Garage Project Motorcycles - “The Mid-Day Special”

22nd June 2012

Photo with 110 notes

“The Mid-Day Special” - 1980 Yamaha XS850 triple by Spin Cyle Industries

Eric emailed me yesterday with some pics of their latest creation. A few minutes later I get an email from Josh (the other half of Spin Cycle Industries) giving me the low down on the bike. I’d put my own spin on it but I’m lazy so here’s some cutting and pasting at it’s best…

click the pic for a 3008 x 2014 wallpaper

“I was casually watching Eric work on his Virago, and before long was starting a project myself. Thats right around when we got “official” and named ourselves Spin Cycle Industries. It was in really rough shape when I picked it up from a owner who loved the bike but apparently not taking care of it. After a test drive on a dirt road with his Pit Bulls chasing me it seemed good enough to be a donor (Luckily I have a Pit Bull and German Shorthair Pointer otherwise I may have stayed in the truck!).

^ Eric’s Virago might appear on a small blog called bikeEXIF soon :)

The usual stripping down to the frame and hours of cleaning resulted in a decent looking frame/motor combo. As far as modifications I chopped the tail, added a hoop, and also a “fender” / stiffening brace to the frame. We are in a high desert climate even though we are in Oregon so a fender is not really necessary, but I did want something to keep the filters protected. I also added the tray under the seat for all the electronics, which was a significant challenge fitting the huge stock ignition module as well as a Anti-Gravity battery and the fuse box. One small detail that I like is some DRZ foot pegs that I modified to fit the stock brackets. I consider myself more of a dirt biker than road so I wanted a touch of dirt style. Also a Trail Tech Vapor computer works for the dirt bike feel.

The single biggest modification is obviously the front end which is from a 2009 R6. After riding “Rusty” and some other old bikes I have to say having dual radial Brembo’s feels pretty darn good. They stop this pig of a frame/engine with one light finger touch.

I had no intentions of a shiny bike so when the tank had some dents I just left them. The tank is coated with a clear semi-gloss powder coat.

I have put a little over 500 miles on it since finishing it up a few months ago, and I have to say it handles pretty darn good! Its clearly no sport bike but considering the stock bike weighed 258 kg is feels pretty good! You do want to make sure you don’t put the full 24 liters of fuel it takes!”