Hi gang! I’m a long time rider with a few other bikes that I have always somewhat personalized but never built with all the garage made goodies. Purchased my first XS (’78 Special) in non-running condition last summer then snapped my Achilles tendon and had surgery…”twice” as I was too stubborn to follow doctors orders!
Needless to say it sat in the garage for 6 months while I was on the soul sucker (couch) recovering with ideas trampling through my head on the build. Doc finally gave the ok to walk and the fun began..!!! I ordered the hardtail from Elswick cycles. Took about 10 minutes to admire the level of quality of Roberts work, and then got right to welding that thing on. Things I fabricated from scratch…
Handlebars, Dummy oil tank for electrical, Mid-controls and linkage, and then all the misc mounting perches, plates, brackets, caliper strut w/heim joints (stole idea for Ardcore), Battery box with belt and Famous Stars & Straps buckle, etc. Drew up a maltese cross stencil for the tank on some poster paper and rattle canned it and cleared it.
I am actually pumped with the finally product and look of the bike as it was exactly what I had trapped in my head…In fact, my girlfriend rides and is so pumped after seeing and riding mine that we already picked up another XS to start building for her!
This site is wicked BTW!
Joe Blackfelner
