Dream Rider: Yamaha XS650 Brat Tracker

“Karbu” from Le Cent Vingt Cinq…  

At one time, few motorcycles could compete with the British twins for power, performance, and style. The 650 parallel-twins from BSA, Norton, Triumph, and others were just the ticket for the rider who wanted a bike with sex appeal and plenty of horsepower for the street, strip, or California desert. However, by the late 1960s, most of the old British factories were on their last legs, if not shuttered entirely. It seemed the era of the 650 straight-twin roadster had come to an end…

Then Yamaha introduced the XS650, a bike that took its style and configuration straight from the British 650 twins, but added the extra benefit of Japanese engineering prowess. Unlike its British forebears, this Japanese roadster was reliable, affordable, and available on showroom floors. A new legend was born.

The XS650 is one of those motorcycles that simply lends itself to customization. We’ve seen these bikes transformed in just about every kind of way imaginable: bobbers, choppers, cafe racers, trackers, scramblers, even full-on motocrossers! In this case, Arnaud of Le Cent Vingt Cinq wanted to build his dream bike, a daily rider that blended bratstyle and flat track styles.

As the son of an off-road rider, Arnaud was surrounded by motorcycles from a young age. He began customizing his 883 Sportster at the age of 21 and then moved on to smaller, more affordable bikes while working as a full-time physiotherapist:

“I started to build 125cc because it’s cheap here. For a few years and during covid, we decided to work together with my best friend, Indian, and build Le Cent Vingt Cinq Motorcycle (means 125 motorcycle in French) because of 125cc.”

Today, Arnaud works with his good friend, Indian, and Pascal, a 60-year-old retired mechanic. Their “Baguette” project won the custom contest at Wheels & Waves 2023, and after four years of building bikes through the workshop, Arnaud had learned and saved enough to begin on his dream bike, the 1980 Yamaha XS650 you see here.

“I wanted a daily rider using this beautiful twin engine from the ’70s and give it a little push into 2024.”

This engine is running a 750cc big bore kit with racing cam and electronic ignition, as well as a rebuilt gearbox, clutch, and more. Arnaud and his team swapped the rear drum for a disc brake using a Honda CR500 hub, and the bike is running Excel rims, Motogadget electronics, and Beringer dual-disc front brakes.

The tank is a bespoke piece hand-built from aluminum, and Ghost Custom Paint laid down the candy black paint that gives a black mirror effect. Meanwhile, Arnaud’s friend at Frenchie Sellerie stitched up the alcantara saddle.

Arnaud nicknamed his daily dream rider “Karbu” after the bike’s old-school induction, which contrasts with his fuel-injected 2000cc Harley:

“Karbu is short for “carburateurs” (French for carburetors). And K instead of C to feel cooler 😎”

Arnaud is duly proud of how his Yamaha “brat tracker” turned out, and for the work of his crew:

“I am really proud of my team helping me do this project and all the work from my painter / saddler and all the people I worked with.”

This is one lovely XS whose tank and graphics recall the fiberglass race tanks of the 1970s. The finishes and details are top-notch, and the 750cc big-bore engine makes for plenty of power and sound. We love it.

Below, we talk to Arnaud for more details on “Karbu,” and credit goes out to Thomas J. of Behind the Bars for the photography.

Yamaha XS650 Brat Tracker: Builder Interview

• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

I’ve been on motorcycles since I was 3 years old. My dad used to be an off-road pilot (Touquet, endurance, motocross). So bikes are part of the family. I was always attracted to Harley-Davidson bikes so I got my first 883 at 21, with credit from the bank 😅 and I started customizing with my dad in the garage.

Then I started to build 125cc because it’s cheap here. For a few years and during covid, we decided to work together with my best friend, Indian, and build Le Cent Vingt Cinq Motorcycle (means 125 motorcycle in French) because of 125cc.

We work mostly on the 125 Honda CM and turn it into café racer / brat / scrambler, etc. So the workshop is my second job; I’m a full-time physiotherapist and my friend a project manager . And two years after we started, we were joined by Pascal, a 60 year-old retired mechanic, and since he’s been here, we’ve been doing bigger bikes and learned a lot.

After 50-60 bikes done in four years, I finally start my dream build: XS650.

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

This is a Yamaha 650 XS from 1980, totally reworked.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

I would say this build is a “Brat tracker.” I love flat track and bratstyle and I wanted something in between.

My influence come from RSD, Crooked, Bratstyle, and few bikes on Pinterest. I wanted a daily rider using this beautiful twin engine from the ’70s and give it a little push into 2024. The look of this bike is a mix of materials and effects. It’s mostly technics like the black fork / the poly chrome on side engine / the ink on polished aluminium of the tank, etc. I wanted a mix of noble technics (which makes the bike quite expensive).

It took me one year to put money aside and think about the project. And one year to build something totally different that I designed…and go way over my initial budget 😂😂

• What custom work was done to the bike?

Engine: 750cc big bore kit, racing camshaft, electronic ignition (start button + kick), and we rebuilt the gearbox, clutch, etc. — all new.

We switched the rear brake for a disc brake, using a 500CR rim, with homemade crown and homemade caliper holder.

I had a partnership with Motogadget and Beringer brakes for this project, which helped me to realise my dream bike. I would stay it’s a “Brat track” type.

The tank is 100% aluminium custom made, polished, and we applied a candy black paint to give the effect of a black mirror painting / chrome (painter: @ghostcustompaint).

The seat is 100% alcantara made by my friend @frenchie.sellerie.

The wiring is hidden as much as I could 🙂

• What is the meaning / story behind the name “Karbu”?

Karbu is short for “carburateurs” (French for carburetors). And K instead of C to feel cooler 😎

To me it means it’s my vintage daily, that works just fine. Instead of using my huge 2L injection Harley to go 4km to work…which isn’t great for the engine.

• Can you tell us what the riding experience is like on the completed bike?

I will…but so far it’s still in process, and I will use it after the Kustom Factory show at Salon du 2 Roues in Lyon (6-10 March). For now, it’s running fine in the workshop, which is great. It always starts immediately.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

I am really proud of my team helping me do this project and all the work from my painter / saddler and all the people I worked with.

I think we succeeded with the “brat track” style. And I am proud of the balance of the bike; it looks different from most builds I see. And I’m really proud that I could finish my dream bike.

It was our first switch to rear disc brake also — it wasn’t simple or cheap but looks great. And I can’t wait to ride it.

Follow the Builder

Upholstery: @frenchie.sellerie
Paint: @ghostcustompaint
Photography Credit: @behindthebars_hd