A couple of XS650 engines

Here's a good example of a frozen/locked up engine. Next to it is another pretty sad XS650 engine, both motors have been taking up space in my work area for a while.  My 1978 XS650 project needs something reliable, and it looks like it's time for a NC trip for some crisis intervention/engine rehab/engine lovin.  So see you in a couple of months engines, get rephased, get a pma and new ignition system, do this for yourselves.

Making a seat for my XS650

It's been cold, and I've been riding a little bit, but this weekend I spent a little time trying to get my seat right for my '83 XS650.  I have a couple of extra frames to use for experimenting with.  The plan is to get a seat that is super easy to install and remove if needed.  Progress is going ok, but this is definetly a learning project since I've never messed with a seat before. 

Updating my XS650 Foot Rests

Here is a set of crusty old foot rests I had lying around in a box of XS650 parts.  They were not really good for anything, so I thought I'd hook them up for use in 2013.  First I used a cut off wheel on my angle grinder to remove the foot rests.  Next, I sanded that cut area smooth with a sanding wheel on the angle grinder.  Then these things got sand blasted in my cabinet.  Finally, the left side rest got drilled and the right side got a tab welded to it. I'm not completely happy with the right side tab though and am planning to beef it up before these get powder coated and put on.