Some bikes are simply born to be custom-made, and few have stepped as much as the blank-canvas problem fairly like Yamaha’s XS650. It’s bought a bulletproof motor, timeless strains, and a large following—the right recipe for {custom} greatness.
The guts of the beast was its 654cc air-cooled, SOHC parallel twin engine. Critically, the engine and gearbox have been of unit development with a horizontally cut up crankcase. This superior design was a game-changer, giving it a status for reliability and, crucially, a near-total absence of the annoying oil leaks that plagued the British bikes of the period.
Evolution was fast, with the unique kick-start solely fashions giving approach to the 1972 XS-2, which correctly added an electrical starter and a entrance disc brake—an enormous step up in each day usability. Later in 1978, the market demanded a unique look, and Yamaha delivered with the “Particular” cruiser mannequin, full with a teardrop tank and pull-back bars, which proved immensely widespread, significantly in the US.
Past the showroom, the XS650 engine turned an icon in American grime observe racing. This trusty parallel twin shattered the long-standing dominance of Harley-Davidson, powering the bikes of future champions like Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, and Eddie Lawson early of their careers.
Although the Normal mannequin was discontinued round 1979, the cruiser-style Particular variants have been produced till 1985 (ending in 1983 within the U.S.), cementing its legacy. Right now, the XS650 is well known for its simplicity and rugged sturdiness, making it one of the vital widespread classic platforms for {custom} builders of each stripe.
From hyper-minimalist bobbers to neo-futuristic café racers, the vary of what this platform can obtain is staggering. Listed below are seven of our favourite custom-made XS650s which have graced Bike EXIF through the years.
MotoRelic’s Schwinn-inspired Yamaha XS650
Sean Skinner at MotoRelic normally has a knack for creating tidy restomods, however he threw Bike EXIF a serious curveball with this venture: a classic Schwinn-inspired Yamaha XS650. The offbeat concept was to construct an upsized, motorcycle-powered reproduction of the famed 1968 Stingray Orange Krate bicycle. The most important problem was replicating the swooping, tubular curves of the Stingray’s body, a process that required chopping and modifying a inventory neck and shaping each different metal tube from scratch.
The body sat stalled for 4 years till Sean discovered the right element to re-ignite the construct: an XS650 mill that had been extensively ‘re-phased’ by Hugh’s Hand Constructed. With the engine sorted, Sean bought the proportions proper by lacing a comically giant 21-inch rim to the rear hub, which helped set the journey top for the bike’s signature function: the ‘banana girder’ entrance finish. This meeting was custom-made, utilizing an adjustable mountain bike shock for compliance and a hacked-up set of ape hangers for the ultimate cockpit look.
The small print are as whimsical because the idea. Sean modified a Yamaha Virago gas tank to suit the Stingray’s strains and maintain a usable quantity of gasoline. He additionally custom-built the basic banana seat and was adamant about replicating the Stingray’s signature seat shocks on the base of the sissy bar, machining all of the components to create a full-sized model. Completed in a stunning sweet orange body, heavy flake off-white paint, and retro-fabulous white glitter vinyl on the seat, this can be a enjoyable, whimsical construct—pure artwork in movement and a childhood reminiscence delivered to life. [MORE]
Simone Conti’s Aluminum Skinned XS650
Calling this a {custom} XS650 is a little bit of a stretch, as a result of the one unique components left are the engine, transmission, wheels, and rear brake. Decided to show his mates flawed, Simone Conti got down to construct one among his wildest bikes but. The true magic lies within the chassis: the twin-cylinder mill now not sits in its unique metal body; as an alternative, it is suspended from a full aluminum setup, designed and fabricated totally by Simone himself.
This new chassis is a modular design, utilizing tubular sections for the entrance and subframe, tied along with precision CNC-cut mounting plates. The boxy swingarm can be a {custom} piece, hooked as much as an Öhlins shock. Up entrance, the suspension and brakes are closely upgraded with Honda CBR600RR forks and Brembo twin brake calipers, mixing a futuristic vibe with basic Avon and Dunlop tires.
Steel shaping is Simone’s forte, and this XS650 is swathed in handmade aluminum components. The aesthetic is lithe and muscular, evoking pictures of jet fighters and anime mechs. From the sculpted gas tank to the waspish tail part, every bit is closely detailed with sharp edges and visual welds. The practicality is baked in, too, with quarter-turn fasteners on the fairing making servicing a breeze. Simone even collaborated with mates to breed a number of components—just like the vented entrance brake scoops and wheel covers. The result’s a neo-futuristic café racer that’s nothing wanting spectacular. [MORE]
Jap Spirit Storage’s XS650 Bobber
Jap Spirit Storage has firmly established itself as a grasp of the basic café racer style, however store boss Sylwester likes to often break the mildew as they did with this completely proportioned bobber. It is primarily based on an early 80s Yamaha XS650 Particular, which, as Sylwester notes, was an ideal, inexpensive base that wasn’t too “painful to chop down.”
The crew began by stripping the bike down, eradicating the rear of the body, and fabricating their very own hardtail setup. The handmade floating seat is a masterpiece of engineering, that includes an extremely elegant and surprisingly snug suspension system that employs a mountain bike shock. They additional perfected the stance by modifying the pinnacle angle with custom-built offset yokes, shortening the forks, and updating the wheels for stable aftermarket 16-inch models supposed for a Harley-Davidson Fats Boy.
Customized touches are in every single place, together with clip-ons, rear-sets, and a svelte new exhaust system with hidden silencers. Below the moody black and gold-plated exterior, the motor acquired a correct rebuild with new internals.
The ultimate colour scheme is basic gloss black with a delicate double gold pin stripe, rewarding nearer inspection with a plethora of small particulars, such because the drilled-out brake discs and rear flip indicators cleverly built-in into the body. Sylwester’s sharp eye for silhouette is clear, leading to a slick bobber that does not scream for consideration however rewards it handsomely. [MORE]
Auto Fabrica’s ‘Kind 6’
In Japan, there’s a design concept referred to as Kanso (簡素), that means simplicity, or the elimination of muddle. Each time a machine rolls out of Auto Fabrica’s English workshop, it’s a masterclass in that nice precept.
Store proprietor Bujar Muharremi and his crew attempt for “simplicity in type, complexity intimately,” spending an unlimited period of time on preliminary design earlier than even touching a grinder. The ensuing aesthetic is one among virtually inconceivable cleanliness, largely as a result of single, elegant unit of the tank and seat base, fashioned from 2.5-millimeter aluminum. The body itself was modified by reducing and barely transferring again the headstock to create a robust prime line that flows uninterrupted from the headlight to the rear cowl.
Impressed by different nice builds, Auto Fabrica used a single carb conversion, persevering with the road of the handmade stainless-steel exhaust all through to the filter for an uneven visible steadiness that works fantastically. The exhaust pipes are unmuffled, however they’ve {custom} baffles hidden inside to supply a refined exhaust notice. Up entrance, a ravishing Laverda SF750 twin main shoe hub is laced to a 19-inch rim, and the cockpit is stored smooth with slim clip-ons and a {custom} wrap that conceals the controls in a clean loop. [MORE]
Brad Monk’s Yamando Racer
Brad Monk is a racer, and that is his weapon of selection: a ‘Yamando’—half Yamaha XS650, half Norton Commando. In Brad’s phrases, it’s “the most effective of each worlds,” a mix that took him to the general title in Canada’s classic street racing Heavyweight class. The engineering genius behind the machine is retired racer Toivo Madrus, who has been fine-tuning and bettering this beast—now the Yamando MK V—for years, taking engine efficiency from 65 HP to over 80 HP.
The core downside with the race-spec XS engine is the extraordinary vibration. The answer got here from the Norton Commando body and its famed isolastic engine mounting system, which makes use of rubber mounts to successfully ‘float’ the motor throughout the chassis. Becoming the broader Yamaha engine into the Norton body was a colossal process, requiring the engine to be relocated up and to the suitable, with a brand new rear mounting subframe. Toivo spent years discovering the “candy spot” to make sure the aggressive XS engine would not crack the Norton body.
The chassis revisions are intensive, together with a chromoly swingarm, Yamaha FZR600 forks, and Works Efficiency shocks. The engine has been upgraded to a 750cc equipment with new stainless-steel valves, an upgraded cam, and 38mm Mikuni carbs. The gas tank is a hand-made aluminum unit, and the tail is a fiberglass merchandise primarily based on an unique Herb Becker mildew. As Toivo all the time says, “If it have been straightforward…all people would do it!” This Yamando is a superb, unorthodox, and profitable continuation of the spirit of the unique Tritons, marrying Japanese energy with British dealing with genius. [MORE]
Jeff Palhegyi’s Dust Tracker
Is there any racing livery extra evocative than Yamaha’s basic ‘velocity block’ sample? Put it on a mud tracker, and also you’ve bought a match made in heaven. Jeff Palhegyi’s uncompromising XS650, constructed for the Quail Gathering, has the go to match the present, with a severely hot-rodded motor nestled in a Mule Bikes body. Jeff’s greatest problem was learn how to preserve the vibe of the unique race bikes whereas staying road-legal.
He labored with Richard Pollock of Mule Motorcycles for inspiration and secured a body constructed by J&M Racing. The inventory engine was despatched to Mototech USA, the place it was given a high-performance makeover with a 750cc big-bore equipment and Dell’Orto carbs, pushing this light-weight tracker past 65 hp on the rear wheel. A stepped exhaust system, fabricated from Burns Stainless tubing, was essential for each appears to be like and energy.
To maintain the bike planted, Jeff put in Yamaha YZF-R6 sportbike forks and {custom} Racetech shocks, with the forks receiving custom-made carbon fiber guards. He black-anodized almost every thing, together with the {custom} foot controls and over 30 one-off billet parts, and bead-blasted the engine for a low-key matte look. The low-profile bodywork—a squared-off tank unit from First Klass Glass and a custom-molded tail—is the literal icing on the cake, completed in that iconic Yamaha racing paint. As Jeff admits, “The most important problem on this venture was hiding all of the ‘streetable’ parts, and protecting it trying easy,” an achievement he pulled off spectacularly. [MORE]
Jay Donovan’s ‘Manta’ Yamaha XS650
We’re all the time suckers for lovely metalwork, however seeing each steel artistry and technical upgrades on one construct is a uncommon deal with. Constructed for Michael Lichter’s ‘Bikes as Artwork’ exhibition at Sturgis, this sleek Yamaha XS650, named ‘Manta,’ is the work of Jay Donovan of Baresteel Design. Jay wished to transform the inventory platform so closely that the ultimate product would appear prefer it was totally constructed from scratch.
Jay rebuilt many of the rear chassis, ditching the twin-shock setup for a mono shock from a 2008 Ducati Monster. The swingarm was modified to just accept a wider rear tire and transformed to needle bearings, and the brand new tail part was set at an angle parallel to the engine fins. The brand new rear finish is matched to a totally polished entrance with Suzuki SV650 forks and brakes, upgraded with Race Tech internals. The wheels have been rebuilt with Excel 17” rims on the inventory hubs, wrapped in Dunlop Sportmax high-performance radials.
The crowning glory is the beautiful alloy bodywork. The one-piece aluminum tank and tail part, together with the fairing, have been all hand-formed from a flat sheet of aluminum utilizing conventional Italian coach constructing strategies. The engine incorporates a top-end rebuild, a Boyer Bransden digital ignition, Mikuni carbs, and a shocking custom-made stainless-steel exhaust that snakes across the motor and terminates neatly beneath the bike. From the Motogadget wi-fi RFID key system to the leather-wrapped grips and kick-start lever, the eye to element is outstanding, making the ‘Manta’ each a chunk of artwork and a fantastic-looking journey. [MORE]
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