Comments on: Finally done (for now)

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 01:11:59 +0000

I’ve seen every bike on this website and this is my favorite, do you have any pics of the process of this build? Where did you get the rims and tires and what size are they? Also, where did you end up buying the hardtail from and headlight? Last question, where did you get the rear fendor and gas tank from? I just purchased a 78 650 special and want to make a bobber out of it, I’d like mine to be similar, do you care if there is a 3G? Just kidding I have some other ideas but this is a good model. Thanks for posting.

By: craig

craig — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:13:23 +0000

Is this bike for sale? Nice work..let me know..

By: Christian

Christian — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:36:09 +0000

Rj… Thanks for the comment. The bike does actually have a front disc brake, its just that I was getting annoyed trying to put the front wheel on there with the disk on so I took it off real quick just so I could put it together. These pics were from the first day I put it together and I was so excited to hurry up and take pics of it, but ya I tried not running with the front brake before I painted it and it sucked ass, especially when ur riding in country roads with people who do have a front brake.

By: RJ from the ole school

RJ from the ole school — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 02:09:03 +0000

I like everything about this bike,,,,its got that nasty look with blacked out motor and wheels,,,,bad ass profile,,,,,but that solo drum brake makes the hair stand up on back of my neck,,,,at least carry an boat anchor,,,parachute,,,or some quick set glue,,,,SOMETHING,,,,ANYTHING,,,,, to keep you from slidin up under a truck,,,,I’ve heard that 90% of your stop comes from the front ,,,,so you are depending on only 10% to keep from becoming a car tag ornament,,,,,,hey bro,,,dont trade off your safety for a cleaner look ,,,we want to keep 650 builders around a long time,,,,nice ride,,,RJ

By: craig

craig — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:24:49 +0000

Is this for sale? Nice pic 717 634-1235

By: El Gaucho

El Gaucho — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:23:01 +0000

Never saw speedmasters with that tread pattern before. I love ’em.

By: Christian

Christian — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:19:42 +0000

Wally: The mufflers are a pair of shorty mufflers I found on ebay. Just go on ebay and search “shorty mufflers” You can usually find a pair for around 40bucks.

By: gatecrasher93

gatecrasher93 — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 22:27:58 +0000

absolutly love it!
can you post a full list of parts you used?

By: wally

wally — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:38:16 +0000

great looking bike!

what mufflers are they? i see the kit is just the pipes.

thanks!

By: justan

justan — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:45:41 +0000

All I can say is nice job. Like it all.

By: Christian

Christian — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:57:09 +0000

Scott: The damn powdercoaters here in Fresno, Ca were giving me expensive quotes so I rattle canned the whole damn thing, including the rims. The paint has been holding up well so far, (though I’ve only put about 900 miles on it) I can’t even think of selling it, its the first bike i’ve ever built and i’m really in love with it.

By: scott halbleib

scott halbleib — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:05:15 +0000

that’s actually pretty cheap I think Christian! well done! i usually spend almost 2k getting rim/tires/powdercoating and lacing. Did you do your wheel yourself? Sprayed or powdercoated? The bike looks great! do you plan to sell it and build another one, or just ride it?

By: Christian

Christian — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:57:54 +0000

Kevin: I’d say i spent right around $2000. The most expensive things were the hardtail and converting to a permanent magnet alternator. I’m actually surprised how much I spent, but screw it well worth it.

By: Kevin Bass

Kevin Bass — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:27:42 +0000

If you dont mind me asking, about how much do you have in this build. Im in love bro!! Super clean, and simple.

By: christian

christian — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:16 +0000

Sam: The clip ons were made from a set of 35mm clip ons that i stumbled upon for15bucks. They were really ugly so I cut off the handle bar from the clip ons and what I was left with was just the clamp. I put the clamp on the bike and then cut my stock handlebars(yes those huge schwinn looking ones) and welded straight on to the clamp. I guess I could have done it without putting it on the bike, but it helped with the mock up.
Here is a link to a picture of handlebars you can find at pretty much any salvage yard for motorcycles. I literally saw tons of these laying around, you just have to get lucky and find em in 35mm.
http://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=883

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:49:27 +0000

Christian
I would also like to make a set of clamp on bars for my bike. Any feed back you can give me on type of clamp you used and where I could purchase a set.
Thanks Sam

By: elrico

elrico — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:51:46 +0000

perfekt lines, good job.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:43:06 +0000

C – thanks for the response. Money is definately a factor for that exhaust kit, but it’s important to get yer $$$’s worth, too!! your personal experience/opinion means more than the product advert, especially because this kit is designed as a ‘fits most custom applications’. It would be awful hard, for example, to realize that the tabs were short just from looking at pics. On another note, Anyone here ever try copper drain pipe for headers? I am wondering if the joints would hold up.

By: christian

christian — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 02:04:06 +0000

Christopher- I rode around with rear only for about 2 months. Its not too bad as long as u remember to give yourself time for braking, but when I would go on rides with my buddy it was annoying because he would keep ditching me through all the stop signs since I can’t stop as fast as him. Also my rear tire locked up on me a few times when I braked last minute

By: christian

christian — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:12:20 +0000

Dennis- this exhaust was my first attempt at one ever and the only reason why I even tried it was because it was only 100bucks. The only issue I had at first was that my mig welder was set too high so I had a few times that I had some burn through, but that problem was fixed when I adjusted my welder. The tabs were easy to weld the only problem was that they were barely long enough for my application. No real complains though. I’d highly recommend this kit for all you who are like me with minimal to intermediate welding skills. The exhaust wrap was purchased on eBay, used primarily because I was too lazy to clean my welds on the exhaust

By: Dennis

Dennis — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:14:50 +0000

Christian – actually, I *like* turn signals. and fenders. and bags and speedos etc etc. I’m not in the ‘minimalist’ camp, altho I can appreciate the concept. You have put together a fine rendition of ‘less is more’…. if thats what you were going for. In any case, turn signals provide a function that *might* keep me from being run over some day, and besides, it’s aNOTHER component you can paint or customize to add to the appearance. In any case, my bikes as a rule are kinda junked up with dewdads. but hey… thats just me. now…. what did you think of the pandemonium exhaust kit? was it easy to work with? thanks man.

By: fanoboss

fanoboss — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:03:15 +0000

@ Christopher, in regard to your question ” …How do you find riding the bike with only a rear drum brake…I want to do the same with my bike but not sure? And help from any buddy would be great?? ” . If you are new to riding or have never done mods before, KEEP THE BRAKES. Its safe and keeps the value of your bike. Also learn how to replace the brake shoes and pads. Its pretty simple. If you have a phone that can take pics, take pics before removing anything and then every step after that. That way if you forget what goes where you will have a picture to reference where parts go and what it should look like. Good Luck, fanoboss

By: Blacksmithbilly

Blacksmithbilly — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 03:39:21 +0000

I dig the motorcycle, all goes together well the way I see it.

On a side note :I personally have build trouble with flow, lines and distractors….

By: mick

mick — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:15:47 +0000

I like the bike but I agree with fanoboss. The lines on the tank should angle down.

By: fanoboss

fanoboss — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:03:24 +0000

Very Clean lines and I even dig the clip-ons! Pipes look awesome, great job on the fender too. I don’t like the lines on the tank only because they distract from the bikes strong lines and they don’t seem to be part of the bikes overall design. I agree with Dennis, what are those tabs ? LOL

By: Nemsis

Nemsis — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:37:04 +0000

Nice build, I guess you have to go down to Elswick Cycles to get anything. I ordered a hardtail in Febuary and all I got was excuses.

By: Christian

Christian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:42:41 +0000

Oops it looks like I commented twice, my internet cuts out on me all the time and I couldn’t see if my first comment was sent or not

By: Christian

Christian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:39:50 +0000

Thanks all for your compliments. The tires are both Avon speedmasters, the front tire is supposed to be a sidecar tire. The rear is a 4.00×18 (xs rim), front is a 4.00×19 (rim i stole from my brothers gs550).
@ Andy – Robert Elswick made my hardtail. I just told him that i wanted it stretched two inches and that I wanted it low. I don’t know how much was dropped, but it stands about 5 inches off the floor right now with my fat tires and I dropped the front 3 inches.
@ cameron – I do not have a build log for it, but I have some random pics of it when it was in different stages on my chopcult profile (speakerboxxer02). The rear fender struts I made using lowbrow’s fender strut kit, here is link to instructions on mounting fenders this way http://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/index.php?l=page_view&p=tech_how_to_mount_motorcycle_fender_part_2 be sure to check out both parts of the tech tip. Part1 and Part 2
@ Dennis – the tabs on the frame are to for my flush mount turn signals. I know your thinking that I shouldn’t have turn signals on this bike, but honestly you cant even tell there on there when they’re mounted. I shoulda probably put pics up when it they were on, but I was too excited haha.

By: shad

shad — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:06:52 +0000

what tires are those and what size are your wheels

By: Dennis

Dennis — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:52:24 +0000

nice looking hardtail. I agree with posts above. What did you think of the Pandemonium kit, easy to work with? Also, whats the tab on the frame by the rear wheel? (only thing I can see to pick at)

By: Leebow

Leebow — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:44:19 +0000

Smokin bike, don’t really know what else to say.

By: Cameron

Cameron — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:31:35 +0000

Very sweet looking bike. Clean and simple.
I would like to see some closeups of the mid-mounts you made, the handlebars and the rear fender setup.
It all looks awesome together.
Do you have a build log?

By: scott halbleib

scott halbleib — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:08:35 +0000

def one of my favorite hardtails on here. nice form, clean, good colors, not overdone w/ details, and i’m a fan of big tires and black wheels. nice work!

By: Piute

Piute — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:39:11 +0000

Very nice,
can-bomb paint never looked so good,(except on mine),What tires Did U use ,the Kenda’s cross tires I used didn’t look this good.

By: Marco

Marco — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:26:45 +0000

Dude, seriously nice build! Very slick look man. Love to know where you got the tires from as well!

By: Barney

Barney — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:04:11 +0000

Nice looking bike. Classic.

By: tucker

tucker — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:51:20 +0000

very nice,clean and not junked up! It’s awesome to see that some of us are keeping it old school and taking on the paint projects ourselves. This is usually the point when most weekend builders send there tins out. great job!

By: 650Sears

650Sears — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:35:18 +0000

You can be proud, It looks great, rattle can paint and all !!

By: Christopher

Christopher — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:18:51 +0000

Great build…How do you find riding the bike with only a rear drum brake…I want to do the same with my bike but not sure? And help from any buddy would be great??

By: ewan

ewan — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:59:47 +0000

Really good looking, like the raw steel feel of the paint!

By: davethewrench

davethewrench — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:25:05 +0000

Really Nice, Great Build…Keeping the XS alive !!

By: mike lytle

mike lytle — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:10:09 +0000

very nice clean build!! interesting mounts for the rear fender struts

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 07:20:38 +0000

wow great work, how much did you drop the front?
So its a 2 inch stretch any drop as well?
What’s your wheel/tires combo?
I’m sure you can tell I’m quite envious and want to build mine something like this congratulations.