Nice build JRK. I've been reading this for a while now and just finished. I hope the final reassembly goes well ! I want to see this bike done !

It will probably motivate me to get back on my own pile of parts : I have a 1977 XS500 in my barn with the frame prepped and painted, lots of parts cleaned etc. but I'm delaying the engine part because I'm a bit afraid I'll mess it up (first project bike). Funny though how we seem to have taken the same direction on a lot of parts in the build. I guess it's just the way the bike talks to us : it tells you what needs to be done.

 

Very true man! PM me i can direct you to a site that will be able to help you out wiht any thing you need to do. i can help you wiht the motor man! get that sucker moving!

i looked at those brackets again today with them being done the same color as the frame, the rear sets will just blend in, they will not stand out and draw your eye to one part, will be very ascetically pleasing. I am stoked to get them on... will lay the powder on the remaining parts for them when i get home and slap them on!

 

hell ya! i jsut got a call from my buddy that was moving stuff in his storage building and he found a HYDROLIC pipe bender with all the attachments back there! they are moving it to his shop for me today... YES! now i will be able to bend all my own pipe... looks like a custom exhaust is going to happen on this sucker!
it is for thick pipe though but i bet if i freeze water inside or fill the exuast tubing with sand i could get some clean bends... what do you think?

 

Sand is the way to go and it should be packed in as tight as possible.

 

hell ya Roger thanks man!

 

reminds me of the ole 67 super hawk I had.

 

ok... got a few hours of sleep, ready to roll! here is what i did last night... I was able to get the rear sets assembled... they are officaly on the bike, (the nuts need to be replaced and i am having trouble finding the metric 10x1 nuts) but they look KILLER!!!!!
I was able to powder the brackets for the rear turns as well, polished the bolts those are on, i also used a translucent gold and "watered it down" a bit with some clear in hopes that it would get more of a dull brass look... WORKED, well close enough workd... so i did the kicker and the air scoop in that... coming along, maked a bunch off the list... as you can see the bike is going to be called "No Regrets" named after a buddy that passed away this year... I am going to script this on the rear cowl









turn sig brackets

 

Ahhhh............the old Ace Hardware bag on the floor............My favorite motorcycle parts store!

Dude !!! I love that cycle so far................when are you gonna take that badboy out for a ride?
It's comming along great and from the looks of it it won't be much longer

 

i hope soon! $$$ is real tight with the wedding so i just picked up a gig doing a basement remodel, i hope that i can do that on the weekends and this durrring the week. be nice to get it rolling by the end of the month!

 

looks great still!