CB400T bench run

After ripping into Brett's 1978 CB400T and finding a broken piston along with a handful of other issues. It looked to be a $200-$300 investment to get the old girl going.. Scouring craigslist one evening I came across a complete, supposedly running 1979 CB400T engine for $200.00!! We went and scooped it up, and after minimizing the wiring, checking plugs and fluids, and checking head torque, she fired right up! Rad!

CB400 Wheels

Just got back to my shitty hotel after a long day on the tower. I open up the computer and there's a message from Jason at WheelSpinmx with this pretty pic attached to the message. These are for Brett's cafe racer and with the help of these wheels, the CB400 is gonna look killer!! I'm afraid to have anyone put tires on them! Thanks Jason, they look amazing!!

How to chop your XS650 into a sweet Brat.

 Hi to you! So step one on your stripped XS650. Cut the horizontal tubes as close to the frame as you can without cutting into the frame. I scored a Portaband off craigslist for $75.00. I use them everyday at work, and they are like $400 plus new. This saw lets you get close and will leave me a clean cut and very little to grind. if you don't have one, you can use a torch, grinder, shit, a hacksaw would even do the deed..

 Now its time to cut the verticals. I cut my frame to leave just enough material to "slug" to. "slugging" lets you splice pieces together while keeping the joint sturdy and super strong. I'll take some pics and show you how soon..

 finished cutting.

 this is what you should have left, minus my beer.

and if you have a XS, you already know how much bullshit that you have to grind of the frame.!! I grind everything including the center stand mount. tune in next time for some other whack ass XS tips and tricks... and if you have some cool shit to share, send your pics to  dirtygursmetric@gmail.com

laters!

best bbq ever!!

I've been all over this country and other countries, and Ive eaten a lot of different food. I love BBQ, and I love to smoke, charcoal BBQ, propane... this honey badger don't give a shit.

Well, we are staying at this ghetto-ass hotel in Junction City, OR. Across the parking lot is a joint called Boss Hawgs BBQ . HOLY FUCK!!! We went there Tuesday night for dinner, then Wednesday night, then Thursday. So tonight's special was PRIME RIB!! By far, the best prime rib that I have ever had....ever.. I'm not shitting you, Phillip gets this shit done right!! Thanks for the good times, see ya next time were slanging antennas in Eugene!!

Corey's XS650

My brother Corey sent some pics over of his sweet ass 1981 Yamaha XS650. Enjoy!

 The Kawasaki KZ in the background is Jason Abbott's. Jason owns WheelSpinMX. He did the wheels for Corey's bike, and he is currently doing the wheels for Brett's build. If you ever need a custom set of wheels, he is your man.

 And yes, that is a real Wassel peanut tank. Corey said his welder had hell trying to get this nostalgic tank to hold fuel, but with some elbow grease and patience, the outcome is extraordinary!

How to build a wiring box.

So here's a little DIY for ya. I needed a better place to stuff a fuse box and hide my wiring on the Brattracker. I also thought it would be a nice place to keep other things outta Johnny laws eyes. Its pretty basic and well hidden. I built it using a Dremel with the heavy duty cut off wheel, 4 1/2" grinder with a cutoff wheel, Mig welder, a drill and a 6 pack of Stones. 

So step 1,  make yourself a pattern. I like using thin cardboard or poster board. Once you have that done, transfer your pattern to the metal. I used a 4 1/2" grinder with a cut off wheel to cut my basic pattern. These can be bought new at harbor freight for $20 or less. I shelled out $60 for my Milwaukee but it has a 5 year warranty.. Small pieces of sheet metal can be purchased at most hardware stores or your local metal supply company.

 Once all my patterns were cut, I started tack welding everything in place. I also used a dremel with a cut off wheel to cut the door out of the bottom of the box. The Dremel cutoff wheels are thin, and don't last long, but they are less than 1/16" in width which keeps me from having to cut out a new piece for the door.

 Almost ready for welding. For the vertical pieces I cut a strip 1 1/8" wide out of the same 10 gauge sheet material that I made everything else from. I achieved this using a 4 1/2" grinder with a cut off wheel and a 2x4 clamped to a table to use as a straight edge guide.

 Everything is tacked up and the door is now pop riveted in place. I used a simple cabinet hinge from  my local hardware store on the door. To keep the door closed I used some 1/4" all thread and a couple brass wing nuts also available at your local hardware store.

 Welded up the box using my Hobart 135 MIG welder with shielding gas.. I'm currently saving up for a TIG welding setup, but if you take your time your MIG will put out some pretty decent welds with a shielding gas of course..

The box fits very nicely under my seat. Everything will be going to powder coat soon, so you really wont even be able to see it. It holds a 6 position fuse box along with a large portion of my wiring. The funky wire you see is fish for the hole in my frame to hide my wiring. I welded a piece to the seat mounts on my frame to bolt the box up to. All in all my box was cheap, easy and functional and yours can be too;)