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Tech Tips/ DIY

The High Life

Tattoo Duke Miller’s XS650 Build

Part 6

Article By: Daniel Donley At Pandemonium Custom Choppers www.pandemoniumc2.com

Originally Published In The January 2014 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine

Well this month wraps up the build of the High Life Project! Let me tell you, it’s been a blast hangin’ out in the shop with my good friends and building this cool bike. Doesn’t get any better than that!

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With all the parts back fresh from the powder coater, it’s time to start puttin’ this bad boy back together. The rims were done in a mirror black powder coat and make a nice contrast to the fat white wall tires.

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We packed the neck bearing with grease and installed the Acme Choppers’ Springer. Then we got the anti-seize out and lubed up the axle and installed the front rim and tire.

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Next, we got the Acme Choppers’ handlebar risers installed on top of the Springer along with some dirt bike style bars. This is a good combination for “rippin’ the strip!”

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Here is a shot of the modified stock XS650 kickstand mounted on top of the frame rail instead of the bottom like stock. No draggin’ the kickstand here!

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Getting ready to install the engine. Dad is putting on the Stratoflyte emblem on the engine side cover. This is being used to cover the Yamaha that was there. See, Duke wants people to scratch their heads when checking out his bike, sayin’ to themselves: What is that? Is it a pull behind camper? What? No a Stratoflyte? It’s a camper. Stratoflyte is a camper!

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Here we’re getting the engine mounts ready to install the engine. The bolts here have been parkerized; something that has been used on vintage cars and motorcycles. I’ll show you how to parkerize in a future tech article.

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This is the lil’ monster in the High Life Project — a Hugh’s Handbuilt 277 re-phased bottom end and a Gary Hoos 700 cc top end. Can’t wait to fire this monster up!

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The charging system has also been upgraded to a PMA from Hugh’s Handbuilt. If you have or are building an XS650 this is a great upgrade.

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The majority of the wiring on Duke’s bike runs inside the frame’s tubing. Cloth covered wire was used for a cool look.

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The wiring on the sissybar was twisted together to make it more stiff. Then we ran it through the eyelets welded to the sissybar to hold it in place for just a little different look.

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The Pandemonium E-Bomb holds the main wiring, fuse panel, capacitor and ignition coils. It’s a great place to hide all the electronics for the bike.

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I don’t know about you, but when I build a bike it seems I drag out every tool I own! It’s coming along good though.

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I got this cool brake fluid reservoir from some cat on Chop Cult (sorry can’t remember your name dude). It is a top of a glass beer bottle with a machined aluminum base and of course a Miller High Life cap!

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With the hand brake and line in place, I got the brake calipers bled in a snap with the Mityvac brake bleeder. This is one sweet tool!

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Casey at the Paint Chop laid down some sweet ass lines on the tank, fender and saddlebag.

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This guy knocked it out of the park. So with some stainless fasteners in hand, I got these parts mounted up.

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Well, all that is left is for me to run cables and lines and then get this bad boy fired up! Look for a full feature on the High Life Project in an upcoming issue. I want to thank everybody that helped with this project. I had a blast! I hope you did too! Daniel If you have any questions call me 419-576-6812 or email at info@pandemoniumc2.com www.pandemoniumc2.com

Thanks to:

Hugh’s Handbuilt www.hughshandbuilt.com

ACME Choppers www.acmechoppers.net

RedTail Leather www.redtailleather.com

Hoos Racing www.hoosracing.com

The Paint Chop www.thepaintchop.com

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