Realy nice job, Im looking foreward to see it with ape hangers  
The peanut tank looks nice on it, what did you do with the speedometer, is it mounted on the right hand side, and could you use the stock cable !

Nice looking. I see all the ways the dedicated LS 650 riders have modified these bikes & haven't seen one I didn't like. I think I want another one.

To answer a few questions:

The speedometer is the cheapest one JC Whitney sells (at least at the time I bought it).  I bolted it to a piece of steel and bolted the piece of steel to the tank mount.  It's the stock speedometer cable.  Which is actually how that arrangement came about: I didn't want to deal with replacing the speedo cable, so I moved the speedometer to where the cable would reach it.

The seats were bought off ebay.  It took me a while to find the white pillion pad for a price I would pay.  I think the front cost me $30, and the rear cost me $20.

I like the tank...but it was a real bugger to work with.  The paint refused to come out the same color as the fender/side covers, and positioniing it was a nightmare.  It needed to be way forward for the fuel line to clear the frame, but way back to clear the handlebar risers.  Solution: Move it back to avoid the handlebars and jack up the back about an inch to make room for the fuel line.  Trial and error all over the place with that one.

The other small detail that I like the way it turned out is at the back of the bike.  The turn signal stems actually serve as the bolts holding the rear of the sissybar in place.  It makes for a nice, neat, tucked in look.  Probably my favorite part of the bike, in an odd sort of way.

And yes Vroom, I left the reflectors on

Yup, those are the stock shocks.

Very sharp bike!! i am new to this sight, but have a few
years of of riding(40+). I love 60's style bikes and you have nailed it , Nice job!!! Can't wait to see it with the apes back on.

Savage Librarian wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:11:



you will never get that comment as long as those darned reflectors are on it.    "60's bikes don't need no stinking reflectors".  it's the little details that makes the difference between a "good looking" bike, and a "great looking bike"  i would move the light off the fender also.

i recently stopped at a store, a guy looked at it and said "i haven't seen one of those in a long time". i didn't have the heart to say "dude you've never saw one of these" i went with   ain't it kewl  smilled and walked away, when i came out, he was still admiring it.

i decided to highlight the lines on thumper rather than change them radically.  something like this, ok i'll post a picture on a moments notice. you've got to admit  those are some pretty sweet lines.  


now don't get me wrong, i like what you have done it shows how we all have different tastes.  nothing like doing it yourself,  anybody can swipe a credit card to buy something, it's a whole different story when you do it yourself.

vroom1776 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:11:


i may be stupid but i ain't dumb.     brake stays...