When I saw the title of this thread Yamabrits, it reminded me of a pretty inspiring build. It was done a few years back by a fellow by the name of Ray Thornton (
jdcrawler@yahoo.com ). I watched his progress on the XS650twins group on yahoo. This is what he wrote at the time he started posting:
"This is a bike project that is quite different from what you normally
see. I have this posted on other motorcycle sites and wanted to post
it here because I'm using some 650 Yamaha parts. .. Photo album is:
Stuck in the 50's .
I have owned several motorcycles when I was younger and had 3-with
a side car attached. I haven't had a bike since I sold my Sportster
in 1980. Lately, I've been getting the itch for another bike. So I
started digging thru all the junk stored up in the barn.
I have always liked the looks of the old bikes from the 40's and
50's, so that is what I wanted to make mine look like.
I use to have a 1956 BSA that got hit in the rear and still have the
frame and title.
Other BSA parts in the barn included: gas tank, 2-tool boxes,
19-inch front wheel, 18-inch rear wheel and a pair of mufflers. Also a
girder front forks, brake pedal and rear luggage rack for a 40's
military bike.
There was also a side car fender for a URL Russian motorcycle, and
part of a 1949 Simplex Servi-cycle frame.
My son gave me a 1976 Yamaha XS650 frame, engine and rear wheel
that he picked from some where. So with this pile of parts, I started
building my bike.
Used the steering neck from the BSA and the engine cradle from
the Yamaha to build the frame. The hard tail is made with steel tube
and the axle ends off the Yamaha swing arm.
I laced the 18 BSA rear wheel to the Yamaha rear hub.
Bought a 21-inch Suzuki front wheel, speedometer & speedometer
cable off ebay. Also got the front & rear fenders, handle bars, seat,
head lite & tail lite bracket and foot boards off ebay.
I'm using a fiberglass nose off a go cart to build a side car to go
on this bike. I will use the 19-inch BSA front wheel and the URL
fender on the side car.
I'm intending to paint the frame, forks and engine side covers
simi-gloss black. The gas tank, tool boxes, fenders, chain guard and
side car will be bright red. The head lite is chrome. I'm thinking of
having the exhaust powder coated in a light gray.
Just wanted to show off my project so far. .. Ray"
I thought you folks might enjoy seeing it too, so I contacted Ray and got his permission to post some pictures and his description.
Harvey