Finding the lines and curves that the bike needs to flow in. The bike started as a ’76 bonestocked xs650… the bike was in real good shape and most collectors probably would have freaked out at the idea of chopping it.. I built the bike for a good friend of mine, not really having an idea of what kind of bike to build. The first stage was stripping the bike down… lightening it up… stepping back, taking it in, finding the lines and curves that the bike needs to flow in. It’s nice to have the freedom to build the bike according to my own vision while simultaneously building it to the character of the client.
Firstoff, I used a TC Brothers hardtail section (which, by the way, is a great setup… real easy). Then I used a sporty peanut tank, narrowed down the center one inch and frisco mounted. The frontend is a 1970’s springer frontend, shortened, running with a 21-inch clean-spool front wheel from V-twin.
The handlebars are flipped around Z-bars on one inch risers. The controls are one-inch brass roundstock turned down on a lathe. The electrical components are all contained in a flour canister, which was purchased at Target. The backwheel is a sixteen inch on a Ching Shing tire running a stock drum break. Everything on this bike is bare minimum. This bike runs like a top.
This is actually the first Yamaha I’ve ever built, I’m used to working on Harleys… and I must say that it was a fun bike to build.In fact, an old-timer asked me once, “do you know what Yamaha stands for boy?” and I said “no, what? y’old coot.” and he replied “Young Arrogent Man Awaiting Harley’s Arrival”
-Kyle Edgar, Leadfist Cycles
