Posted February 6, 20178 yr Right here goes, Had a sudden want for a bike last year, and a good friend had just finished his xvs650 build, after seeing that I knew that was what I wanted! So the search started and I was struggling to find anything for under 2k! And I didn't want to chop up that much money, but then on an app called shpock a bike turned up, been sat for a while, bottom end knock, spare engine and then a spare bottom end with a brand new crank (fitted by Yamaha specialists), basically we filled the back of a transit connect all for £450! Needless to say we drove off like we stole the bike  Started the strip down completely pulled it to bits to see what I was dealing with, ie rust and damage etc! Turned out It was a really good solid frame, im used to working on old cars, this is the first bike project and so far im pleasantly surprised! Not dealing with 50 years of old underseal is a dream! Weve basically had both engine sat there and all the parts, and built upwards from the refurbed bottom end, with the best of all the parts, cleaning everything as we went along! Fitted new rings for piece of mind, Also got new clutchplates to go in once the times right! She will be blasted and powdercoated along with everything else!    Â
February 7, 20178 yr Author id like to keep this going, but its not letting me upload more pics, any idea why guys?
February 14, 20178 yr Author So as above that the tank we decided to fit, offered it up on top of the dual backbone and it didn't look right, so out came the angle grinders!! Mocked up the tank, mocked the back bone up with tape first! just to make sure we liked where it was going to sit! Â Â Got it all tacked in with a mig, then decided to invite a good friend over to tig the frame up for us! Â Â Â Â That's where were upto now, engines rebuilt, frames 90% done, just got to weld the gussets in tomorrow night and a few other little bits then itll be off for blasting and powdercoating very soon! Then the rebuild commences! Let me know your thoughts!!!
February 14, 20178 yr Author Couple of pics of exactly how it currently looks, pics of the gusset at the front, we decided to plate over the frame under the seat too (will all be tig'd up) and pictures with the biltwell seat and 16'' apes! So excited! Â Â Â Â Â This should really turn into something special, with colour choices, carb, tyres etc, should be extremely cool! Can follow the build closer on facebook and instagram @blackdirtcycles, cheers guys
February 14, 20178 yr Author Cheers guys! Not me that welded it, me and a mate have been tacking her together and another good friend welding it up completely! Big learning curve for us all!
February 16, 20178 yr Author Managed to get my welder friend over last night to finish up the frame! Now were all welded up! And it looks unreal, off to blasting and powdercoating within the next few weeks then the nice bits get too happen! Â Â Â Â
March 15, 20177 yr Author  Next step was finding somewhere to mount the coils, could have just thrown them in the cubby box under the seat but thought that would be half ass, so we opted for under the tank after realising we had plenty of room, fab'd up some mounts, nice little touch I think!  Next up was prepping everything for powdercoating, with some threaded bar and plates we blocked up all the cracks and crevices on everything!   Tucked it all in the corner of the works delivery van and got my van driver to drop it off at the powdercoaters for me!  About a week and a half later I got some pictures back! Blasted and awaiting some colour, Went for satin black, nice and subtle! Zinc primed so Ive been told!    Bare in mind the paints wet, so it looks glossy but its not, Having issues with the company saying they now cant blast and powdercoat the chrome which is a big pain in the arse! Surely they would have known that before sending it all there! Doesn't help as were booked into a show in a few month so need to press on and get the bike finished! Im sure itll come right in the end! Thanks for looking!
March 15, 20177 yr Nice skills lads ! I wouldn't worry about powder coating . Paint's always been good enough for me . Keep on rockin' !!
March 16, 20177 yr Author Cheers guys! Going to pick all the bits up today! Then got too work out what to do with the wheels and engine, everything else is powdercoated and ready, so there going to hold me up, any recommendations for painting over the chrome wheels and engine casings?
March 16, 20177 yr  For the wheels , give 'em a rub with wet and dry and use as little matt black paint as will cover 'em .  Stops the paint chipping if you keep it to a bare minimum . That's if you like matt black , lol !
March 16, 20177 yr Moderator Ask the paint suppliers. Pounds to peanuts there is a process to paint chrome. Would new rims not be an option. The stock rims are nothing special and if its a show bike? Chubby 150 or whatever will max the space on the rear with an 80 on the front? Esp as you have the apehangers on. (Dont like em myself).Â
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