This seat marks one of the final steps in this build. I recently got all the parts back from PC. My tank will be done soon. I finished wiring the bike last night and everything is working! Haven’t tried to run it yet, need to do a little more buttoning up first. But I’m very, very close!
I’m VERY excited about this build.
Well the Ninja has just a smidgen of work left before it can be my daily! I snapped a few preliminary shots of it because I am too excited to keep it hidden in my shop. From day one this build has taken me just shy of two months (if you don’t count the 2 weeks I was out of town). So it is one of my quickest frame up builds!
Left to do: grips and K&N air filter are in the mail, they need installed. Then I can start the tuning process which will take some time and frustration I’m sure. But VERY soon this bike will be 100% and I’ll be sure to take some classy pics of it ASAP.
I know I know…I did a horrible job updating this build. It went from nothing to done in 2 posts. I’m still not set up with an adequate camera situation. My GoPro isn’t good for it without a screen and poor low light quality. So I need to find a little powershot or something. This IS a priority!
My second attempt at making my first seat was a bit more successful. But I’m not satisfied yet…
It has been a waiting game for parts to arrive. The big bore kit came in, then the new intake valve, so I went to get the head done and the exhaust valve was worn out too so I ordered one and it finally got here. Dropped it all off at the shop to do a valve job including new valves, HD springs, and new valve seal (yes only one…for some reason they designed it that way). Still waiting to get the head back. Then I’ll put it all back together and finish up the motor mounts. In the mean time I polished up the case and will eventually remove the clutch side cover to polish it too. The whole motor will be polished aluminum. Not great pictures and I didn’t get it to be like a perfect mirror, but you can definitely see your reflection in it. Good enough for me 🙂
The rotor puller came in the mail too finally so I’ll pop that off to clean up and inspect the points and advance unit etc.
So for the gas tank, I wanted to do something creative and fun. So I went for the admittedly not original Japanese rising sun design. I’ve never had a bike with it before so it’s new to me! Took some work, sanded to bare metal, bondo on some inperfections, primer/ sand then white base coat, wait a week, sand and one more white coat, wait a week, sand and tape off and red sun coat, wait a week, sand and clear coat. Tada!
To anyone wanting to do good paint jobs. There is no shame in using rattle can if you get quality gas/ oil resistant engine enamel. MOST important is respect the dry times and prep prep prep! The finished product will be smooth and clear and very durable!
She is complete! I’ve been riding her daily for about a month now problem free. Finally got it timed and tuned to perfection, adjusted the valves, fresh oil and she is ready to roll. To recap this build: XS650 front end conversion with rebuilt forks and heavy weight oil, piggy back rear shocks, new tires, brake pads/ shoes, frame and swingarm painted red, flawless polished aluminium gas tank, low rise flat tracker handlebars, over sized TT500 round slide carb, SuperTrapp exhaust, new chain and sprockets, rewired with no battery so the  lights run off the magneto (like 4 wires on the whole bike!), 100% custom seat pan/ upholstery, plus a lot I can’t recall right now…
She starts first kick every time and runs like nothing I’ve every had before…Truly an inspiring bike to ride! I’ve always ran ethanol free in her too.
Picked up this XT500 a few weeks ago not running and title-less in Tulsa for a reasonable price. Great start to a fantastic build I’d say!
I stripped it down to the frame, cleaned (or replaced) every nut and bolt, and painted everything a new color.
Bought some new parts, chain, sprockets, brakes, fork seals, gaskets, headlight and tail lights, air filter, bla bla bla.
As of now, I have the motor re-installed, and it is time to reassemble!
That’s what I’ve got so far, today I’m focusing on rebuilding the front forks, polishing the fork boots, cleaning, painting, and mounting the front wheel. pics will ensue.
The CB400f is OFFICIALLY FINISHED! I finally got the new tires on and finished tuning this puppy. She screams! I don’t even want to sell it…but that’s part of the job. So here is the finished product:
Wait how’d you get in there Jazz?!?
You like?
Now we’re almost caught up! Just one last build before we are to present day. This one is special…I’ve always wanted a CB400F (FOUR) because they apparently sound amazing, and are just all around wonderful bikes. A few months ago my good friend Jonathan let me buy a ’75 400f off him for cheap! This was my chance to revive my dream bike!!! Got it in my garage and it was a bit worse for wear…
But who cares? Look at that sweeping exhaust! That beautiful blue tank with those classic emblems! Disassembly was immediate. I had it down to the frame with in a few days.
Put the motor on my table and for the first time I tore in past the valve cover. Quite a fun experience! So here are the pistons before and after de-carbonization…it only had 15,000 miles on it! Imagine what your car’s look like…
Also replaced that pesky little cam chain…
And some before and after of the motor…
WOW I spent probably 4 hours just digging the mud dobber nests from the heat fins…sheesh!
Painted the frame, ultrasonic cleaned the carbs and began the reassembly! Interesting note on tuning… with pods and a less restrictive exhaust, I went one size UP on mains, and one DOWN on pilots…Weird I know…but true!
What a mess…
I also took that old ducati exhaust that my girlfriend beat up on the virago 250 (see the virago 250 build below), chopped it and painted it black…Made a great addition to the CB400f!
As you can also see from this picture, I’ve started the tail piece fiberglassing, and finished polishing every inch of that motor… Also replaced the case bolts with Allen heads.
So now I’m here, with a finished project that just needs the title to come in the mail (taking forEVER) as well as some new tires…the ones mounted right now are…poor…This picture is the most recent I have, however since then it got some little touches like a matching front fender, waxed tank, and soon…new tires. This bike was my first real attempt at upholstery, I loved it and think it turned out just swell!
Close relatives living under the same house…how sweet!
I will have more CB400F pictures to come in the next few weeks.
This one will be short. A few years ago I traded into a 74 CB125s for my ex-girlfriend. It was a little rough, hadn’t been ridden much at all with only 2,500 original miles on it.
This bike was actually my first build, I cleaned the carburetor and did the basic tuning, had Jonathan help me with the valve adjustment and timing since I didn’t have any tools back then. Gave it my first paint job attempt, and vuala!
It needed a bit more foam in the seat…I believe I made the seat pan from part of a traffic sign and stuffed cotton balls in the upholstery for “comfort”…ha..ha.
After I finished it my girlfriend (at the time) let it rot in her garage for over 2 years. Meanwhile, we had broken up and I almost forgot about that poor little bike…UNTIL one day she gave me a call and offered the bike to me. I was SO pleased to get it back! Of course, time was not nice, and the gas rotted through the tank and made about 500 pin holes in it, staining the motor with the dark brown goo that came out of the deceased petcock… But I ordered a new tank, gave the whole thing a better paint job, cleaned it for hours and did the basic work. Next thing you know I’ve got this little PIP as my putt putt for around town.
Did some updates to it like replacing the crazy out-of-date twist throttle that just worked horribly with a CR250 throttle tube/ cable. Now it’s only a 1/4 cable so it feels even zippier! Also geared up the front sprocket one so instead of top cruising at 50 it’ll sit around 55 happily all day. Gotta love PIP, I don’t plan on selling it anytime soon.
ONE-UP Moto Garage 