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M&M Customs Yamaha XS650 Hardtail Bobber

There seems to be a bit too many things in such a title, but looking at Mike McFadden's creation leaves no other way. It's a customized old Yamaha XS650, it's a bobber, a hardtail bike and even more, it breathes vintage flat-track racing. So there we go.
M&M Customs Yamaha XS650 10 photos
Photo: M&M's Customs
M&M Customs' Yamaha XS650 Hardtail BobberM&M Customs' Yamaha XS650 Hardtail BobberM&M Customs' Yamaha XS650 Hardtail BobberM&M Customs' Yamaha XS650 Hardtail BobberM&M Customs' Yamaha XS650 Hardtail BobberM&M Customs' Yamaha XS650 Hardtail BobberM&M Customs' Yamaha XS650 Hardtail BobberM&M Customs' Yamaha XS650 Hardtail BobberOriginal 1980 Yamaha XS650
Mike has gotten us acquainted with his rather liberal approach to bikes, easily avoiding remaining captive in the confinements of a certain traditional style. And that's amazing, because after all, that's exactly what freestyle modding is all about.

If you peek at the original 1980 XS650 and back at the M&M Customs one, there are little things in common. In fact, if it weren't for the Yamaha logo on the engine, few would recognize the base model.

With a custom hardtail frame, the new bike received a hand-made underseat storage space and rear frame: it's there where the battery and the wiring are hidden, and that's why this build sports such a clean and tidy look.

We were absolutely thrilled to see the underbelly exhaust: not only it brings the modern racing-spirit into this vintage machine, but at the same time, the rear end of the bike remains free, and the minimalist 5-spoke wheels create a huge, pleasant negative space we simply fell in love with. Cutting the original handlebars and loading the remaining ends on clip-ons provided this bobber with an awesome design.

Finally, the seat. After trying several designs, Mike and a friend decided to make their own design, and since Mike's wife had a leather jacket she no longer needed, it's not hard to guess what happened next. We cannot stress enough how cool the piano black paint job looks in contrast with the cream accents on the engine, cylinder heads and top yoke.

Via BikeShed.
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