Black Rat in progress

[Ratledge]

Hey guys,

So slowly, my bike is coming together. It started as a stock 81 special 2, and now I've got the motor in the rolling chassis! The end is in sight! I might even get to ride it once or twice before the winter sets in!

The mag wheels, engine covers, and kick starter and shifter are black powder coated. Damn near everything else is flat black, except for bits of chrome here and there, like the upper fork tubes, rear springs, and megaphone. The seat is a solo tracker seat, and I've got LED turn signals, no Tach (speedo only) drilled rotors, new 34mm Mikuni round slides, Boyer digital ignition, 32 tooth rear sprocket, Mac 2-1 pipe, Euro bars. Shaved the frame down to get rid of the passenger pegs and center stand, used 1 inch shorter rear shocks and raised the front legs an inch in the trees. This thing sits low! Standard tank from a 75 XS, complete with some cosmetic flaws, which I kinda like; it's a bit of character! Here's some pix. Wish me luck!

[tomterrific]

Hi Chris,

I like the look you are going for, very nice. Pics come up blury on my screen at first and I thought you had a small red pad for a seat until the detail came in. May I suggest a small red pad made with stiff foam would be a cool homemade seat. You could use 1/2" plywood for the base.

Something that I think might take away from the "look" is the headlight. If you get a large headlight shell and it sticks out you will lose a great part of the abrieviated look.

Tom Graham

[robomod]

I have one these lights from daytona. It's basically just a spotloght with a dual filament bulb. The fork tube headlight mount, with the stock headlight installed, will beef it up.

[50gary]

"RAT"ledge keep the faith baby! 80% done and 50% to go. Looks good, it's worth it when you get to ride it, like giving birth (well kinda) Cheers, 50gary

[blackxs]

gotta love that black.
i gotta get started on another xs650 build soon.

[djkynz]

love the progress man. Love the flat black look. Keep it up. it looks great. BTW, where did you get the shorter shocks? I want to drop mine down some. lemme know. ([e-mail])

[Ratledge]

Thanks guys,

I got the shorter shocks from Mikes XS. The seat, while not pictured, will be finished up and added this weekend. It's just one of the solo tracker seats from Hotwing Glass with the 2" pad. It's black too. I've already mounted the LED blinkers to the seat/fender back near the brakelight.

In fact, you're pretty much looking at all the chrome the bike's gonna have as it is now. EVERYTHING else is black, except for the rim of the stock headlight. I thought about changing that up too, but if I do that, it'll be something I do much later on. I don't mind the big headlight, plus I'm re-using the factory wiring and want to make it as easy as I can to cram it all back in the headlight bucket. Robomod's pictured bike's headlight is a little small for my taste.

I broke down and ordered spacers from Speed & Sport, cause I was having issues with the rear wheel not lining up, but I should have those today. She probably won't start up this weekend, but she'll be DAMN close.

[650mike]

Lookin' good!

[Ratledge]

Significant progress was made Saturday, despite a fair bit of hacking to get things to work along with 3 trips to the hardware store.

Got the sandblasted battery box painted and mounted, starter hooked up, modified frame and mounted rear master cylinder. Also got the seat mounted, though I think I may be modifying it to sit slightly higher. Got the correct spacers for the rear axle (FINALLY) and mouned up the rear wheel and brake calipers rear and front after repainting the swingarm and caliper brace. Carbs mounted, dropped ignition switch 1 inch. (perhaps more tomorrow) Modified headlight brackets to install front LED blinkers and mounted headlight bucket. (stalks were too short to use through headlight bucket mounts) Mounted lower exhaust brace and reinstalled baffle.

Tomorrow I'll be installing the brake lines, fixing the seat, installing the Boyer Ignition, mounting the chain, and possiby begin on wiring. Only little odds and ends to finish up after that.

I'm really digging how this bike looks. It has an aggressive look, and it really looks like a hack like me put it together. I can't WAIT to start her up and rip down the road. Here's some more pix

[djkynz]

DUDE...LOVE IT! Well done. Any chance you can post a pic of the tail light conversion you did with those LEDs? I was totally planning on doing that. Did you paint your exhaust pipes? what did you use? I really had plans on doing that too! cant wait to see it done.

[jeepurze]

hey chris looks real good like the pipes.like the low look , I thought you was a giant till I read you lowered it ....

[Ratledge]

Thanks again guys. Yeah I was surprised that I look like a hoss on this bike. It's low and I'm 6'1". Nothing I can do about that though!

I used rattle can spray paint on EVERYTHING on this bike. The tank and fender/seat pan are just flat black primer, the lower fork tubes, engine and forward exhaust pipes were painted with hi-temp ceramic enamel. Both were purchased from Advance Auto Parts.

I didn't get to snap any more pix, and sunday was much slower. Tried putting the new drive chain on, and ordered the 102 link chain according to advice from Mikes XS, but it just wouldn't go on, it's half a link too short, even with the rear wheel pulled all the way in. So I have to exchange it for the 104 link.

On Sunday I fixed the seat by adding two 1/2" thick ribs of wood trim to the underside of the front of the seat pan where it sits on the frame rails. Just drilled them in with 6 screws. Then attached Velcro and presto, seat is fixed and is MUCH more stable on the frame. Also ran the front brake lines and put on the front master cylinder. Installed cam bushings and seals, magnetic trigger rod and pick-up plate for the new Boyer Digital ignition.

One more weekend of work and she should be good to go. Just gotta get that damn chain on, finish the ignition, hook up the control cables, bleed the brakes, and wiring.

[Ratledge]

Oh,

And although you can't see them too well on the pics of my bike here, the LED blinkers I got from Shock Racing. The Mini-3's I got are pictured on their home page.

www.shockracing.com/

I just drilled two holes on the sides of the rear fender next to the tail light, and drilled 2 new holes in the headlight mounts to mount them up front.

[bubbagump]

Chris,

bike looks great... well done

gump