My name is Larry Kitchens, I’m a steel fabricator at Howser Steel Inc. in Portland OR. Being a fabricator and motorcycle enthusiast, Ive been repairing, fabricating/customizing parts for myself and friends as well as riding motorcycles most of my life. So I decided to build one of my own, searching Craig’s List I was able to obtain a truck load of 1980 XS650 parts for $500, and here is what I came up with…
After cutting and sanding off all the unnecessary frame parts, I re-gusseted the head and welded on a TC Bros hard tail, I welded a new channel in to the after market tank lowering it 2 1/2″ to create a smoother line, also shaped the fender out of a aftermarket fender blank. The drag solo seat I suspended with a Fox Vanilla rear Mt. bike shock (Plush)…
Parts I fabricated, drag bars out of 1 1/8″ tubing with 7/8″ inserts at ends to accept throttle and levers, upper fork covers, fake oil tank/electrical box, battery box and cover, axle stays, foot controls, tail light/license plate mount, exhaust, kick start peddle…
All stock parts are new or rebuilt and resealed, the frame, forks, wheels and accessories have been sand blasted and powder coated. The Machine work was done by David Bright, the tank and fender was painted by Jim Skinner and pin stripping was done by Mitch Kim…
Thanks – Larry Kitchens
