Custom Vintage Motorcycles

T-Shirts are SOLD OUT!

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:16:42 -0400

Click the T-Shirts button on the right or the Apparel button at...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:59:18 -0400

Click the T-Shirts button on the right or the Apparel button at the top to purchase.

Coming Soon! New build - ‘80 Yamaha XS650 - Details &...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:38:41 -0400

Coming Soon!

New build - ‘80 Yamaha XS650 - Details & pics soon.
** Price will be around $3,000 **

FOR SALE - FOR SALE - FOR SALE! I’ve had 3 different...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:49:00 -0400

FOR SALE - FOR SALE - FOR SALE!

I’ve had 3 different buyers bail on me now from private sales so… off to eBay we go…

Go get it on eBay or email me if you want to purchase privately.
Email: vintage.customs@yahoo.com

A walkaround of the new XS650 build - The Champ

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:22:43 -0500

A walkaround of the new XS650 build - The Champ

Introducing The Champ - ‘80 Yamaha XS650 Brat-style...

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:57:00 -0500

Introducing The Champ -
‘80 Yamaha XS650 Brat-style custom

A few months ago I was contacted by the owner of my XS400 custom, The Classic, to commission an XS650 build in the style of a Gravel Crew XS650 build. It’s been a long few months of delays in parts & some design changes but now she’s complete and ready for the long boat ride to Germany where her new home & owner await!

Specs:

‘80 Frame, shortened rear loop, smoothed frame, finished in satin black
Rebuilt motor with the usual, CDI Ignition control & rebuilt Mikuni B38’s
New pipes & Cocktail Shaker mufflers
Owner provided tank
7 Metal West aluminum shorty fender
Custom upholstered seat
Custom built aluminum battery box
Monstercraftsmen aluminum top yoke
Motolanna headlight brackets
Loaded Gun Customs rear-sets
New 18” rear aluminum shouldered rim, chrome spokes, polished hubs
Firestone replica 18x4.50 rear tire
New 19” front aluminum shouldered rim, chrome spokes, polished hubs
Firestone replica 19x4.00 front tire
Anything aluminum was polished
Just about everything else is new!

XS650 & SR500 Fork Covers I’ve got a couple sets of...

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:41:21 -0500

XS650 & SR500 Fork Covers

I’ve got a couple sets of polished and primed in stock now.

Click the “Parts” link above, the ad banner on the side of the page or go here!

Photo

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:32:27 -0500

Also 5 XS650 motors FOR SALE! All motors in rough shape, stuck...

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:42:00 -0500

Also 5 XS650 motors FOR SALE!

All motors in rough shape, stuck and missing various parts
Great for parts. Bottom ends may be useable

I’m open to offers.
Local pick-up preferred.
*** Would love to sell these 5 motors and the 9 frames all together!! ***

Please contact: vintage.customs@yahoo.com

I have 9 XS650 frames for sale (one frame not pictured)None of...

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:12:03 -0500

I have 9 XS650 frames for sale (one frame not pictured)
None of them have titles.
They range in years from very early to ‘81-‘82.

I’m open to offers.
Local pickup preferred, however if someone wants to get a few or all, I’d consider shipping.

Please contact: vintage.customs@yahoo.com

The Shop Bike is officially up for sale on...

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:56:37 -0500

The Shop Bike is officially up for sale on ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251214240473

I’m about to put up more parts on ebay! —Honda 350...

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 13:55:41 -0500

I’m about to put up more parts on ebay!

—Honda 350 parts carbs, XS650 parts carbs, NOS Dunlop Qualifier raised white letter 120/90 18 tire, XS650 chrome footpegs, a set (front and rear with brake plate/drum) XS650 Heritage wheels and more…

Search for user “graphic-mchaggis” if you have any questions please email.

Site re-design

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:24:32 -0500

New Year, New Look!

But it’s more than just another pretty face.. now there’s the ability to purchase apparel & parts. This is just the start, there will be more t-shirts (Honda 350 & other Yamaha) and possibly more parts.

Now go, look around !!

2012 Wrap Up & Look Ahead -

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:58:37 -0500

Another year gone by and here at Vintage Customs it’s been an interesting past few months with many ups and downs and WTF moments. As you may have read a couple of posts ago, Vintage Customs is making some significant changes for the new year. Take a look through the year in review to see whats coming for 2013.. and most importantly, have a great New Year!

2012 started off with the completion of a build started at the very end of 2011… The Bishop XS650…
Which started out as a really gnarly donor XS…

..and only a month and a half later…

My dad and I took a little trip up to Tennessee in late Jan to get this sweet little MGA for him..

As usual, Bike Week was around the corner and it was a wet one for sure. The Bishop forged through the rain and overall crap conditions and made Bike Week 2012 a success.

The Bishop and The Bullett in the shop..

After the usual build hiatus for Bike Week it was back to work. Next up was a redo of a bike I built at the beginning of the previous year, a Yamaha TX750

I got this bike as basically a rolling frame and a bucket of parts, so I chose to do a mild restore and bring it back like I did the previous TX.

During all of work in the shop, I made a spontaneous purchase, a fun little Kawasaki KZ200..

Next up was a shop build originally started as a build with my buddy Scott which soon evolved into a quick build by me. This cool little quickie became known as the No Frills XS.

and that evolved into this…

At some point during the mix of stuff, I took this little shot..

And then this happened! A sweet ‘78 Yamaha SR500!

I based this on a BratStyle build I had found online which quickly shaped up into this..

…and then to this!

In the midst of shop work at V.C., I made a few personal vehicle changes, including selling my 2nd Mitsubishi 3000GT SL…

During the usual shop builds that you see so many of the same photos from, there’s the occasional customer build or fab project or just a tune-up or what-have-you. Well, this was definitely one of those WTF moments when I had to get running and tune an XS650 motor in this unique customer rat bike…

Yeah… so after that I had a pretty legit customer build, this really original ‘73 Honda CB350…

which got the usual Vintage Customs treatment…

this was a customer build but some things, such as the tank prep and paint (as well as side covers) were done by the customer. I got her running and completed to this point after which I never got any further photos of the finished project….

I also decided that I would build myself a bike to have and ride for good. It started out something like this..

and then i started in on the chop.. and ended up with this (which is now up for sale because I don’t actually hang on to anything)

meanwhile, back at the lab, a secret plot was evolving…

A long, long time ago, I built a simple little Brat influenced bobber, an XS400 named The Classic, which was purchased by a German customer, whom now, some years later commissioned a custom XS650 build….

but back to what was new at V.C.
well, I guess i dont have ay before pics… but this is what came about…

and so the end of the year came about and roughly 8 full builds and few customer based projects later this is where we’re at.. Oh, and that XS650 for Germany…

This thing is so fresh and clean, well, it’s just simply the nicest, cleanest and detailed bike to ever roll out of the Vintage Customs shop! More pics to come of course!

And after all of that, a year of builds, rides, ups, downs and all sorts of stuff, where is the future of Vintage Customs headed you may wonder…? Well, I’m still here, the site will still be here, motorcycles of different types will still be produced and despite the slower progress of builds, things like custom parts and Yamaha & Honda related apparel will be coming your way.

I greatly appreciate all of the support and business that I’ve had over the past few years and as the shop goes through some changes, I’m sure you’ll all still have the same sense of wonder in what’s coming next.. So thank you, have a great New Year, and stick around because I’m not done!

Look for this soon, the new look of Vintage Customs!

XS650 & V.C. T-Shirts

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 14:35:31 -0500

COMING SOON!!
XS650 and Vintage Customs/XS logo shirts

Keep a look out, these are going to be cool!

V.C. is changing for 2013 - Please Read

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 20:52:18 -0500

To the friends and followers of Vintage Customs, I would like to announce some changes regarding the future of the company.

As you may have noticed there has been little activity on the website. I’ve been bad about keeping up to date with recent build progress. Custom shop builds and customer work has been steady this past year but due to sales & personal interests, the site has suffered. As the new year approaches, there will be major changes to the business side of Vintage Customs as well as the website which will remain active with updates and posts reflecting the new changes to Vintage Customs.

Changes regarding the business side of V.C. will be quite drastic.

I regret to state that from now on I will no longer be accepting any customer work, whether it may be simple fabrication or a full build.

Shop builds will significantly decrease to only a select couple builds a year. As time progresses, the production will decrease and end at a point which is yet undetermined.
The Vintage Customs business name and corporate identity will remain.
The focus of the “brand” will be shifting to the production of custom parts and apparel. Over the past few years there has become a demand for some of the unique parts I have fabricated for the XS650’s such as Fork Covers & Handlebars.
Also, the design of XS650, CB350 & SR500 themed apparel will be implemented and sold as the V.C. site takes shape into a blend of blog & store.

I greatly appreciate everyone who has supported Vintage Customs through the years, whether it has been by simply following on Tumblr, FB or Instagram or purchasing a bike or t-shirt. It has been a great few years and while the future of the company is still greatly unknown, I can only hope that those who have been with me from the start will continue to support and that I can reach new friends and fans during the transition into this new endeavor.

~Jay

* FOR SALE * - $5,500 - ‘82 Yamaha XS650 - The...

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 10:55:43 -0500

*** FOR SALE ***
- $5,500 -

‘82 Yamaha XS650 - The V.C. Shop Bike

Features:

One-off custom hardtail, stretched 2”
Frame finished in Metallic Black with clear coat
Fully rebuilt motor upgraded with PMA charging system & Pamco ignition
Custom fabricated exhaust
New “Axed” tank
Tank & Fender finished in metal flake silver, metallic black and H.O.K. Root Beer Kandy with Root Beer Red flake
New Orange metal flake solo seat
New LaRosa saddle bag
Vintage fog light with amber glass lens
Mini bullet tail light
Custom fabricated handlebars
Custom fabricated fork covers
Mid-mount brackets with BMX style foot pegs
New mini battery
Cloth wiring in “Oak”
New control levers
New cables
New drive chain
18” front wheel with duplex drum brake with new shoes
18” rear wheel with new brake shoes
New Dunlop K70 tires front & rear

Contact Jay at:
vintage.customs@yahoo.com
386-747-0536

* FOR SALE * Introducing the latest XS650 from Vintage...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:39:00 -0500

*** FOR SALE ***

Introducing the latest XS650 from Vintage Customs. In the style of past builds such as The Royal and The Bishop comes this crisp 70’s style lane-splitter.

Features:
One-off V.C. hardtail frame (clean FL title) with shaved forks
New P-Nut tank
Mistral Blue & Emerald Green paint with H.O.K. pearls overtop
Satin Black frame
Strong original motor upgraded with Pamco ignition & rebuilt carbs
Strong charging system with solid state updated Reg./Rect.
Custom built exhaust with new “cocktail shaker” mufflers
New leather solo seat
Green cloth covered wiring & custom harness
New Lucas style taillight
New mini 5 3/4” halogen headlight
Custom made V.C. handle bars
New control levers & cables
21” front wheel with new brakes and new Avon Speedmaster tire
16” rear wheel with new brakes and new Classic 5.10 whitewall tire
Lots of the usual Vintage Customs detail!

Contact Jay at:
vintage.customs@yahoo.com
386-747-0536

XS Germany Build - Finally, after a 3 month wait on 7 Metal West...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 11:44:42 -0500

XS Germany Build -

Finally, after a 3 month wait on 7 Metal West for a aluminum ribbed fender (to which I see no excuse. I had called as was told they were a few weeks behind. After that, there was no response to emails. I do NOT recommend purchasing parts from these guys)

So, yeah, I’m back to it. I just getting all of the parts fabbed for the aluminum battery box, now to weld it up. The frame loop and fender & bat. box mounts are all welded in place. I’m awaiting the new tank (changing tanks) and then it’s a seat pan.

New XS build preview - The last pic I posted was the tank in...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 11:33:12 -0500

New XS build preview -

The last pic I posted was the tank in progress. The tank & fender are now complete, finished with the final color of Emerald Green with HOK Glade Green pearl.

The bike is 99% complete and will be up FOR SALE very soon. Pic’s to come!