Jan 7 2010
Deathtrap Garage
- 26
Narrow, nimble, and fast.
1978 xs650, started out as complete bike which in the end i only used the motor and rear wheel. I built the pipes, bars, motormounts, electrical box, fender, shaved the fork lowers and alot of other odds and ends.. Ricky Reyes from the Anchor motorcycle shop built the footpegs and sissy bar. Frame was found off ebay, seller had no idea who built it, however it is a full rigid frame.
This bike started out as a basket case chopper that was digger style in non running condition, after major motor problems and a very poorly raked out neck, i got rid of everything and started out with a new roller, a stock 1978 xs650 that i was told was running however has wiring issues do to the fact the previous owner was color blind..motor spun good and felt like good compression so i took it home.. I built the bike from the ground up first finding the rigid frame and going from there, i built the motor mounts, shaved the for lowers and built the battery box.
I built the battery box to look like an older style oil bag and to close up some of the open space in the rear end. When i purchased the frame it had no numbers and the guy who was selling it new nothing about it,it took alittle machining on the stem to get the bearing to sit at the right height on the stem. From the very beginning i wanted to do a 60′s style frisco chopper..Narrow, nimble, and fast. Throughout the build i met my good friend Ricky Reyes from Anchor Motorcycles, he helped me with the mid controls, painted the frame black with flake, and built the sissy bar. The headlight is an old Aris knock off triangle which i got from my mom as a christmas present, ironically she hates motorcycles..I came across the invader at a swap and picked it up at a fair price, when i was building this bike i hadnt seen many other running an invader on the xs650s..
I started this bike probably about 2.5 years ago and it has changed about 4 times, mostly just tanks, seats, bars..the tank is just a sportster tank with crazy panels and flake painted by Chris from chicago. He does killer paint at a real reasonable price…i also added the pamco electronic ignition for reliability.. the bike as it sits is pretty much done for now, i have a few other project going then im coming back to make some changes.. I really appreciate you using my bike as a feature, so i dont have better detailed pics, i would get some but is it zero degrees in kansas city right now and snowy…
Your website rules and i check it out daily..
Thanks alot jonny.
Hi Jonathan,
Killer XS650. I love the paint. That blue is the color I’ve been thinking about for my bike.
Is The invader a 18″ Definitely works. Thanks for sending in the pics.
Dude, you nailed it, beautiful bike. love the paint, definetely old school looks great job.
Nice bike the paint is really cool
YESSSS!
Very cool bike, I like it much
this thing makes me tingly in my naughty parts.
very cool!
very cool! Great package and everything just works together. Very nice little details and it all works.
SWEET … NICE JOB, I STILL HAVE NOT POSTED MY BUILDS .BUT THAT IS WHAT I AM TAKING ABOUT .STEVO FROM SAN ANTONIO.KEEP CHOPPING……….
Looks good. Years ago I knew a guy who had a frame like yours. Im not shure but I beleave the stock mid pegs that fould will line up for those plates with the notchs on both ends that are on your frame. I love that earley 70s look.
Russ
Great, the true seventies spirit!
For a few years back you could buy invader wheels for less bucks on every swapmeet. Nowadays they’re hard to find and sold as they’re gold. Is the headlight a Wipac? i’m not really amused by the blue coilcables, for the rest; great ride Jonathan!!!
Thanks for the comments, Hans, the headlight is from west eagle, and as for the blue coil wires im not into them either, they were a last minute deal trying to fix a firing problem before a ride..thanks.. deathtrap.
WHAT TIRES ARE U RUNNING AND WHAT SIZE?
3×19 speedmaster front 4×18 firestone rear
Hows that thing handle without the top engine brackets.
I’ve heard from some stock enthusiasts that it can make your handling a little squirrelly
this might be due to the 180 engine vibration.
anyway I had already cut mine so i guess I’ll find out.
havent had any handling problems, does vibrate like crazy..
bike is dialed..like it alot…i got a tank that chris painted on mine as well
How many miles would you say you have ran without your top motor mounts? I don’t want to run mine either.
very nice…
So in reality you only built the motor mounts and the fake oil container and the rest you purchased from eBay?
im an asshole, sorry for being shitty in my previous comment.
well if u can read the only this off ebay is the frame.. everything other than the sissy bar and footpegs mounts i made.. i.e. pipes battery box, bars, shaved the fork lowers, motor mounts, headlight mount.. etc.. also relaced the rear wheel all assembly and wiring.. dont worry about being an asshole hatred is a form of jealously..thanks brother.
lol yeah i didnt read through the first time, and i musta had sand in my mangina cause i really like your bike.
Awesome bike man Im also in K.C .Saw at WOW even better in person pickin up my donor this weekend and takin it to the anchor for a hardtail as soon as i get some extra cheese any way great bike
Are the things that make a building safe in earthquakes the same things that makes that building safe for hurricanes or tornadoes? How about wildfires and floods?
Safe….
Bottom line on the motor mounts and crossbar and I’ve just got done reading several looooong threads on the subject.
removing the crossbar will make the frame weaker naturally but Yam may have done a little overkill in this area. They already have four separate gussets ( two front and two back) and a double down tube holding the neck in place.
I think thats plenty especially when compared to some custom frames but opinions vary.
The big issue on this topic was neck flex when braking and I just don’t see that happening if ,as death trapp has done, you leave plenty of gussetting.
could it be that Yam put that cross member in there only as a means for mounting the coil and some other misc stuff
That is was awsome looking ride.
I just wanted to say I was sorry for being on this site so long ad never looking at this beautiful bike or posting on it this bike is great