Hello,
Let me introduce you to my very first build, my Yamaha XS360 totally rebuilt and redesigned from scratch by my hands.
The idea was to make an old motorcycle as clean and simple as possible that looks more or less like a cafe racer or maybe some sort of "bratracer", totally rebuilt and redesigned from scratch by my hands. I also wanted to do something without all the little details that I don't like such as a box under the seat for the electrical parts, a misaligned tank, a misaligned headlight, or even a "panini" saddle. It would also be an opportunity to learn a lot of things: mechanics, electricity, welding, sewing, painting, ...
Finally, I wanted to make a motorcycle in my image: fairly classic, with a touch of eccentricity that I can ride easily.
I started in January 2015 when I bought my sweet XS 360. This is my first build ... of course I have good mountain biking experience for the frame, the suspensions and the brakes, but I had never open a engine or rewire anything from scratch. First, I looked at the possibilities, what was done on the little XS, what I would do and what I would not do.
I did not go easy, my XS360 was not complete, the engine was not running and I wanted to make a lot of changes ... so I decided to totally rebuild and redisigned from scratch even if it takes time, I wanted to learn ...
So I started with the frame and the overall design but very quickly I opened the engine to rebuild one from two and a reconditioned cylinder with pistons. It was a big job, each part was sandblasted and reconditioned. reconditioned valves, new piston rings, new gaskets, new seals, remove the starter (kickstar only), new clutch discs, etc.
I cannot say if there is a big difference with an original because I never had the opportunity to ride my xs360 before its transformation. But in my imagination, I literally fly ... Less weight without a lot of unnecessary stuff, lots of noise with pods and an almost free 2 in 1 wrapped exhaust.
I wanted to respect the original graphics with a touch of modernity in the color theme. Finally it is quite classic with black, raw aluminum and cognac Alcantara, with a touch of eccentricity with the three colors "turquoise - orange - magenta"
The tank has been restored inside (remove rust and protected) and outside (new paint). The tail is part of the seat ... 5-layer fiberglass, sculpted foam, hand-sewn alcantara.
The frame was cleaned to remove anything that was unnecessary, of course there is a loop and the rear was redesigned but I wanted to realigne the tank on the frame, so I modified the brackets of the tank.
The bracket for the headlight was rebuild : bring closer and lower the headlight and speedometer integrated
fully rebuilt engine, pods, almost free 2 in 1 wrapped exhaust, jets, new sprockets
Completely rewire from scratch with m-unit, new R/R and Lithium battery.
Original headlight, new mini led tail light integrated in the loop, new micro led turn signals.
Supensions : completely rebuild, hard chrome plating, new seals
Wheels and tyres : Heidenau K34 3.25 (front) and 3.5 (rear), new bearings
Brakes : completely rebuilt, new brake caliper pistons, new seals, new stainless steel brake lines
Handmade grips with alcantara too, handmade switches.
If you want to see the building process, check on the "cafe racer club": https://www.caferacerclub.org/t39921-yamaha-xs-360 (french)
Germain from Belgium
Let me introduce you to my very first build, my Yamaha XS360 totally rebuilt and redesigned from scratch by my hands.
The idea was to make an old motorcycle as clean and simple as possible that looks more or less like a cafe racer or maybe some sort of "bratracer", totally rebuilt and redesigned from scratch by my hands. I also wanted to do something without all the little details that I don't like such as a box under the seat for the electrical parts, a misaligned tank, a misaligned headlight, or even a "panini" saddle. It would also be an opportunity to learn a lot of things: mechanics, electricity, welding, sewing, painting, ...
Finally, I wanted to make a motorcycle in my image: fairly classic, with a touch of eccentricity that I can ride easily.
I started in January 2015 when I bought my sweet XS 360. This is my first build ... of course I have good mountain biking experience for the frame, the suspensions and the brakes, but I had never open a engine or rewire anything from scratch. First, I looked at the possibilities, what was done on the little XS, what I would do and what I would not do.
I did not go easy, my XS360 was not complete, the engine was not running and I wanted to make a lot of changes ... so I decided to totally rebuild and redisigned from scratch even if it takes time, I wanted to learn ...
So I started with the frame and the overall design but very quickly I opened the engine to rebuild one from two and a reconditioned cylinder with pistons. It was a big job, each part was sandblasted and reconditioned. reconditioned valves, new piston rings, new gaskets, new seals, remove the starter (kickstar only), new clutch discs, etc.
I cannot say if there is a big difference with an original because I never had the opportunity to ride my xs360 before its transformation. But in my imagination, I literally fly ... Less weight without a lot of unnecessary stuff, lots of noise with pods and an almost free 2 in 1 wrapped exhaust.
I wanted to respect the original graphics with a touch of modernity in the color theme. Finally it is quite classic with black, raw aluminum and cognac Alcantara, with a touch of eccentricity with the three colors "turquoise - orange - magenta"
The tank has been restored inside (remove rust and protected) and outside (new paint). The tail is part of the seat ... 5-layer fiberglass, sculpted foam, hand-sewn alcantara.
The frame was cleaned to remove anything that was unnecessary, of course there is a loop and the rear was redesigned but I wanted to realigne the tank on the frame, so I modified the brackets of the tank.
The bracket for the headlight was rebuild : bring closer and lower the headlight and speedometer integrated
fully rebuilt engine, pods, almost free 2 in 1 wrapped exhaust, jets, new sprockets
Completely rewire from scratch with m-unit, new R/R and Lithium battery.
Original headlight, new mini led tail light integrated in the loop, new micro led turn signals.
Supensions : completely rebuild, hard chrome plating, new seals
Wheels and tyres : Heidenau K34 3.25 (front) and 3.5 (rear), new bearings
Brakes : completely rebuilt, new brake caliper pistons, new seals, new stainless steel brake lines
Handmade grips with alcantara too, handmade switches.
If you want to see the building process, check on the "cafe racer club": https://www.caferacerclub.org/t39921-yamaha-xs-360 (french)
Germain from Belgium
