Licks Cycles: Yamaha XS650 Chopper

Hand-Constructed XS650 Chopper from Prama Motorworks…

The Yamaha XS650 is likely one of the best-loved, most versatile Japanese bikes of the air-cooled period. In a time when the outdated British marques have been submitting chapter and shuttering their manufacturing unit doorways, the XS650 burst onto the scene as an oil-tight, modernized British-style parallel-twin with unit development and a horizontally-split crank case. What’s extra, it stays one of many extra good-looking engines in all of Classic Japanese Motorcycledom.

Just like the Triumph twins earlier than it, the XS650 discovered its means into flat trackers, street racers, bobbers, choppers, and extra. Former Pikes Peak winner Travis Newbold has even constructed an XS650 motocrosser, aka the “Extra 750.”

Not too long ago, we heard from Yosef Gumilar of Indonesia’s Prama Motorworks, who opened his workshop 10 years in the past. Earlier this 12 months, Yosef gained our hearts along with his Yamaha SR400 race bike, a “Muscle Thumper” he inbuilt simply 4 weeks for the 2023 Motor Adu Traditional Bike Race…and rode to victory!

Yamaha SR400 Race Bike — Yosef on his SR400 race bike!

Now he’s again with this XS650 chopper constructed for his buddy Elru Cornelius. Yosef is a giant fan of racing bikes and has fairly the abilities with aluminum fabrication. He got down to construct a sport-inspired chopper that may be comparatively comfy for lengthy rides. As a substitute of resorting to aftermarket bolt-on components, Yosef relied on his personal abilities and creativity to construct a real one-off chopper for his buddy.

Practically every part was custom-fabricated across the ’78 XS650 engine. Not simply the closely modified hardtail body and all the aluminum bodywork — tail part, headlight encompass, chin spoiler, and so forth. — but in addition the handlebars, brake and clutch levers, throttle holder, exhaust, aspect rack for baggage, rear wheel cowl, and extra.

Yosef needed to construct a motorbike that his buddy may truly experience, not simply showcase, so he opted for a thicker saddle and a few sensible additions for touring.

“I added a highlight and aspect bag for lengthy rides.”

In the meantime, the tattoo-style hand-painting is the work of Rollie Monkie, Dickey Helltigers, and Rakhablek. That is considered one of our favourite XS650 builds to this point — a very distinctive chopper, hand-built for a buddy. What may very well be higher than that?

Beneath, we get a couple of extra particulars from Yosef concerning the construct.

Yamaha XS650 Chopper: Builder Interview

• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the bike?

The engine is from a 1978 Yamaha XS650.

• Why was this bike constructed?

The bike is buyer mission, constructed for my buddy @corneliuselru.

• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?

l love racing bikes, so I all the time infuse a racing theme into my builds. I hoped, although it’s a chopper, it could be good for touring. I simply imagined including a sport-touring theme to the chopper.

• What {custom} work was finished to the bike?

All bodywork is fabricated from aluminum. Every part is {custom}: the bars, brake and clutch levers, exhaust, throttle holder, aspect rack, wheel cowl, and so forth. I added a highlight and aspect bag for lengthy rides.

The portray is by @rolliemonkie @helltigers and @rakhablek_.