Finished for now, running awesome

[Garagamus]

Finally finished, and still a couple of weeks of riding hopefully before she gets put away for winter.




Still wanna try some wide clubmans, but these, (superbike bars with 2" rise???) feel really nice. Need to find a Yamaha decal for the tank done in the "Triumph" style and font.

[IanDMacDonald]

Okay, okay. I LOVE your bike! The engine is amazing. But, I have been going over this in my head for over a year now regarding the headlight. My opinion is that you should go round, like from the XJ for this to look complete. I know, to each his own, but the lines of the bike with round blinkers only make sense.

[MarkD]

+1 on Ian's comment ( round headlight). I think you are a bad influence on me, and other (only) one xs11 owners , though. I want another to do what you did, make a moderate cafe racer. Your bike is one sweet scoot, well done. You did a great job. If there's a chance to put a youtube of it running, that would be cool, too, or even a few more pics. Nice job!

[Garagamus]

I recently went to a motorcycle wrecker that was going out of business. $50 all you could carry out. Unfortunately, all I could find in the way of round headlights was a decent assembly in 6" configuration. Waaaay too small, need at least a 7" lense before the housing to fit, (maybe from a tugboat or locomotive), think if I'm going to spend the money on a big round light, its gonna have to come from the UK. (They have them in yellow lenses too). The square is growing on me, but a round one would fit the bike better. Seen a couple small bubble race fairings from an '80's GPZ (square headlight), that might work as well.

[natemoen]

Personally I think the rectangle headlight goes well, especially since you have the square gauges. I would almost try and find some small square or rectangle turn signals and change them to that.

[Rasputin]

I agree with Nate on I like the square better. No matter what else you change the square look will still be on the gas cap. Might as well have a few other items like gauges and headlight match. Square type signals would set it off.
Nice job! I usually am not much for cafe'd bikes but this is pretty darn nice.

[Tat2demon]

Well done! Did you powdercoat the engine or paint?

[fredintoon]

- - - Need to find a Yamaha decal for the tank done in the "Triumph" style and font. - - -

Hi Garagamus,
ask about the "Yamahumph" tank logo at the XS650 site, they posted a link to it a while back.
Site e-mail is"- yam650@micapeak.com

[Garagamus]

Tat2, its an aluminium paint, (tons of overspray, very light), covers really well with just a light mist. spent hours masking the parts that I couldn't remove and it still made its way onto parts nowhere near where I was spraying. On metal, it came out shiny, where the bodywork came out more silver, (same paint for the lower body panels). Whole paintjob is rattlecan, (I'm cheap that way), all in for the build: Bike $200, parts $150, battery $75, fluids $50, paint $30, seat vinyl $9, bump seat $free (came from an old GS1000 gas tank), mirrors, grips and turn signals $75 (Kapsmoto.com), Under $600! and she howls.

[Garagamus]

I may have to go to a sign shop to get two made...

This is what I'm looking for in silver over black shadow.

[donebysunday]

Tat2, its an aluminium paint, (tons of overspray, very light), covers really well with just a light mist. spent hours masking the parts that I couldn't remove and it still made its way onto parts nowhere near where I was spraying. On metal, it came out shiny, where the bodywork came out more silver, (same paint for the lower body panels). Whole paintjob is rattlecan, (I'm cheap that way), all in for the build: Bike $200, parts $150, battery $75, fluids $50, paint $30, seat vinyl $9, bump seat $free (came from an old GS1000 gas tank), mirrors, grips and turn signals $75 (Kapsmoto.com), Under $600! and she howls.

That paint is just what I'm looking for to match the engine cases. Any chance you have the identification/brand/#. Thank You !

[Garagamus]

Donebysunday..."Tremclad", Gloss Aluminum (oil based) Has a picture of a kids wagon on the can. Says its Canada's No# 1 Rust paint, no mention of engine cover sprucing up. It matches the engine well, but is a little brighter/lighter. Give it a couple of months riding and it will probably dull and blend in more a bit.

[Poprock]

Excellent job! But I think you misspelled "hunert".

[Garagamus]

You can't imagine the giggles in my head while watching folks "phonetically" sounding it out...when they finally "get it", I give'em a big "thumbs up" like we've just been inducted into Mensa on a scholarship.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Garagamus,
I like it. i too vote for keeping the square headlight and looking for some square indicators.
Phil