The New ’71 LEADFIST XS
- 74
Dead presidents >
LEADFIST has a good eye for style. Finding the lines and curves that the bike needs to flow in is not easily accomplished. We will keep this post short and let the pictures do all the work. Here is what Kyle of LEADFIST has to say.
Kyle- What you see here boys and girls is a 1971 yamadahg… We had the rare opportunity, thanks to resourceful Kevin (aka balogna sandwich), to do a build just for the shop.
rear: 18″
front: 21″
Rear fender: Front sportster
Gastank: Mustang, narrowed 3″ (holds 1.2 gallons! roughly 32 miles)
Pegs: 1970′s passenger pegs
Headlight: generic 4-incher
Taillight: (not shown) 1940′s glass lens, “brand new” in the original box
Handlebars: clubmans narrowed 2″
Springer front end, late ’60′s, shortened… alot… almost the shortest in the universe
Leather-work by Leadfist
Paint by Leadfist
Everything else is hidden in the fucking fake oilbag. I built this bike to sell it… then rode it… didn’t want to sell it… ever… then some some bitch-ass dead presidents came and took the bike away… and now we sad.
Thanks,
Kyle – Brandi and Kevin
You can check out the LEADFIST blog: www.leadfistcycles.blogspot.com
great bike dude…….
bitchin bike man I love it, the leather work is great.
bitchin. love the stance and the exhaust.
Nice, really nice, ditto on the exhaust and love the low stance
seen this bike in person its rad as fuck.
great seat love the front bike looks great
Flippen sweet! Nice n low
Whats the rake and stretch on that? is it a weld on or a custom frame?
If you still have that old front wheel laying around I would love to buy it for my next build. let me know. trayshd@hotmail.com
awesome bike! whats length measurement of that custom cut-off springer?
Thanks for the feedback. The springer is roughly 2.5 feet. The front part of the frame is bone stock.The tail section is custom build minus the axel plates.
another bad ass xs…
This has got to be one of the nicest bikes I’ve ever seen not too flashy and keeps with the era of the bike. Love it…make more…want to see more…
this has got to be an all time favorite for me…GO LEAD FIST!!! love the stance as well as the front end!! very sick in deed!!
That exhaust has surely ruined many a car-driver’s left ear drum, and almost mine. She will be missed but not forgotten,and there will be more to come!
Hi All, wanting to do a hydraulic clutch conversion, any info on whats best to use, dimensions etc would be greatly recieved.
Thanks
LEADFIST kills it again! Minimal, low, light, mean as shit in a boot! Now that’s MEAN! RulerZ!
That seat is fucking dope! This bike rocks!
Very cool bike !
beautiful job, springer is perfect on the bike!
Very cool bike … but … how do I grow a beard like that?
to grow a sweet beard like mine requires the ancient scottish technique.
and my lovely girl does the awesome leatherwork on all the seats.
really dig the gusset/bracket for the gas tank.
how many dead presidents did it go for?
What’s the throttle off of?
I’ve had the throttle a long time. I’t might of came off a triumph or something.
2 words:
fu*king rad
yes yes yes
the details are what makes this bike. love the short springer set up
New to this, but having a hard time understanding how you fit a springer on the stock front end. Where did u buy the springer? Great job on the bike
craigslists.
QUESTION: How does this bad boy stop with just the rear brake? Does it feel like it gets enough grip? I am curious and want to run mine the same way. . .
Nice ride btw!
I like to roll side ways. I’ve never use a front brake.She would stop pretty damn good for me. Everyone is different.
HI there.
this bike is SICK!! I absolutely love that fork…..
anybody got hints/tips ideas on how to fit a (new) “harley” springerfork onto a ´98 yamaha thats being bobbed….any help is appreciated.
Dude, you need to sell some more bikes. You look like you need to buy some groceries. lol
You’ve got it where it looks like the engine is so heavy it is making the frame sag.
BEAUTYFUL !
I have to say it again.. this bike is fucking TIGHT!
me likes.
Amazing job! any chance of getting the specs for the rear section of the frame? What’s the ground clearance?
That is awesome. I hope my bike turns out looking half as mean. Can you tell me the tire sizes and brand. Cause everything on this bike just sits RIGHT.
I wants!
The rear section i eye balled.The ground clearance is about 2 to 3 inchs give or take.The rear tire is 18 firestone front is 21 inch avon speedmaster.Thanks again.
Yeah sweet. I was chasing the actual tire size like 110/90r18. Sorry for being a pain but I really like the way this bike sits. Lines are perfect.
Mean and Lean! Nice work!
“Gman” the rear tire size is 450-18.
So hows that thing handle at highway speeds, looks like you’ve got about 1/2 inch of trail, seems it would be a bit skippy.
Great lookin bike.
keep up the good work you dirty rat hope to see you at timmys
I ran this bike at 100mph hittin’ potholes and such and not a problem… just enough clearance. If you think this bike is low, wait until you see the one I’m working on now.
This is one of my all time favorites xs650 bikes. Nothing but all positive to say bout this bike. Great style.
love this bike. went to the leadfist blog and put up a post on mine. hope you leadfist guys dig it.
as always ted, great stuff on xs650chopper.
T
I really like the way this bike is set up. the pipes I like the most…
i keep coming back to this bike. seriously the main inspiration for my build. fuckin sick.
Woah! Jasin Phares riding a piece of shit ? thought he had better taste.
This is one fo the bikes that hooked me on this site. Killer lines, awesome craftsmanship and apparently it’s not a garage trophy. We build ‘em to ride so it’s awesome to see some riding shots. Love this bike to death and I hope to build mine close to this with a few of my own twists.
~Bro
sweet pipes, you making any copies? give me a email if ya selling some
the bike really does look nice, love the leather
Thanks for all your comments! Lil gromit – i don’t really make copies of anything… especially exhaust. the exhaust on this bike is actually switched… the left is on the right, and vice-versa. i capped off the exhaust with harley pipes to give it a nice sound. hope that’s helpful for ya.
TWISTED CHOPPER MAKES A 4 UNDER SPRINGER SIMILAR TO YOURS…BUT ITS AROUND 1300! THIS BIKE IS MONEY MAN. R U BUILDING ANOTHER? IN THE FOURTH PIC DOWN LOOX LIKE THERE IS A PROJECT IN THE REFLECTION OF THE THE HEADLIGHT.
Check out my blog. Leadfistcycles.blogspot.com
FOUND IT. GOOD LOOKING MACHINES AND SEATS. YOUR PIT IS PRETTY STELLAR WITH THE HELMET ON!!! IM WORKING ON BUILDING A SPRINGER. TRYING TO USE XS FORK MEASUREMENTS FOR THE BASIC SETUP. YA I DONT HAVE 1200 BUX FOR THE TWISTED SET UP!!!
Good luck with your build and thanks again.
may try that, sweet bike again, lookn foward 2 c ing ya next project
would you build/sell a springer front end like the one pictured above?
mines almost complete minus springs let me know if you want one
i normally build the springers to fit the bike… and the springers i use are normally D and D springers from the 60′s and 70′s that i modify, although i probably should start building custom springers from scratch… i like to recyle. if you come across a springer you would like to use on your bike, i’d be happy to modify it for ya.
dudes cannot leave a message on your blog as it’s set to “team members only.”
Thanks for the heads up. It’s all good now.
sweet ride…i dig it……dude.
I HAVE BEEN RIDING AND BUILDING HARLEYS SINCE 1971. THIS BIKE HAS GIVING ME A NEW DRIVE TO BUILD ANOTHER. IT SEEM LIKE ALL THE HARLEY BUILDS HAVE STARTED TO LOOK THE SAME…THE XS IS THE SWEETEST RIDE EVER. CONGRATS AND THANKS.
Build them and they will sell, it sucks but you I’m sure will top it, cant wait to see more.
Sweet build.
Yeeeee haaaaaawwww
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BUILDING ME A SPRINGER, JUST LIKE THIS ONE…DAMN I LOVE THIS BIKE. THANKS BOBBY DAVIS
very nice ride how is working on the 71? ive got one im looking at just wondering about that year model
Thanks for the compliment Bobby-
I’m really not building custom parts right now… I mostly just build things specifically to fit the bikes I’m working on in my shop.
tcrowe-
if you find a 71, they’re great to work on.
love the bike a gal and a half ??? but it looks cool
Great bike. the seat is effin awesome.
best one i,ve seen in a long wihle, keep t up , great lines dr ron