But the Polish shop likes to break the
mold once in a while , deviating from its hallmark genre and showing that it is no " one trick pony "! As owner Sylwester Mateusiak puts it : " It is the challenges that help you push your skills and find the creativity . That is why we chose to build a bobber on an XS base . The donor bike was inexpensive , and as a platform it brings its own heritage and challenges . The Yamaha XS650 is a 5-speed 654 cc ( 39.9 cu in ), 4-stroke , air-cooled SOHC 2 valves per cylinder parallel twin . The standard model was introduced in October 1969 and produced through 1979 ; the " Special " cruiser model , which this one is , was introduced in 1978 and produced through 1985 . It was said to have a 169 km / h ( 105 mph ) top speed when introduced , with a claimed 53 bhp ( 40kw ) @ 7,000 rpm , weighing in at 194 kg ( 428 lb ) wet . Strictly speaking , ESG is a one-man business , but with regular help from his brother Kamil and their friend Lukasz they started by stripping the XS650 right down , lopping off the rear of the frame and
fabricating their own hardtail set-up . The floating seat is completely handmade and features a very elegant suspension system that uses a mountain bike shock . " It really is surprisingly comfortable ," Sylwester says . To perfect the Yamaha ' s stance , ESG tweaked the head angle with a set of custom-built offset yokes and shortened the forks , revalving them to be stiffer . The stock wheels were swapped for a set of solid aftermarket 16 inchers , originally intended for a Fat Boy , with a fuel tank from a Yamaha Virago and a headlight , warning lights and ignition switch from a 1960s Polish-made WSK . Other than the reverse levers , which are from an unnamed Russian motorcycle , just about everything else is custom . ESG fabricated its own clip-ons and rearsets , and even built a new side stand . There ' s a ton of hidden work at play too . Sylwester always works with older motorcycles , and that means his motors always get a proper nuts and bolts teardown . This one needed some new bearings , rings and seals , and an almost entirely new clutch .
On the outside , everything was done in black or goldplated , with a few brass and polished silver touches . ESG also made up a pair of intakes and built a slim new exhaust system with hidden silencers . There ' s a plethora of small details to take in , beyond the obvious brass details , such as drilled-out brake discs that match the effect on the seat pan gussets and the foot control arms and rear turn signals that are cleverly integrated with the frame . The tank was painted in a classic gloss black , with a subtle double gold pin stripe adding just the right accent hit . Other than the ESG graphics on the wheels , there ' s no loud branding . ESG ' s success with café racers has always been thanks to Sylwester ' s sharp eye , which gives him an uncanny ability to get a silhouette just right . He ' s done the same here , driving the point home further with perfect proportions and a moody color palette . The result is a slick bobber that doesn ' t overtly scream for attention - but rewards it handsomely , once given . www . easternspirit . company
Dchampionship . com AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE DEALER - FEBRUARY 2021 59