I bought a bone stock ’83 XS650 non runner about 8 years ago. It was always going to be a project bike. As long as it had decent compression and all the parts it was good enough for me.
I borrowed a migpack from a friend and tacked on a David Bird hardtail (+4, -2). Then I sat on the rolling chassis with a tape measure. I put the controls and bars where everything was fitted to me.
I do mechanical design for a living – I designed the forward controls and linkages and had a friend fabricate them in his machine shop. I also made the sissy bar, electrical fake oil bag and wired it from scratch. Sportster tank, top end rebuild, carb rebuild, tig welded frame, paint, best led lighting, micro switches, kick only with a Pamco.
Home made and wrapped pipes.
Done!
Submitted by Doug Johnson
