“THE BRASS MONKEY”
- 25
Visual Impact Airbrush & Graphics XS 650 chop
Back in the beginning of the year my project started. I have restored cars and I do custom paint on cars and bikes but I never built a bike so this was definately a learning experience. The project started out gang busters like all good projects do. After about a week I had the bike stripped,cut apart and the new hardtail from G&L welded on. As the weeks went on, my time that I could put toward it was being taken up by other things and mainly by getting paint work out the door for my business. 
So I slowly started buying parts when I could and I kept a running tally of what I spent on the build, right down to the sandpaper I used to sand the bike with. I wanted to see what it would actually cost me to build a bike. That tally came to just a few dollars over 4,000 including the cost of the bike. The build ended up taking about 6 months in time. Although most of that was spent thinking about what it would look like and not actually getting to work on it.
The running theme of most guys projects. Anyway, here is my first bike and hopefully my first of many to come. It was a blast to build and I am very pleased with my end result. Some build info…….I started with a 1977 xs 650 standard, the hardtail is G & L of course(top notch stuff I must say), the tank is a wassell.
I welded in the sight guage bungs on it and I made a new tunnel so the tank would sit higher up on the frame. The sissy bar is hand made and so are the mid mounts. The seat pan is a blank from accufast. I welded on the perches and mounts and drilled around the perimeter to give it a cool look. The bars are clubmans. The rear fender is a 30s ford spare tire ring. I re radiused it to fit the wheel. The front headlight is off of a scooter. It houses the speedometer in it.
I spent quite a bit of time doing bodywork on it and changing it from a side mount to a bottom mount and converting everything from 6v. This piece is my favorite part of the bike. Somewhere in the middle of the build I almost bailed out of using it because I felt it was to large but Im glad I stuck with it and saw my complete vision to the end. The battery box is custom made using a tcbros box. I welded on bungs and put the all thread in and made the top battery hold. Finally the paint….
The frame and many of the smaller parts were painted to resemble a patina’d brass finish. The tins were done in a super fine silver to mimic a raw look. All the pinstripes were matched to the color of the brass. The end result is my bike I call “THE BRASS MONKEY”.
Thanks for checking it out. If you wanna see my build go to my web site.
Mike
Visual Impact Airbrush & Graphics www.VISUALIMPACT2.com
Very nice !!! I love the sight gage on the, awesome !!! I also like the color scheme and the bars. Very Very nice !!!
very nice build!!!! What kind of stretch is on that thing??
Killer scoot. Everything flows from front to back, top to bottom. All of that time spent thinking about what it would look like paid off in spades because you got it ALL right, brother.
That paint job is beautiful. Subdued and still showing some attitude. I agree about the headlight, really glad that you stuck with it. It looks great and the paint came out flawless. That one thin line of brass behind the brass-painted bezel, and the detailing around the speedo… perfect.
It’s feeling all old-school brit bike until you run up on that little sissy bar… then it reminds you that it’s a chop. My brain still hasn’t decided whether it accepts that or not… but damn I’m diggin’ this ride.
One of the best I’ve seen on here in a while…but dude, do you have a leak? lol
your the guy in PA with the kikker 5150 salt flat bike? either way thats a really nice bike.
very nice build!!!! What kind of stretch is on that thing??
4 inch G&L hardtail
One of the best I’ve seen on here in a while…but dude, do you have a leak? lol
hahahhaa, yeah one of my floats got stuck on its first ride out(to a show)
Thanks for the good words guys
your the guy in PA with the kikker 5150 salt flat bike? either way thats a really nice bike.
Yes sir I am
One of favorites I’ve seen on here in awhile. Just bad ass, and love the frame color.
Really tasty ride !!!!. Great that brass effect on the frame.
i love the speedometer in the light. looks cool.
Sweet Bike. Great guy.
Mike you did a bad a$$ job on that bike. Love it.
Sweet Mike..
Love this bike Fo-Sho!!!
well done vis…guys at knockseast.com are proud. This is not a plug for the site…well maybe. Congrats Mike
That bike is one Badass Monkey. Dig the theme and dig the bike.
Inspiring to see. Nice build Mike.
Sweet bike. Do you have any close ups of the Mids? I am looking for some ideas..
Thanks guys for the good words
P.J, email me I may have a pic or two of my mids to help you out. mmpp71@visualimpact2.com Mike
nice bike. really diggin the headlight.
nice bike. really diggin the headlight/speedo combo.
very well done!
I really dig your little bike! It sends me! I can’t wait to start my new build! Great bike dude!!!!
Done well, very classy, it pays to think about the detail, cheers.
how does that seat feel after a few hours of riding?? Looks really nice I like it
Like Rick said. We’re all proud of you at knockseast/bobberseast. One helluva bike
how does that seat feel after a few hours of riding??
Suprisingly enough, its not that bad, although I havent ridden more then about 70 miles in one day yet.
Like Rick said. We’re all proud of you at bobberseast. One helluva bike
Thanks ,to all my family over there you guys rock
Thanks for the deal on the rest of that fender, Mike! I had no idea Visual Impact was so close to home for me.
No problem bro. I’m glad to find a home for it with another xs junkie