What started out as a quick & easy shop bike project quickly took on a bunch of personality and along with it a load of cool.

I picked up this 2003 Yamaha XVS650 V-Star in Atlanta recently and brought it home along with another Triumph Bonneville project. While the "Bonnie" is a more involved undertaking according to my current plans, I wanted to make the 650 a quick & cool shop bike. Every shop needs a shop bike, right? Something to pop over to the parts house or hardware...something to snap up & scoot out to lunch & back.

Most everyone that saw the bike come out of the trailer had questions about what I was going to do with it. Everyone has an opinion and at the time...mine was the only one that counted. I saw a lot of potential in the smaller displacement little brother of the Yamaha Road Star having owned both as well as another one of their brothers...an XVS1100 V-Star Custom. The 1100 is a whole 'nother project we'll tackle shortly...and when time permits. While our shop hound, Phoebe, doesn't seem too excited at the moment...most all our visitors to the MoonShine Steel shop find this a favorite.

I knew exactly where I wanted to go with this and actually used this project to "test the waters" for a future custom build. My first venture into the flat black powdercoated world of ape-hangers and wide whitewalls quenched the thirst I had for something more nostalgic. Much like the design & colors for my shop display area, this would represent my desire to fall back into a time that, in my mind, was a lot less complicated. A simpler build was what I was looking for. It had to have "soul"...and as I watched it develop...it most certainly did not disappoint.

The "MoonShine Steel Hot Rod" is a perfect example of the fact that a nice custom bike does not have to be an expensive and time-consuming effort. The flat black powdercoating was affordable not to mention a durable & forgiving choice of coatings and the red powder added that just-right touch of color to mix with the chrome that was left. Wide whitewalls finished the look.

I opted for some touches that are not considered "normal" for a "time-designated" type bike such as this one...the Cobra rocket-styled headlight has the flavor of today rather than a bike that might have looked at home sitting outside Al's Diner in a 1950's Milwaukee, Wisconsin setting. Does "time-designated" mean that the style is dated? No way...the look draws just as many admirers today as it ever did before.

The neck was raked to a more pleasing 40 degrees and a set of 6 degree triple trees were installed after red powder was applied. The "MoonShine Steel Hot Rod" handles beautifully with attention paid to the geometry and proper trail figures. Forking by Frank's in Illinois provided the 4" over stock 41mm fork tubes. A 60 spoke chrome front wheel in a 21" size was pulled out of the box but it had a 3/4" axle size bearings, etc. After a little drilling and a few twists of the trusty tap...the stock metric axle size was opened up to accept a new larger .750" axle. A 11.5" "spoked" rotor was bolted on the wheel and all of it slid right into position without the use of even one caliper shim on the stock Yamaha lower legs using the stock (but red powdered) brake caliper.

The rear suspension was lowered via re-positioning of the shock mount and the bike sits at about 4" ride height. Seat height is near 20". The custom steel rear fender is mounted to a bracket fabbed and welded to the swingarm to achieve that low and tight fit to the 180 whitewall tire. 18" apehangers in a fat 1.25" diameter were unwrapped and installed on a pair of chrome 1.5" tall risers...yep..just like Goldilocks said when she found the Little Bear's bed..."Ahhh...just right!".
All electrical wires were run through the inside of the big bars to keep it all a little cleaner. LED lighting was used exclusively on this bike...which is another option that was not available on Fonzi's bike...back in da day.

Other accessories include Hard Krome 2.5" Big Straights exhaust, billet "maltese" mirrors, turns and running lighting, Mapam forward controls, custom seating and custom steel fenders.

This project is by far the most 'fun" custom in a long time for me as well as being a very interesting one. It proves that a satisfying custom metric bike does not have to cost a small fortune nor does it have to be a heavy, cumbersome sled to maneuver. The stock 650 V-Star is nimble, light and can be rode effortlessly in any situation by almost anyone...and this Lil MoonShine Steel Hot Rod custom makes something already tasty a little more delicious.