The saw in: the Yamahalf 650

Of course XSs are the best. And I've had two of them before. But for the last twenty years I've stuck with Russian tricycles and Guzzi's, those good tractors. Oh, yeah: And the head-down line of pre-war bikes with a rigid rear frame? I have always found it very beautiful.

And then you hear that somewhere an abandoned XS hard tail project is standing in the way

The device had those USA bobber looks of things that want to look a bit like a Harley. I always find that a bit sad. In fact, I think Harleys go out of their way to look like Harleys. But the front fork was still just the Japanese number of degrees down and the discarded rear half of the XS was replaced by the neatly welded hard tail that also didn't do anything crazy with the wheelbase. Some volts were put on it. There went a tentative gallon of gasoline. The thing ran. But ran poorly. I'm not a very good buyer, but there I saw my business model: There were imitation K&N filters behind the carburetors. And during a run on the test bench with a Laverda three-cylinder, those bitches turned out to lose 21 hp just like that. The XS was gagged on the trailer.

At home, the imitation filters were removed and the XS ran much better as a result

The peanut tank was just parked on the top frame tube and so seriously went off. The exhaust bends were immediately cut. I also found the welded pieces of 'turn out' pipe something sad. The rear fender also stank too much of Harley shine. And a license plate + lighting? That stuff doesn't belong next to, but behind the engine. The engine block, which had apparently simply been dipped upside down in a can of 'wrinkle' lacquer, was stripped of that stuff as necessary with a rotating copper brush. The weird chopper handlebars went to someone who benefits from weird chopper handlebars. The peanut tank went to someone with a Harley Sportster. The minimal chicken leather saddle went to someone who wanted to mount it on his Honda moped.

The local motorcycle demolition provided a lived tank from the old iron box

It was one of a Ducati Indiana, the indisputable proof that Italians can make ugly things too. A friend showed up with an original XS custom tank. That was better. Seemed more classic. The key for the fuel cap was ordered from Luuk, the key professor. The local motorcycle dump shop supplied a somewhat beaten cross-wheeler from its oldest stock. Fellow villager Theo Terwel donated two stepping boards. The ex of someone who had traded Harley stuff with unclear backgrounds may have lost her guy, but she still had a shed full of parts. Includes a pan saddle. That cost little more than a sympathetic ear about how men can be. The BMW fenders were not compatible with my project. I took them back to Theo who told me to give a yell when I got the case ready to spray.

That gesture was appreciated and taken for granted

Even if Theo were to do my paintwork blindfolded and with one hand behind his back in a sandstorm, it would still be too beautiful. My project had to look a bit like a 1946'er Triumph Speed ​​Twin after a few days of partying. And then perfection is a step too far. Cheap aerosols, on the other hand, provide the perfect instant patina without making the result look perverse or decadent. The dampers, I had them for years: Real Dunstall decibel Dampers. The 'Black Caps', not the 'Red Caps', but still… The block has now been given a makeover thanks to the mail order company of Heiden Tuning. A rear mudguard was ordered from JV from Zwartsluis. The rear light came from the unlikely Loods 8 from Arnhem. A visit to Kiat Que's shop is recommended for people with strong debt collection capabilities. Nice! Even if you like Papua art. Joost Woesthoff supplied an almost non-fitting Yamaha mudguard for very little. When I visited the fair in Hardenberg, I had a wish list with me. Because there had to be open chalices. The cheapest ones didn't fit the least. Friend Jan Eggink turned exemplary adapters for it. The mesh edge ensured that the chalices just didn't fit. And were removed.

Now the calyxes are open to absorption of anything smaller than a guinea pig

With a guinea pig they can be plugged again against rain. Handy beasts those guinea pigs. You can also make washcloths out of it. In the meantime, there appeared to be no space on top of the frame for the tank and the saddle. That's why a bite was cut out of the tank. The grinding wheel without guard was joined by a jigsaw without base plate. That doesn't cut for a meter. The thing bounces like crazy in your hands, but it went. That that pretty big hole had to close again? I can't weld such thin plate, but neighbor Rob can 'tiggen' at work. Barriers for the tank rubbers were again fried on the frame.

The flash cap of 39,50 from Hardenberg turned out to be a bit slow to 'close' there. They weren't eyelashes though. But a nice wink was a must rather than an option. The mounting tab at the rear of the tank was removed when passing Citroënspecialist Berben from Ulft ge CO-tweed. Well, after that it was a matter of tying things together and securing them. Shake the aerosols of the Action and hope for the best. Now just put the tank emblems on it…

Nice: I have an XS again. Kind of…