Although the company name, nothing wrong about winding motorbike‘ latest custom bike. This svelte Yamaha XS650 from a German shop is straight as an arrow; a riff on classics cafe racer style, mixed with a bit of Crooked personality.
It’s no coincidence that the store has nicknamed the XS650 ‘Silver Arrow’. Dominikus Braun, co-founder of Crooked, explains: “From the start, it was all about creating a clean line while still making the bike as easy to ride as possible. “This concept features minimal weight, a monochromatic design and a clean silhouette.”
Crooked started with a 1978 model Yamaha XS650. Most running gear was usable but the motor and wiring were tired. So the builders rebuilt the engine and wrapped the bike around the Motogadget control box.
Next, a Mikuni flat-slide carburetor fitted with a K&N pod filter. On the exhaust side, Crooked crafted a pair of head-hugging exhausts, ending with a pair of silencers from German exhaust specialist Hattech. However, none of this is plug and play; Crooked tweaked the carbs to make sure everything worked well together.
Crooked was determined to get the best performance possible from the 45-year-old Yamaha, but they didn’t want to bore the engine. So they added lightness instead.
That means ditching the original bodywork and starting over. The team modified the pretty Honda CB50 fuel tank to fit the XS650’s frame, then built a modular bikini bib. The slim front fender, rear bumper and discreet inner fender are also custom details.
“In the end, this helped us lose about 25 kg [55 lbs],” said Dominikus. “This has greatly contributed to the improvement of driving dynamics.”
Taking this concept further, Crooked upgraded Yamaha’s suspension with progressive springs at the forks and new YSS shocks at the rear. The original axles and rims are still in good condition, but they have been reattached with new spokes. They are wrapped in Heidenau K34s—modern tires with a classic look.
Moving to the cockpit, Crooked installed a luxurious Motogadget Motoscope Tiny tachometer. It sits neatly right in front of the trio, tucked away in the curves of the custom headlight housing. There are also new clip-on gadgets, a combination of OEM-style switches and knobs, Motogadget grips, and turn signals at the end of the bar.
Further, the car’s solo saddle is wrapped in Alcantara with contrasting stitching. Going lower, you’ll discover a rear-mounted foot controller from Raask.
LED headlights are located inside the front apron, complete with a daytime running light ring that complements the overall look of the vehicle. The taillight is a small LED, positioned at the rear of the modified subframe ring. A quick survey of the bike also reveals a custom chain guard and a license plate holder mounted on the swingarm.
According to the summary, Crooked has simplified the finishing touches of this XS650 cafe racer. It wears an elegant silver coat, with the shop logo subtly placed on the fuel tank. The remaining components are finished with contrasting tones of raw metal and black.
The overall effect is subtle, which is exactly why it works so well. Silver Arrow doesn’t scream for attention but instead rewards it with lots of engaging and thoughtful details.
We won’t change a thing.
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