Base vehicle: Yamaha XS650 Manufacturer: RODSTAR
Based on the vintage Yamaha XS650 model, it has been customized in a dirt track style with an aluminum gas tank, seat cowl, thick block pattern tires, etc. The covers of the retro-looking air-cooled 4-stroke twin engine are plated to improve the overall balance of the machine.
The frame is almost entirely one-off, and the swingarm, with its beautiful curves and coordinated aluminum panels, is also a uniquely designed one-off.
The front mask has a round headlight embedded in it, a tapered gas tank, and a single seat and seat cowl with a compact integrated side cowl, giving it a wild tracker style.
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The front and rear wheels are 18-inch spoke wheels with large-diameter hubs. The tires are a block pattern type that is suitable for dirt riding and dirt track style. The sizes are 120/90-18 in the front and 130/80-18 in the rear, with a high aspect ratio and thick walls.
The XS650 is a vintage Yamaha model released in 1970. It is equipped with an air-cooled, four-stroke, two-cylinder, SOHC, two-valve, 653cc engine.
Gorgeous dirt track style
Based on Yamaha’s twin-engine model “XS650” released in 1970, this gorgeous custom bike has been given a dirt track look with an aluminum gas tank, seat cowl, and thick block pattern tires.
This machine stood out among the many custom bikes at the venue. It was built by RODSTAR, a custom shop in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture.
With its front and rear suspension employing a rigid suspension that pursues beauty, a flat-looking handlebar that is offset to the rear, and an aluminum electrical storage box located in front of the rear tire, it is a beautiful car that will draw your attention and is worthy of being on the stage of a hot rod custom show.
The transmission part of a Kawasaki vehicle is combined with the lower part of the XS650
The engine’s cylinder head and upper cylinder are from the XS650. The lower crankcase, the front half where the crankshaft is housed, is from the XS650. However, the rear half where the transmission is housed is a Kawasaki version, using the skills of a master craftsman. A unique custom collaboration between Yamaha and Kawasaki.
The process of combining the Yamaha and Kawasaki engines, as seen by a professional motorcycle customization expert, is also available on the official RODSTAR Facebook page below.
RODSTAR Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rodstarmotorcycle/?ref=embed_page
The transmission section below the engine (crankcase) is combined with Kawasaki’s transmission section for large vehicles.
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The crankshaft side (left side) to which the generator is fixed and the transmission side (right side) are driven by a chain system reminiscent of vintage Harleys.
The crankcase cover fixed below the waist features the YAMAHA x KAWASAKI logo.
The photo shows the transmission section from the right side of the vehicle. You can see that a Kawasaki transmission is located behind the lower back of the XS650. The transmission cover is plated.
The intake system uses the Keihin CR, a racing carburetor for four-strokes that was all the rage at the time. The successor to the CR is the still popular FCR, which is equipped with an accelerator pump.
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XS-1, XS650, SR400… All based on Yamaha’s famous models! Hot Rods, Choppers, Trackers | Yokohama Hot Rod Custom ShowYamaha vehicles have defined an era as a base for customization, and are known as a motorcycle manufacturer that has produced many models that remain immensely popular even after they have been discontinued. Here we introduce some extremely unique customizations based on Yamaha vehicles that were exhibited at the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show (HCS) 2023, Japan’s largest custom car and custom bike event. Many customizations that make the most of the materials were on display, including the XS-1 and XS650 modified models with vertical twin engines, and the SR400 modified model, which could be called the “king of custom bases.” PHOTO/REPORT: Kita Hideaki Event Organizer: Mooneyes https://www.mooneyes.co.jp/
