Yamaha XS650 Special
Yamaha XS650 Special (photo shows 1980 model).
In 1970, Yamaha released the XS-1, their first four-stroke motorcycle. The concept of this motorcycle was a “lightweight, slim, compact, large-displacement sports model.” It was fitted with a slender double-cradle frame and a slim in-line twin-cylinder SOHC 2-valve 653cc engine with a compact cylinder head, rather than the OHV engines that were mainstream at the time. It gained many fans and was affectionately nicknamed “Peke-S.”
In September 1970, the XS-1 underwent a minor change as the XS650, which featured a revised gasoline tank design and new Ceriani front forks that eliminated the fork boots. It subsequently evolved into the XS650E, XS650SE, and XS650 Special.
The XS650 Special went on sale in Japan in March 1978. Equipped with the same vertical twin engine as the TX650, it was the original American model in Japan. It featured semi-chopper-style upturned handlebars, a teardrop-shaped gas tank, a stepped seat, and a short megaphone muffler, giving it an American style that was revolutionary at the time.
Model: Double Double Base vehicle: Yamaha XS650 Special (1980 model) Exhibitor: ROCKET motorcycly
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ROCKET Motorcycle, located in Koga City, Ibaraki Prefecture, applies the technical skills and experience honed through the All Japan Road Race Championship and the Asia Road Racing Championship to maintenance, repairs, and custom bike production. The shop is also well-known for customizing and maintaining the XS650, SR400/500, XT, and Sportster, and is supported by many enthusiasts.
For the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show 2025, the shop created a “Double Double” by extensively customizing the frame of a Yamaha XS650 Special (1980 model) and installing an air-cooled, four-stroke, parallel twin-cylinder SOHC two-valve 653cc engine from the XS650 Special at the front and rear .
Unlike V-type or L-type, engines with parallel front and rear cylinders and two crankshafts (two-axis crank type) are commonly called “square” or “U-type.” In Japan, they are famous for being used in the full-scale two-stroke racer replicas RG400Γ and RG500Γ released by Suzuki in 1985 (both models have a square-four with two cylinders in the front and two in the rear).
It could almost be described as square or U-shaped! The “double-double” engines, laid out front and rear, are firmly fixed to the bottom of the engine using custom-made mounting brackets (with round holes removed).
A sprocket is fixed to the left crankshaft of the front and rear engines, and they are connected by a drive chain to share power. The transmission is for the rear engine, and the engine is started using the kick pedal of the rear engine.
The exterior is designed in a drag racer style with a separate handlebar set in a low position, a thin gas tank, a single seat, rigid rear shocks, and an ultra-wide rear tire.
The official Instagram account below also features footage of the customization process and engine startup, so be sure to check it out!
ROCKET motorcycly official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocketmotorcycle/
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