Another close friend of mine is thinking about packing up shop and just heading west. He won't do it till Summer time, and I can't really blame him if he does - its something I have often dreamed about if my health were better - just moving around the country like a hermit - working in gas stations and existing. So many people say... Why the hell would you do that? But its an honest way to live. I think he's thinking more of working at camps and such.
In other news its time to start pulling the XS400 together (sick of these posts yet?)
I have 3 "Splurge" parts for it, one I actually need, and then the other two are just, well honest to god modifications for the soul purpose of reshaping the machine.
The first as I've said is a MAC exhaust.
The current exhaust is rusting through in certain places and pretty banged up. Almost impossibly so in places, and I fear is loosing a baffle. So the Mac is a 2:1 style and will just work.
The next splurge is a cafe Seat. It also has some minor need. The original seat is pretty worn out and the seat cloth is currently made out of Gorilla tape.
This Cafe Seat is quality made at a reasonable price - what some companies charge for just the seat pan. It has a 2" Gel/Foam pad that is rumored to be comfortable even on longer rides. The cover is removable - as in the snaps really are functioning snaps. The Vinyl cover is the same as they use on boats so its good for the weather. All in all very pleasing.
^ Minor adjustments will have to be made to the rear of the bike for this style of seat. Meaning I will have to exchange out the rear fender for something else - luckily I have a solid stock of spare fenders I think what I'll do is cut down a spare front fender (in half) and use it under the tail as a rear fender - to which I can attach a stop light.
The last splurge is really just a splurge.
The current tank is ugly, a bit beat up, and rusting in places - but all things considered it's usable. This tank is a bit bigger, won't rust - it comes in black, and if I do paint it, I will probably paint it black, with white pin stripes to match the black in the picture, and then Yamaha decals instead of Norton.
For actual parts that I need to make the bike go Vroom - I need:
Rear Brake Shoes $20
Drive Chain parts $40
2 Gaskets $30
10 small metric bolts $12
1 Turnsignal $10
1 Oil filter bolt $9
1 Oil Filter $3
3 Quarts of Oil $15
1 Battery $46
1 Set of front brake Pads $20
Handlebars $15
2 Mirrors $20
2 new Grips $8
Total (ish) $250
And I'm done.
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