Manky Monkey Motors

Thought you might like an update on Lisa's chop.
There are pics on here somewhere how it all started but these are as it is now.

That's pretty Pie. I like that. Gulf racing colours?  ;D

that looks really good . and it leans me to think I'm building my one the wrong way, every other build Ive seen is built in full techno colour but I'm building to final then taking all to bits and doing the polishing and paint , am i wrong or normal you decide  ;D

i dont think anybody would be called  normal on here   lol

cracker m8e bet She's well chuffed :)

That's how this has been done, everything has been fitted and the whole thing built up to make sure it all fits and works then it's pulled apart, blasted, undercoated, painted and polished etc.
MM, Gulf GT40 type colours really suit it I think, although the official line is the colours were inspired by the sunset!

Looking great there Pie. Very cool indeed.  8)

XS 650 engine just suits being chopped to me looking good  Pie 8)

I've owned 3 or 4 XS650s. Luvverly bikes. I'd love another one.
On our list of Vehicles We're Supposed To Be Photographing For The Site is a GT40 replica in Gulf colours.
Best get that organised.

I'll be alright for a little bit of XS knowledge if I get stuck then!

I know nuffink me!
Probably 20 years ago now, but they were lovely motors. Nice simple design & good looks, with that old Brit appearance that makes 'em perfect for chops.

Couldn't agree more.

where did the frame come from Pie? plz :)

Frame came from a mate who'd built it a while ago.

ok :) is it the xs modified? or a custom type?

Whoever modified the frame did a real neat job  8)

Modified, then we've added the mudguard and various other brackets and mounts.

looks great in those colours.ive seen a hayabusa done in those colours and it looked crap,but thats my own oppinion cuz basically i prefer naked bikes and customs. that really looks the biz cant wait to see the end result.Are u keeping the wheels the same or changing them

Thanks for the comments everyone, most appreciated.
Hornet6, the wheels are staying as we've spent time polishing the rims and repainting the rest and we're really trying to do the whole job with what we originally had to keep the cost down.

It's good to recycle & adapt the original parts where possible I think. Keeps a link with the old bike -circle of life & all that.

I like the original wheels they sute it  :)

A few more pics of the progress, bit of painting, wiring and annoying little jobs to do and it's done.
I do have an exhaust type question that I would appreciate opinions on though. We want to run it with just the downpipes on and no silencers, the pipes as they are finish just short of the rear of the engine and the idea is to put baffles in to give it back pressure and quieten it down a bit. The question is, do you think the engine will set up and run ok? is there any reason that you can think of why we shouldn't run it like that? Any thoughts?

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Run it like that,it looks awesome, I used to have a little hardtail chop with the 840 Halco engine, loved it

"is there any reason that you can think of why we shouldn't run it like that?"

Cos the neighbours might come round & clout you with a lump of 2 by 4 for waking 'em up every morning with yer unsilenced bike? Mind you, looking at the size of the back garden you've photographed it in, maybe they won't hear it.  :D
I used to run tapered "Shotgun" silencers, (cheap Harley Sportster copies), on my XS650 chop & it was still bloomin' loud.
Looks fabulous mate. I'm so glad the billet barge look seems to be giving way to back-to-basics, hotrod/bobber/flat tracker/board racer styled bikes. Probably cos no-one can afford the billet anymore.
Something very British looking about that, even with the motor from the Land of the rising mushroom cloud.
Purely personally, if it were mine, the only changes I'd make would be a set of similar Shotgun pipes, which would finish somewhere near the end of the little black teardrop toolbox, if only to keep the local boys in blue & the MOT man a litle happier & to keep the paintwork that lovely baby blue rather than sooty black. I'd also have fitted a Sportster tank, but that's just me -sorry, I just like 'em, (yes, my new trike has got one), & a slightly curvier Paughco style solo saddle, (yes, my trike's got one of those too).
Tis a lovely lookin' little machine though Pie. I hope you'll grace our Motors section with a write-up before PantherShaun poaches you for Brit Chopper?!  ;)

Thanks Manky.
I've only got one neighbour and they're quite biker friendly so that should be ok.
I rather like the look of sporster tanks as well and it was an option at the start but decided on the mustang type shape that sits right down on the frame but, you'll be pleased to hear, it is a Paughco although the seat isn't, that's a one off Pie (well two off, as I have the same on the trike).
Thanks for the 'British look' comment, that was the aim.
I'll put some words and pics together as soon as it's finished.

High tunnel Sporster would sit low ...O.K, I give up, Mustang tank it is then.  ;D

that looks cool  8) as you like just ENJOY  ;D

i think your chop looks firkin briliant pie . the over all look is what i would have liked to end up with myself but we cant always get what we want . is the bar ends got flat lense indicators in them ? .

Thanks Bummer, and well spotted they are indeed indicators built in to the grips.

will they keep mr mot man happy and will it mean you dont need rear one's . i spoke to a man at a show who had the same idea and he didnt need the rear ones as you could see the bar end ones , lies or truth ?
coool 

As far as trikes are concerned, I spoke to Chris, the MSVA inspector who writes on the 100% Biker forum, & he said bar end indicators were fine for the front but you'd still need normal rear ones cos they'd assume your elbows would obscure the bar ends.

i thought it would be a bid dodgey and thats why i have probably the most ugly set up for my rear ones as you can get. back in the day my dad had bright orange arrows on the side of his pudding bowl nothing to do with looking cool just turn your head in the direction you are turning , not sure if mr plod would see it like that nowadays . or maybe even back then

 ;D

In the old days I had reflective arrows on my gauntlets.

hi Pie hows it going ? any update on the chop and may i ask were you purchased your rear mudguard from ?. if its a secret then wisper and i wont tell anyone else , promise  ;)

No updates yet, at the wiring stage so not a lot too see. Also trying to find a petrol tap to fit the tank which is turning into the quest for the holy grail!
Need a 3/8" NPT I think, if anyone has one.
The mudguard is a 6" Triumph Wassel copy bought from Barons speed shop.
Good luck with the wiring!

cheers pie. i removed the harley type fuel tap from mine and welded up the hole and put an original vacuum type one that goes with my carbs further town the tank . you can have this one if you want but i will have to check the thread first. i will get back to you .   

It's now fully wired up with everything working, paintwork is completely finished and all "I'll do that later" jobs are done.
All there is to sort out is to find an inline petrol tap that isn't a plastic lawnmower one and then hopefully it'll start first kick (yeah right) and off to the MOT.

cracking m8 :) bet yer well chuffed :)

Love it,love it, ; love it  ;D ;D ;D ;D

A lovely, useable little ride Pie. Very nice.
-can we have a write-up please.  ;)

Very tidy. Like it.  ;)

Yes that does look the dogs danglies  8)

sweet as a nut

i like it a lot  ;D