XS750 Yamasaki

For your consideration is Adam Stockton’s 1978 XS 750 Special. Early this year, I made a trip to Virginia Beach to buy two bikes — a Honda Interceptor and Mr. Stockton’s Special. I picked up the latter from a guy who kept it in his living room. He tells me the project lost steam when his mechanic had to do a stint in the slammer. Prior to his incarceration, the wayward technician installed some precariously placed forward controls and various chrome bits. Otherwise, the carbs were seized, the charging system was not working and the brakes were stuck. Looking back at the bike as I trailered it through the Hampton Roads Tunnel, it seemed happy to be moving again. Now officially Classified, the antique triple sports a modern Ninja front end, a 3-into-1 pipe with a devilish exhaust note, our now-signature perforated side panels and a nickel-plated café-style tank off an XS750 standard. Who says shaft drives can’t be cool?

Specifications

Donor: 1978 Yamaha XS750
Front end: 2005 ZX6R
Front wheel: 2005 ZX6R
Front brakes: 2005 ZX6R
Rear wheel: Yamaha XS850 (16-inch) with modified brakes
Tires: Kenda dual sport (front), Bridgestone Trail Wing (rear)
Tank: 1978 Yamaha XS750 Special, nickel plated
Exhaust: Modified XS750