G'day!

Thunzie · Full Member Joined: Apr 14, 2008 Posts: 10

Hi all, I just bought a 79' XS650 Special to use for a project. I'm in two minds about going either Cafe or Bobber, right now I'm leaning toward the bobber because the XS is just such a great basis for a bobber.

I'm in Tamworth, NSW Australia.

pumps · Posted: April 13, 2008, 11:34 pm Post subject: Re: G'day!

Welcome friend! Show us what you've brought home, mate!

Thunzie · Full Member Joined: Apr 14, 2008 Posts: 10

pumps wrote:

Welcome friend! Show us what you've brought home, mate!

Hi Pumps, thanks for the welcome!

This is her as she stands (link below), pretty much 100% original. The paint is sad, the chrome needs work, a little surface rust on some of the bare metal surfaces such as the header pipes but all of that stuff will be gone anyway when I convert it to a bobber! I'm leaning more toward the bobber option than cafe. I've owned cafe bikes, but not a bobber. It's bobber time I reckon Very Happy

s194.photobucket.com/a...ent=xs.jpg

Cooltouch · Posted: April 14, 2008, 9:34 am Post subject: Re: G'day!

Welcome, Thunzie!

Welp, my vote's for a cafe bike, but since you've done that already, I can see why you'd want to go the bobber route. Besides, the Specials do convert nicely to bobbers. Will you be welding on a hardtail, then?

I really like the "cool bobber" pic. Reminds me a lot of a bike a friend of mine owned back in the early 70s. Black hardtail bobber with the short bars. That bike was a hoot to ride.

Best,

ichael

pumps · Posted: April 14, 2008, 9:37 am Post subject: Re: G'day!

I looked through your album. Which do you think you like best and might emulate? I like the "Kinda like a bobber" picture for some reason...I think of a Norton for some reason.

Thunzie · Full Member Joined: Apr 14, 2008 Posts: 10

Cooltouch wrote:

Welcome, Thunzie!

Welp, my vote's for a cafe bike, but since you've done that already, I can see why you'd want to go the bobber route. Besides, the Specials do convert nicely to bobbers. Will you be welding on a hardtail, then?

I really like the "cool bobber" pic. Reminds me a lot of a bike a friend of mine owned back in the early 70s. Black hardtail bobber with the short bars. That bike was a hoot to ride.

Best,

ichael

Thanks for thr welcome Michael! Yes mate I will be welding the hard tain onto the bike. Fabricating a hardtail is beyond my skills but there is a guy here in Australia who custom makes hardtails specifically for the XS, so I've had him make one up for me. He will get it delivered to me and I will get a local guy to weld it on. I'm pretty right to do the rest of the work myself, looking forward to it, as this will be the biggest project I've taken on to date.

And yes I reckon it's gonna be a fun bike to ride. I have a 9 month old son so I don't get out for long periods these days, so a hard tail bobber for short trips around my area will be the perfect fix for me Smile

Thunzie · Full Member Joined: Apr 14, 2008 Posts: 10

pumps wrote:

I looked through your album. Which do you think you like best and might emulate? I like the "Kinda like a bobber" picture for some reason...I think of a Norton for some reason.

ate I'm in two minds, I like the less polished look of the bobber with the silver frame and it looks like a sporster tank. But I also like the real clean look of the one with the flames (although I personally wouldn't go for the flames).

One thing I have noticed is that the stock XS tank looks great on a bobber, just do away with the badges and fill the holes / repaint - sweet!

As for the 'kind of like a bobber' yeah that bike is quite different. Not my cup of tea, but I appreciate the work thats gone into it and there are some clever ideas there too.

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650