Page 31 - 100% Biker (January 2020)
P. 31
“I DON’T THINK THAT THERE’S MUCH I WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY ON THE
BIKE – OTHER THAN IT NOT BEING SO MUCH OF A RUSH TOWARDS THE END”
all, Rob says; “It’s definitely his fault I got into bikes with him pistons to ensure that it will happily last another forty years.
getting me a Honda C70 when I was about 11!” At the front, the XS650 forks were fitted with new seals and
The XS rebuild was fitted in around Rob’s other projects lowered by two inches, while the yokes—the top polished
until he decided that he really had to set himself a deadline and, and the bottom powder coated—are now topped with a set
as with his own Honda CB750, he appointed the Bike Shed of Renthal handlebars. In fact, virtually all of the original
Show in London as that deadline. Of course, he says, “as it bike that Michael first bought back in 1981 was reused, with
always seems to go, it ended up being a mad rush to get it done the wheels being powder coated and treated to new stainless
for the show.” The focus of this build had been very much on spokes and the original Yamaha petrol tank being fitted with
creating a neat build with the emphasis on it being usable and a pop-up filler cap. Being a good son, Rob did let his Dad
rideable. The Yamaha frame was de-tabbed and the rear angle pick the paint! He says of the build; “I don’t think that there’s
repositioned. Rob made up a seat base and then handed it over much I would have done differently on the bike—other than it
to CS Upholsterers to form and cover the seat. Although Rob not being so much of a rush towards the end. My dad had the
does most things in his workshop, he knows when to enlist the say on what colour he wanted and I got LA Custom Coatings
help of local specialists. While he created the smart exhaust to mix something. They did an incredible job as always.”
system himself, making the down tubes in 38mm stainless Rob fits his builds in around his job as a lorry mechanic and
steel and the silencers in chunky 68mm tubing, he then had currently has plans for another XS650 project which will probably
Pat at Limit Fabrication TIG weld the system together. be rather more radical than his Dad’s bike. And then there’s the
The engine—which had been the catalyst for the project— Suzuki Katana he would like to build, and maybe a sidecar project.
was carefully rebuilt with valves relapped and valve stem So I look forward to a trip into the countryside in the future to see
seals replaced and treated to a rebore with 0.5 oversize those—that’s if his Dad hasn’t banned me from the house!
www.100-biker.com | issue 256 | 100% Biker | 31
