1975 Custom XS 650:

Hello, it’s been a while so I thought I would update my latest build from post #1373. I was going to use a 70’s Tracy body but changed my mind. The bike is a “75” that was for sale some years ago from a local guy. I went and looked at it and past on her because she was too much money for being in such sad shape. This past summer I went to buy a “pile of parts” a few towns away and in that pile was the “75”. It was no longer together and in many pieces. The frame was literally stuck in the mud and leaves beside his shed and the motor was on a table outside under a tarp. I didn’t know it was the same bike that I looked at a few years ago until I got it all home and looked at the title he gave me. The title was still in the previous owners name and address so I new it was the same bike. O.K. were was I ? Sorry for rambling back to the build. I cut off the top back half of the frame and used all new tubing to lower the seat area and made a loop to connect it all together. Made new shock mounts and modified the swing arm (made it 1 inch wider) to accept shock repositioning and wider rear tire. I also raked the neck to 42 deg. The tank is a Sportster tank that I modified by cutting a few inches out of the tunnel to drop it down, then make new tunnel, add crossover lines, and move petcock to front of tank. Most people will never notice the work on the tank to make it happen, never mind the amount of time, but I think it looks better low so it’s worth the work. I make my own custom exhaust systems for the XS and post them for sale when I have the time to make extras. I will post this bike again when running. Thanks again for the great site. Best regards, Scott  P.S.  last pic is of me learning to ride my first bike on Christmas day 1976, a Honda Z50 oh happy day.