StreetKORE Project: VLX Chopper

So back in July I teased at the idea of building some funky Euro style hybrid streetfighter thing out of this bike. That didn't happen. Neat idea in theory, but not practical. So I went completely the other direction. It's already got a bunch of rake, slam it, slim it down and just make a nice clean little chopper out of it.

StreetKORE Project: XS650 Brat

Somehow these little Yamaha twins keep popping into my life. We had the crazy mutant hardtail, drag bike, StreetCHOPPER thing. That ultimately turned into an unrideable waste of time. There was the cafe, streetfighter, StreetRACER project that never got finished because someone bought it along with the yard find rust bucket. This time my good buddy found one in fairly good shape that ran well for all of 3 hours before he realized the entire electrical system was crap. About 3 months ago we replaced everything with a PMA swap and Pamco unit and it's run well ever since. Then he sold the CB400T hardtail project and dumped some money into this one. After totaling the Savage Brat in an accident last year he has been jones'n for another Brat Style ride. Enter XS650 project number 4. This one is on the road and running well though. Follow along as we take a perfectly good motorcycle and cut it it bits...

Out with the Old: Part 3. YZF600 Streetfighter

Large gap in updates. My apologies for slacking. Although that's not to say things haven't been busy. For anyone that has followed the evolution of the YZF project we last left off with swapping the stem to install a first gen R1 frontend into a 2000 YZF600R. The bike has been back on the road for a few months now, but here is some pics I took while we finished the install.

Out with the Old, Part 2. YZF600 Streetfighter

So, what I was hoping to be a simple bearing swap to install the R1 frontend into our YZF600R, became a bit more involved. Going from the old style to the new, Yamaha made the necks around an 1 1/2" shorter in length. The only way around this little problem is a stem swap. Pressing the R1 stem out is fairly simple with a good hydraulic press.

StreetKORE Project: VLX600

Got my hands on a new project today.  Something a little different. 96 Honda VLX600. As it sits, it's got the usual dressed up chrome items, a studded Mustang seat as well as a set of Cobra Long Shot pipes. Over all the bike is in good shape with some usual wear and tear. 

It runs and rides well, but is lacking a bit in some of the more critical areas. I've been dreaming up ideas for this bike for a little while now. At first I was considering a typical quick and clean bob job. These bikes lend themselves really well to that. But that's just too easy, and done to death. As it so happens there's quite a bit of leftover sportbike parts hanging around the garage that "should" bolt into this bike with minimal effort. Shoring up the handling and braking are priority one. I'm not looking for miracles, but I'm sure there's quite a bit of room for improvement here. Engine performance isn't of great concern right now. There's not a whole lot that can be done in that department without reinventing the wheel in this case. The little V twin has enough grunt to at least pull around traffic at freeway speeds. Shearing the weight off the bike will do wonders for it at present. The styling, I'd like to keep clean and trim. Just a bit more aggressive.  I came up with a rendering to at least see if I had my head on straight for this one. So far, it looks promising. 

Stay Tuned...

Out with the old. YZF600R streetfighter.

Our ongoing project YZF600 is back for some upgades. R1 front end swap general clean up of some odds and ends and who knows what else we come up with. More to come.

FOR SALE: XS650 Street CHOPPER

The XS650 project is For Sale. 

For more info Click HERE. 

Asking $2500. Please Contact with inquires. 

Guess who's back.

Our favotite yzf600r is back for a tune up and some more detail work. Stay tuned...

Damage Control, CBR900RR Streetfighter

Found some old pics of my favorite build. The trusty 900RR AKA: Damage Control.

XS650 StreetCHOPPER Update: New Tank

The original tank for the StreetCHOPPER ended up developing a large stress crack at the rear seam soon after installing it on the bike. After a number of tries to repair it, I gave up. Just sick of messing with it and not being able to rectify the problem. So it's been turned into a wall decoration for now. Which ultimately works for the better. recently I've been sketching up new ideas for a tank and this evening decided to put them into action.

Vmax project

Good buddy of mine has a nicely tuned Vmax motor sitting in his garage. He's been throwing some ideas around for it.

StreetCHOPPER First start

ZX7 Custom

A project that has been on and off the past 6 months. Much work has gone into this bike and it still continues. Customer brought in a 1994 ZX750L back in Nov. 2011 with transmission problems. Soon after repairing a bad 2nd gear issue. The following months the project snowballed. Engine rebuild, Single Sided Swingarm swap, Suspension rebuild, R6 tail swap, subframe chop, smooth, Full Polish of frame, swingarm. Shorty Yoshimura exhaust, Powder coat and Paint, the list goes on.

The Starting point. 1994 Kawasaki ZX750L.

XS650 StreetCHOPPER: Latest Pics

The StreetCHOPPER is complete... For now. Here are some shots of the bike complete. I'm stoked to see it as a finished, running piece.  Spec list is below.

XS650 StreetCHOPPER Update.

It's getting close. Are you getting excited yet? I am. Although, When you put this sort of effort into a project. Along with the ups and downs that have followed it. I suppose there is some anxiety once you reach the final stages.

So here we are with the final bit of fab and wiring.

XS650 StreetCHOPPER Update

Getting that much closer to hitting the street. Little bit of bodywork and getting the final wiring sorted.

Welded up the front of the gas tank.

Started smoothing out the welds and wrinkles.

Finally made a battery box and relocated and cleaned up the wiring.

Installed the headlight.

And added the velocity stacks.

Coming together.

Vintage Honda Day in the Shop

It was vintage Honda day here in the Shop. The lifts are currently occupied with the '76 CB750 Resto Mod project that is recieving some small tweaks before it is returned to it's owner. As well as an '86 VFR750 Interceptor. Being brought back to life after 3 months of storage. 

XS650 StreetCHOPPER Update

Finally got back to work on the StreetChopper today. It's all coming down to the details and finishes now. See if I can't have this thing done in time to run it at the Bike Bash in a couple weeks.

Chopped the fender mounts from the forks, de-seamed the casting line from the lower triple, panted the fork lowers and the wheel.

Some work that was done before moving the shop. The ugly as fuck trailer fender is binned. I honestly couldn't stand it. Buddy of mine gave me the idea of making something a bit more suited to the style of the bike. We spent an evening hammering and welding up some sort of a drag seat. It looks killer and fits the bike and your butt perfect.

More of a detail piece, but it is fast becoming a signature StreetKORE part. Glass brake fluid reservoir fitted to the rear master cylinder.

XS650 StreetCHOPPER Update

Some new pics of the StreetCHOPPER. BTW, It's FOR SALE. Asking $3500. Contact StreetKORE for more info.

YZF600R Streetfighter

The newest creation to roar from the StreetKORE garage. Just finished this bike for a customer as she jumped head first into the fighter scene and is loving every bit of it.