Yamaha XS650 Brat Tracker – BikeBound

“Karbu” from Le Cent Vingt Cinq…  

At one time, few bikes might compete with the British twins for energy, efficiency, and elegance. The 650 parallel-twins from BSA, Norton, Triumph, and others had been simply the ticket for the rider who wished a motorbike with intercourse attraction and loads of horsepower for the road, strip, or California desert. Nonetheless, by the late Nineteen Sixties, a lot of the previous British factories had been on their final legs, if not shuttered fully. It appeared the period of the 650 straight-twin roadster had come to an finish…

Then Yamaha launched the XS650, a motorbike that took its model and configuration straight from the British 650 twins, however added the additional advantage of Japanese engineering prowess. In contrast to its British forebears, this Japanese roadster was dependable, reasonably priced, and obtainable on showroom flooring. A brand new legend was born.

The XS650 is a type of bikes that merely lends itself to customization. We’ve seen these bikes remodeled in nearly each type of method conceivable: bobbers, choppers, cafe racers, trackers, scramblers, even full-on motocrossers! On this case, Arnaud of Le Cent Vingt Cinq wished to construct his dream bike, a day by day rider that blended bratstyle and flat monitor types.

Because the son of an off-road rider, Arnaud was surrounded by bikes from a younger age. He started customizing his 883 Sportster on the age of 21 after which moved on to smaller, extra reasonably priced bikes whereas working as a full-time physiotherapist:

“I began to construct 125cc as a result of it’s low-cost right here. For just a few years and through covid, we determined to work along with my finest pal, Indian, and construct Le Cent Vingt Cinq Bike (means 125 motorbike in French) due to 125cc.”

In the present day, Arnaud works together with his good pal, Indian, and Pascal, a 60-year-old retired mechanic. Their “Baguette” venture received the customized contest at Wheels & Waves 2023, and after 4 years of constructing bikes by the workshop, Arnaud had discovered and saved sufficient to start on his dream bike, the 1980 Yamaha XS650 you see right here.

“I wished a day by day rider utilizing this lovely twin engine from the ’70s and provides it a bit push into 2024.”

This engine is operating a 750cc large bore package with racing cam and digital ignition, in addition to a rebuilt gearbox, clutch, and extra. Arnaud and his crew swapped the rear drum for a disc brake utilizing a Honda CR500 hub, and the bike is operating Excel rims, Motogadget electronics, and Beringer dual-disc entrance brakes.

The tank is a bespoke piece hand-built from aluminum, and Ghost Customized Paint laid down the sweet black paint that offers a black mirror impact. In the meantime, Arnaud’s pal at Frenchie Sellerie stitched up the alcantara saddle.

Arnaud nicknamed his day by day dream rider “Karbu” after the bike’s old-school induction, which contrasts together with his fuel-injected 2000cc Harley:

“Karbu is brief for “carburateurs” (French for carburetors). And Ok as a substitute of C to really feel cooler ”

Arnaud is duly pleased with how his Yamaha “brat tracker” turned out, and for the work of his crew:

“I’m actually pleased with my crew serving to me do that venture and all of the work from my painter / saddler and all of the individuals I labored with.”

That is one pretty XS whose tank and graphics recall the fiberglass race tanks of the Nineteen Seventies. The finishes and particulars are top-notch, and the 750cc big-bore engine makes for loads of energy and sound. We find it irresistible.

Under, we speak to Arnaud for extra particulars on “Karbu,” and credit score goes out to Thomas J. of Behind the Bars for the pictures.

Yamaha XS650 Brat Tracker: Builder Interview

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

I’ve been on bikes since I used to be 3 years previous. My dad was an off-road pilot (Touquet, endurance, motocross). So bikes are a part of the household. I used to be all the time drawn to Harley-Davidson bikes so I obtained my first 883 at 21, with credit score from the financial institution and I began customizing with my dad within the storage.

Then I began to construct 125cc as a result of it’s low-cost right here. For just a few years and through covid, we determined to work along with my finest pal, Indian, and construct Le Cent Vingt Cinq Bike (means 125 motorbike in French) due to 125cc.

We work totally on the 125 Honda CM and switch it into café racer / brat / scrambler, and many others. So the workshop is my second job; I’m a full-time physiotherapist and my pal a venture supervisor . And two years after we began, we had been joined by Pascal, a 60 year-old retired mechanic, and since he’s been right here, we’ve been doing larger bikes and discovered so much.

After 50-60 bikes completed in 4 years, I lastly begin my dream construct: XS650.

• What’s the make, mannequin, and yr of the donor bike?

It is a Yamaha 650 XS from 1980, completely reworked.

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

I’d say this construct is a “Brat tracker.” I like flat monitor and bratstyle and I wished one thing in between.

My affect come from RSD, Crooked, Bratstyle, and few bikes on Pinterest. I wished a day by day rider utilizing this lovely twin engine from the ’70s and provides it a bit push into 2024. The look of this bike is a mixture of supplies and results. It’s principally technics just like the black fork / the poly chrome on aspect engine / the ink on polished aluminium of the tank, and many others. I wished a mixture of noble technics (which makes the bike fairly costly).

It took me one yr to place cash apart and take into consideration the venture. And one yr to construct one thing completely completely different that I designed…and go method over my preliminary finances

• What customized work was completed to the bike?

Engine: 750cc large bore package, racing camshaft, digital ignition (begin button + kick), and we rebuilt the gearbox, clutch, and many others. — all new.

We switched the rear brake for a disc brake, utilizing a 500CR rim, with do-it-yourself crown and do-it-yourself caliper holder.

I had a partnership with Motogadget and Beringer brakes for this venture, which helped me to grasp my dream bike. I’d keep it’s a “Brat monitor” sort.

The tank is 100% aluminium customized made, polished, and we utilized a sweet black paint to offer the impact of a black mirror portray / chrome (painter: @ghostcustompaint).

The seat is 100% alcantara made by my pal @frenchie.sellerie.

The wiring is hidden as a lot as I might

• What’s the which means / story behind the identify “Karbu”?

Karbu is brief for “carburateurs” (French for carburetors). And Ok as a substitute of C to really feel cooler

To me it means it’s my classic day by day, that works simply positive. As an alternative of utilizing my big 2L injection Harley to go 4km to work…which isn’t nice for the engine.

• Are you able to inform us what the driving expertise is like on the finished bike?

I’ll…however thus far it’s nonetheless in course of, and I’ll use it after the Kustom Manufacturing unit present at Salon du 2 Roues in Lyon (6-10 March). For now, it’s operating positive within the workshop, which is nice. It all the time begins instantly.

• Was there something completed throughout this construct that you’re significantly pleased with?

I’m actually pleased with my crew serving to me do that venture and all of the work from my painter / saddler and all of the individuals I labored with.

I believe we succeeded with the “brat monitor” model. And I’m pleased with the stability of the bike; it seems to be completely different from most builds I see. And I’m actually proud that I might end my dream bike.

It was our first change to rear disc brake additionally — it wasn’t easy or low-cost however seems to be nice. And I can’t wait to journey it.

Comply with the Builder

Upholstery: @frenchie.sellerie
Paint: @ghostcustompaint
Images Credit score: @behindthebars_hd

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