube 4″ and gave it an inch of extra height as well. Other features of this build is the leaf spring on the seat support. It gives the seat a very clean look IMO. The seat its self is hand hammered from a cut out steel blank.
I left the top in bare metal because I liked the dimpled pan after all the hammering. The tank is cut down from a Yamaha XV920. I wanted it to look super low slung. The exhaust was made entirely from stuff I had laying around the yard, hence the header wrap. It covers up all the bad chrome. 🙂 I added a fishtail to the end because it needed something to finish off the end.
The rear fender is two rear sub fender off of stock XS650s. They were trimmed a bit and welded end to end, then sectioned lengthwise down the middle and welded back together. I made the front fork myself, cut everything out with a 4″ angle grinder and cutoff wheels. Lots of grinding and smoothing followed. I’m pretty happy with the results. Not to bad for no jigs. The bike rides great and runs true as can be. Feels real tight in turns.
The engine was torn down for a total reseal. While I was in there, I pressed the crank apart and did a 277 degree rephrase. and had the cam cut and rephrased by a gentleman in Spokane Washington. I’m having some ongoing issues with my single carb set up. Don’t know if it’s the weather day to day, or some gunk in my gas tank. But I get a different little problem it seems every time I go for a ride. Then today, I noticed a fuel bubble forming on the side of my tank. So I will be doing something with that soon.
I’m very happy with the out come and the bike gets plenty of attention at the few biker spots I’ve been to so far.
