Yamaha XS650 Bobber Rat bike

[BoGiggers]

Mattblackrat. com did a write-up on the build on their site. Here's the link with spaces that need to be removed... They won't let me post a straight up link! mattblackrat. com /BoGiggers%20xs%20650. htm

I'm glad you like it! It was fun to build and even more fun to ride. With the economy being in the dumps I've been working more and playing less. Had to sell a lot of my bikes but I just picked up another XS650. Let the games begin!

[bamf1994]

what all did you dod to it? is that the stocl frame just chopped the rear? sweet scoot bro!

[macb3th]

How much did this cost you to build, for someone who's relatively inexperienced, how would you rate the difficulty level of bolting on?

[BoGiggers]

@macb3th I have WAY more sweat equity into this build than money. If you find the right bike at the right buy in price you're way ahead. If you have limited experience it would be a good idea to get some help from someone. I'm sure you'de rather have a fun learning experience while getting the results you're after. Do a lot of research and pace yourself. It's easier to do it right the first time. Check out Matt Black Rat dot com for more info. They did an article on my build.

Good luck!

[McCollum2009]

im diggin the captain america helmet

[BoGiggers]

@McCollum2009 Cool! I looked for a long time to find a Captain America helmet. My older cousin had one when I was a rug rat and I've wanted one ever since. My buddys dad found this one for me. It was actually a present! How cool is that?

[Berkowitz321]

What year is the bike and is that the original tank?

[BoGiggers]

The bike is a 1978. The tank is from a Harley Davidson Sportster. The original paint was a bear to get off of the tank but I wanted to run bare scuffed steel with clear coat over it to keep it from rusting. I painted the original XS650 wheels with high temp engine gloss black. The shine is high and the paint wears like powdercoat without the added expense. I was kind of going for the look of a pictures negative when I built it.

Chop wha-ch-ya got!

[MotoCasa]

I like the style. simlar to the one I am building now. good job

[BoGiggers]

Yeah, I've seen your bike! Looks cool. Can't wait for it to be done. I'm sure you can't wait too! Nice job on the stretch...

[MrJmattr3]

the helmet is right, the stance is great. anybody can go buy stock but this is the real deal!

[BoGiggers]

Thanks! Fun factor per dollar ratio is what it's all about. Build your own and ride!

[BoGiggers]

Thanks!

[GiulianoGullini]

sweeet..

[Motorsheep]

Nice bike. Did you do anything to the swing arm and/or the shock mounts, or is it just the short shocks?

[BoGiggers]

Thanks. Yes I stretched the swingarm 3.5 inches and those are 10.5 inch Honda Rebel shocks set on their stiffest setting to be able to run the fender that close to the tire. As the shock angle increased from the swingarm stretch I got the bike even lower. The 70's Japanese bikes are so short when stock. I think the stretch helps with the dimensions. Oh yeah, I had to lengthen the brake stay and shorten the kickstand too.

Got another one in the garage...

[Motorsheep]

Hmm...streched swingarm might just be possible to do legally over here... German regulations are a real bitch. Raked stock frame? Forget about it. You'd have to have professional designs, including calculations done by an engineer. And then you need to make a prototype and pay for a lab to carry out a destructive stress test to prove the calculations! Impossible unless you're fucking rich.

[BoGiggers]

Holy crap! Weld it together here and run it down the road. I can't imagine things being that stringent. Yeah, I cut the swingarm and slugged it with smaller I.D tubing and added some 3 1/2 in. O.D. pieces that I bevel ground then I v-butt welded it. Every time you weld on a bike remember that your taking your life into your own hands. Take the time to get it true and it'll ride great. If you're not confident in your welding skills get it done professionally! Good luck with your bike...

[BoGiggers]

Thanks. It was garage built on a budget more for fun than anything else. Kinda thought it fit into the ,"Rat Bike" scene so I added it in the tag line.

Glad you like it!

[pankinyek]

great bike!(but i can't see why you called it rat bike...?looks too clean and pretty to me to be rat bike )