I also came up with inexpensive but custom solutions to get small turn signals front and rear using some repurposed shapes and tube with standard LEDs. I did lower bars, bar end mirrors, a smaller much less ugly master cylinder, and levers without mirror holes too. The whole upper front end was redone - a 5 ¾” headlight was mounted on custom brackets I made which don’t clutter the forks, and allow everything to package including the custom-made “dash” which houses new mini speedo and tach from Dime City/Mikes XS. A custom cover was made by Scott at Bad Ass Bike Seats. The bike’s frame was shortened to allow fit up of the new seat. Since I believe it’s important to have good fit up of seat to tank and since I love the stock tail, I shortened and sectioned the stock seat pan and reused the stock foam, but modified it to fit the modified pan and lowered its height. These years of XS happened to have a fantastic squarish gas tank and a nice tail section stock, so the build concept was to leverage the good OE looks, but change the not-so-good like the super long seat and the usual large lights, mirrors etc.
![e xs dirt rally images e xs dirt rally images](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDErPqNpnXc/TWevuxOWbZI/AAAAAAAAP1M/_Olsy-Ze_fY/s1600/IMG_0140.jpg)
I wanted a donor bike that had good looks to start with and wanted a small to midsize twin, as this is classic cafe racer, and as I have to some extent moved beyond the horsepower wars, and look and feel and lightness is as important to me as performance.
#E XS DIRT RALLY IMAGES FULL#
“Little Chromer” setup.īelow, we get the full story on these XS400 Twin(s). What’s more, the bike can quickly transform into its flashier alter-ego, “Little Chromer,” with a set of chrome custom fenders and other bling. “It’s the sum of all that detail work that makes the bike in my view.” Meanwhile, the front-end and cockpit were streamlined and minimized, as were all of the lights and fenders, which gave the bike its nickname: “No XS.” The result is a bike that makes you do a double-take, as you try to put your finger on why it looks so much better than the original: We especially like how he retained the factory tail, but shortened the seat pan, subframe, and seat itself for a more compact profile, with a new seat cover from Scott Lynch at. “The build concept was to leverage the good OE looks, but change the not-so-good like the super long seat and the usual large lights, mirrors etc.” As you can see from the photos, Aaron took a different tack than many of the bikes we see, preferring to salvage as much of the original styling as possible:
![e xs dirt rally images e xs dirt rally images](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3uspF_n97eE/TVJraTz7mnI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/UYTW4q_T7g8/s1600/3.jpg)
It wasn’t running, but it was local, low mileage, and the tank was pristine.
![e xs dirt rally images e xs dirt rally images](https://rideontoys.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cruiser-2.jpg)
He found the perfect donor in this 1977 XS400. “I have to some extent moved beyond the horsepower wars, and look and feel and lightness is as important to me as performance.” Soon thereafter, Aaron started looking for a project bike, preferably a midsize twin - a bike for in-town riding, with decent factory styling.