And so it begins!

Gmaan · Posted: October 7, 2007, 11:41 pm Post subject: And so it begins!

here are some pics of a 75 I picked up to restore. I started tearing down today, and what a rust bucket! I will post pics as I go along. Next weekend, I am bringing it to a shop to have the frame checked for straigness, ect. the off comes the wheels, for power coat and relace. While they are being worked on I will send the frame out for powder coating along with all the other stuff. As I said I will post more pics.

Gmaan · Posted: October 7, 2007, 11:42 pm Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

a few more

xs1961 · Posted: October 8, 2007, 4:17 am Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

Lucky bugger...We dont find 'em like that over here anymore -even if you could it would cost you £1000 ($2000) Rolling Eyes

DaveB · Full Member Joined: Sep 30, 2007 Posts: 64

nice!! Looks very similar to the one I just picked up this weekend, although mine is a '77. My first bike ever... looks like we'll be doing some parallel cafe development Smile

Gmaan · Posted: October 9, 2007, 12:38 am Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

We will all have to keep in touch and post more pics. I am still mushing around with the Café style I want, but it will form as I go along. This bike sat in a guys yard since 1989. I had to cut branches out of it to move it away from the bushes. The front wheel has branches grown around it! I picked up a 1975 Suzuki Gt750 at the same time.
Lots of work to do, but I am hoping to get it completed by next April.

DaveB · Full Member Joined: Sep 30, 2007 Posts: 64

Definitely keep me in the loop on local resources... I'm down in Oakland, so it'd be good to know whose services you used and who you're satisfied with!

BTW, here's my new acquisition:

Gmaan · Posted: October 14, 2007, 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

K Nice, s*** it is barley broken in. I just had the frame, swing-arm, battery box sandblasted. I put some of that Eastwood rust encapsulate on today. It is kind of rough, I did not expect this, so I will have to do quite a bit of sanding before primer and paint. I am going to bead blast the wheel hubs and polish them this week. Hopefully I will be able to send them out for re-lace and true in a few weeks. I will post pics when I get a "Rolling Chassis"
Before any ask about power coating! I do not like powercoating on frame parts, paint looks (to me) more authentic. Personal preference I know, But it is the way I like it.

Gmaan · Posted: October 14, 2007, 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

That was 7K

DaveB · Full Member Joined: Sep 30, 2007 Posts: 64

yeah, this thing was a bit of a find! My first big bike, after riding sub-200cc stuff for ages. It's got some surface rust, but nothing too dramatic. I'll probably ride it for a while first, working out any little bugs, before tearing into it.

I've used Eastwood's Rust Encapsulator before, but not on anything that required a presentable finished coat. I believe you can dilute it a bit to make it flow better tho.

pumps · Posted: October 15, 2007, 12:06 am Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

DaveB it looks familiar..sort of

Gmaan · Posted: December 13, 2007, 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

Here are some pics of the bike torn down, pretty crustie. I will post the finished frame, hubs, and wheels in a few days.

pumps · Posted: December 13, 2007, 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

On mine the grip loop? on the left rear of the frame behind the upper shock mount is broken off. I've been thinking of the best and easiest way to fab one .Some straight rod and thread it then use some nuts to attach it on the inside and outside possibly. If I were to get a piece welded on I would have to take it somewhere.

DaveB · Full Member Joined: Sep 30, 2007 Posts: 64

that's some nice vine work around that hub!! Smile

Looks like you're ready to do some blasting and coating. Definitely let me know where you go, since you're local... I'll get some updated pics of mine up in the near future as well... not a whole lot done yet, just swapped bars and turnsignals.

Gmaan · Posted: December 14, 2007, 2:13 am Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

Like the vines huh? They were snaking thru the frame too.

Sand blasting by American Canyon Stripping, real nice guy and he works Saturdays.
I had the powder coating done by EP Plating in Hayward. So far the work they did is real good, I will let you know how it last. I pre-bead blasted the hubs prior to powder coat. I was originaly going to polish the hubs, but the corrosion was so bad and the metal was pitted heavy, so powder coat it is.
I Re-plated all the bolts and nuts my self. I baught a Zink plating kit from Eastwood company, and it works real good. I do it in the kitchen sink.
I am droping off the rims and hubs to a guy in Hayward for lacing. I was going to try it my self, but I decided to let a pro do it. Besides it is $50.00/wheel to have them laced and trued. I am hoping to get the forks polished and reassembled this weekend. Finish the Swingarm, and have a rolling chasis buy next weekend.

Pics to come

Gmaan · Posted: December 14, 2007, 2:15 am Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

Oh by the way you mentioned Local, where are you in CA.

DaveB · Full Member Joined: Sep 30, 2007 Posts: 64

excellent, I'm in Oakland, so having some local referrals for services is a good thing! I'm hoping to powdercoat the hubs and rims black at some point, perhaps this winter...

Gmaan · Posted: December 14, 2007, 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

Well When I get the wheels built I will post pics. Here is the contact information on the guy who is going to lace and true them for me:

Wheel Works (Motorcycle Wheel Service – named before the tire chain store was born)
Location:
1957 W Winton Ave
Hayward, CA

Hours:
Wednesday – Friday 2pm – 6:30 pm
Saturday 10:30am – 5:30pm

ondays on occasions – try calling first., 510-785-4396

Gmaan · Posted: December 14, 2007, 1:24 pm Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

Oh I forgot, the guy seems real knowledgeable on XS stuff, call him before you get your stuff powder-coated, he will tell you what to inspect. I didn't, but wish I did.

pumps · Posted: December 14, 2007, 10:57 pm Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

Just as a comparison for when I have my wheels done what is the going rate for re-lacing and truing? I was thinking of trying it myself but if it is cheap enough I won't. The $50 is not including the spokes right?

Gmaan · Posted: December 15, 2007, 1:04 am Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

Opps, yes the $50.00 is not including the spokes. I will let you know how much they are. I want stailess steel spokes. It will look good, black and stainless steel.
ikesxs is a good supply for brake shoes, and other stuff.

Gmaan · Posted: December 16, 2007, 4:02 am Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

I dropped off my rims and hubs today. I must say the guy in interesting.
Older guy, with a shop packed with old bike stuff. He had a 350 ducati café racer in front of the shop. A BSA inside the front door, and several Triumphs, Norton's, and even a Matchless in the back. He makes his own spokes with some machinery that looks 100 years old. He had dozens of old 350 and 500 Ducati engine cases and tons of hubs, wheels, and junk all over.

But he knows his stuff.

xsleo · Posted: December 16, 2007, 7:04 am Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

gmaan gonna keep the front dual disc brakes. don't see many of the 75's that way. it will set it apart.

xsleo · Posted: December 16, 2007, 7:08 am Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

hey gmaan i see you have an H1 kawi. i had one when i was in the service, got rid of it after it tried to kill me twice. high speed wobble at about 140 mph. a fun bike, quick and fast. didn't handle too good. but would run away from most anything in a straight line.

Gmaan · Posted: December 16, 2007, 2:29 pm Post subject: Re: And so it begins!

Yes it is a 500cc Not running right now, needs work, but yes SCARY Fast
Espicaly when it hits the power band and takes off! I was comming around a turn one day, rolled on the gas and the bike came up while I was still leaned over, scared the hell out of me. I do love to come up to young kids on a newer bikes and smoke em at the start! They all look at the bike and have no idea what it is.

I am going to retain the dual front disk, but they will be from a 80 XS.
The original forks were too damages by corrosion, so I traded up to a 80 set. Bigger tubes more stiff. I am going to drill the disk at work.

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