xs1 chop (lightning)
- 33 Comment
IT IS VERY SPARKLY
J Ryan- Yeah I actually work from my garage at home doing repair and custom work. I live in inglewood (a small section of town in nashville, TN), but don’t go by a shop name anymore. Says JRyChops on my card. Born and raised in Daytona Beach so the motorcycle obsession took hold very early, but have only been building bikes for about 6 years.
Ive probably spent more time on this bike than any I’ve ever built.
From the spear head foot pegs, foot controls made of hand controls, custom throw-out clutch mechanism, chopped up sporty tank with an antique Spanish compass set in the custom machined gas cap, the 36 ford fender that i narrowed, and dowed, crazy exhaust, the oil tank looking tool box made of exhaust/ super trap parts, battery box with the GM seat belt strap, and the crazy weird paint scheme. Aside from the wheels tires and front end, i made everything. I worked on this bike periodically in between other projects, taking my time.
I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out, hope you guys can dig it. It is actually on ebay right now.
- BEST ASIAN AT THE LIMPNICKIE LOT AT DAYTONA BEACH BIKE WEEK EARLIER THIS YEAR.
- FOUR PAGE FEATURE IN THE APRIL 2010 ISSUE OF CYCLE SOURCE MAGAZINE.
THE BUILD:
I STARTED WITH A FRAME FROM AN 81 XS650. THIS IS WHAT THE BIKE IS TITLE AS. ORIGINAL FRAME NUMBERS MATCHING THE TITLE. I HARDTAILED IT WITH A BIT OF A STRETCH. I NEVER LIKED THE WAY THAT XS650 CHOPPER FRAMES SEAT SECTIONS LOOK. IF YOU NOTICE IVE MADE MINE BETTER. ALSO CONVERTED TO A SINGLE DOWNTUBE IN FRONT STRETCHED UP, OUT, AND DE-RAKED TO FIT THE STOCK XS1 FRONT END. THE FRONT WHEEL IS A 21″ HONDA ELSINORE WHEEL. I HAD THE XS AXLE MACHINED TO ACCEPT IT. THE REAR WHEEL IS STOCK XS1.
THE MOTOR IS A 1970 XS1, AND IN EXTREEMELY GOOD CONDITION WITH SOME VERY COOL HISTORY. MILEAGE UNKNOWN, BUT I ASSUME VERY LOW. I BOUGHT THE COMPLETE XS1 FROM A GUY HERE LOCALLY WHOS BEST FREINDS DAD BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN 1970, TOOK IT STRAGHT HOME AND MADE A DRAG BIKE OUT OF IT. NEVER DROVE IT ON THE STREET. RACED IT A FEW TIMES HERE LOCALLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, AND HAS BEEN PASSED AROUND GARAGE TO GARAGE EVER SINCE, STARTED OCCASIONALLY. UNTIL I GOT IT OF COURSE.
STILL HAD THE FULL WHEELIE BARS ON IT AND EVERYTHING. THIS THING IS QUITE PEPPY, AND VERY RELIABLE. THESE EARLY MOTORS ARE FAR BETTER BALANCED THAT THE LATER MOTORS, AND ARE PRE-ELECTRIC START (KICK ONLY). THE EXHAUST THAT I MADE FOR IT IS SOME OF MY BEST WORK, A WILD 2 INTO 1 MADE FROME J-TUBING, AND A BELL TIP MUFFLER. I HAVE THE VELOCITY STACKS FOR WHEN I SHOW THE BIKE, BUT I USUALLY RUN POD FILTERS (INCLUDED). THE GAS TANK IS A EARLY SPORTSER MODEL THAT I CHOPPED AN INCH OFF THE BOTTOM, TWO AND HALF INCHES OFF THE REAR, AND DE-TUNNELED (THE RIGHT WAY). MACHINED SOLID BRASS GAS CAP WITH AN ANTIQUE SPANISH COMPASS RECESSED INTO IT. TANK IS LINED WITH CASWELL EPOXY TANK LINER. THE REAR FENDER IS MADE OF A 36 FORD SPARE TIRE COVER. I CUT ABOUT 3/4 INCH OF EITHER SIDE, AND ADDED SOME STEEL DOW, AND A CRAFTY FENDER STRUT.
THE THING THAT LOOKS LIKE AN OIL TANK IS A TOOL BOX MADE FROM EXHAUST PARTS. ENDS CAPPED WITH STAINLESS SUPER TRAPES. ACCESSABLE BY THREE 7/16 ACCORN NUTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. I HAVE A SMALL 7/16 WRENCH THAT I KEEP ON MY KEYCHAIN (INCLUDED IN THE SALE). THE BATTERY BOX IS MADE OF ANGLE IRON. THE BOTTOM SECTION IS BOLTED TO THE FRAME, AND TOP, AND BATTERY ARE STRAPPED DOWN BY A GM SEAT BELT STRAP. THE SEAT I MADE CUSTOM PAN, AND LEATHER FROM MY MOMS LEATHER COUCH THAT I GREW UP ON. THE BARS ARE WELDED TO A PLATE THAT BOLTS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TOP TRIPPLE TREE. HOCKEY TAPE HAND GRIPS. THE FOOF PEGS ARE MADE OUT OF STEEL FENCE FINIALS/SPEARS, AND THE FOOT CONTROLS ARE MADE OF HAND CONTROLS.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE THE FOOT CLUTCH OPERATES VARY EASILY DUE TO MY CUSTOM MADE LINKAGE, AND THROW-OUT MECHANISM. THE SHIFTER IS MADE OF STAINLESS TUBING, AND A HURST SHIFTER OUT OS A 67 FIREBIRD. ORIGINAL 38MM MAKUNI CARBS THAT PERFORM VERY WELL. GROTE HEADLIGHT, AND L.E.D. TAIL LIGHT (RUNNING LIGHT ONLY). HAS AFTER MARKET REGULATOR/RECTIFIER FROM MIKES. NEW DIAMOND BRAND GOLD O-RING CHAIN. NEW BRIDGESTONE TRAILWING A/T TIRES. NO KEY. HAS A SWITCH DOWN BY THE BATTERY MOUNTED TO A TAB ON THE FRAME. THE PAINT IS HARD TO REALLY GET A FEEL FOR IN THE PICS AND VIDEO.
THE FLAKE IS ROTHS MINDSPLITTER FROM THEIR TRIPPIN LINE OF FLAKES. IT IS VERY SPARKLY. DUPONTS CHROMA-CLEAR FOR THE CLEAR COAT, AND THE RUST IS AN ANTIQING PRODUCT. THE ACTULA TANK AND FENDER METAL IS COMPLETELY PROTECTED FROM IT. LIKE I SAID I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS BIKE MECHANICALLY, ELECTICALLY, OR OTHERWISE. BIKE TRACKS EXTREEMELY STRAIGHT. TAKE YOU HANDS OFF THE BARS, AND IT WILL NOT PULL TO EITHER SIDE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BIT.
Cheers. J Ryan
awsome bike, its so sparkly, like the gas cap, got any better pics of the bars?
Impressive…dig the compass!
-Cheers.
Yepp – very nice. The exhaust is killer!!
thanks! i do have more pics of the bars. ill try to post some later.
This bikes been all over! Seen it in the horse last month. Congrats on the spread.
Great Looking bike. I really like the color choices. Who makes that antiqing product?
I rarely ever comment on other peoples bikes, im more of a keep it to myself kinda guy but this bike is hands down one of the best ive seen on here. DONT SELL IT!!!
pure awesome. That is one killer bike
Thanks again! Was going to try to post some more pics but I think I’ve got all the pics from the shoot plus some when I was running it raw here http://www.myspace.com/rebelliousmaximus
very nice. love the gps gas cap, the exhaust, and the little touches throughout. great job, j. looking forward to seeing your next bike.
man there is so many cool custom touches on this bike its amazing.
good work bro.
Nice bike man! Love the way the frame works/looks just right. The color scheme is sweet as.
Looks great man. Congrats!
Them pipes are the Shizzzzz!
peoples… i have seen this bike in the flesh and those pics dont do it justice. no offense to the photographer… this bike is hotter than the hinges on hell’s gates!!!!! the welds are great and that paint is so deep you could probably go swimming in it. damn i just got a boner.
Sweet!!! I love seeing non cookie cutter XS’s!! Very nice work!
Thank you for providing a lot of information on how you did all of this…- I envy your abilities, and I Love the way your mind works….
Cyclone fence and Mom’s couch is pure genius…- I love it…
I can’t get used to the header portion of the exhaust system, – but I am trying to…as the system from headers back is my most favorite I have ever seen….Love that big-ass two into one…- or two into Big-ass One…
I studied this bike a lot, and read all of it a couple of times over…Great bike, and Great example…-but…lol…- Not an easy act to follow….
Ordinarily I don’t approve of pointy stuff on a bike (dangerous in a crash etc), but I do like the finial footpegs. I’ll have to leave my hacksaw in the wife’s car.
Oh and I like the upside down alternator cover. I’m all about simple shit that nobody has thought of yet.
Nice stance from the side view too.
auction ended hope all goes thru!
VERY sick bike! now that it is sold cant wai to see what you come up with next..hard act to follow I am sure….but to come up with all that I am sure you will….back to the lab to create the next monster!
he coulda sucked his own dick a little more in the bio about it.
this is what i’m talking about. taking what you have lying around and building a bike out of it. even if the parts were never intended for bike use. I applaude your ingenuity. waste nothing you never know what you may be able to use.
This is a bike with style. Really like the stance. What degree of rake did you use.
Let it fly Jeff!
cool bike it’s different
i love the color sceme it goes together great. i also cant beleve you used a hurst shifter, that has to be the coolest thing i ever saw on a bike…… great job
I want the gas cap!!
Hoping for some advice. I am using your bike as the primary inspiration for the build i am about to embark on, but was wondering if or what I would need to do to keep the bike as low as your with a 21 front and an 18 rear?
Holy shit! The attention to detail in this bad mutha fucka is outstanding!
I agree with Jeff…
All in all though, nice job on the bike. Just let others tell you.
I really like the bike.
How can I go about getting a set of pipes just like that??