The Yamaha XVS 650 Dragstar is definitely a Japanese cruiser model that is popular with older men. Even such a staid original bike is suitable for a casual flat iron.

Nothing!" when Björn moved in with his then girlfriend and now wife a few years ago, he was confronted with emptiness. Here in the countryside, somewhere between Vechta and Osnabrück, the answer to the question "What's going on here, what can you do?" briefly and unequivocally. A change for the native of Rostock, because after all, he was active as a BMX rider in the USA for several years and then lived in Hamburg.

Bike screwing has become a matter of pleasure

Today Björn appreciates the advantages of country life, enjoys the freedom and the relaxed police, as he tells us with a grin, "and it's not a hundred kilometers to Holland." And what else does life in the house have for itself with plenty of room for a hobby – bike screwing has become a matter of enjoyment. For the past two years, Björn has been doing here what he used to do with bicycles and cross–country skiing - converting, making it more casual.

The industrial mechanic doesn't really care about the basis, he doesn't attach any importance to attitude, doesn't look at what others might like. And so it's not just Harleys that are screwed on here, but a small Yamaha gets lost in his fingers. The 650 Dragstar was such a snap, cheap in price and with some entries in the papers. Deep and shallow was no problem, Björn was able to realize his idea of the crosscruiser easier.

The Japanese sometimes really work better than the Americans

From the basic bike, the 32-year-old only takes over the engine and frame, the former barely processed, because it is simply not necessary. "You have to be honest, the Japanese really work better than the Americans, there's not much to do", work on the heads and lids, kick the gasoline pump, change the air duct for the two-cylinder, move the ignition coils, mount a fat end pot from a cross-KTM on the manifold.

To do this, Björn builds an air filter box as a nice little gimmick, which is placed under the tank. In general, he manages to clean up enormously. Unnecessary brackets and cables are removed. The absolutely necessary ones are partly well hidden by the spars of the shortened standard fork and the cross handlebar. An extremely minimized electrics is also mandatory, a small speedometer is enough.

Yamaha XVS 650 Dragstar - A real flat iron

Because the fork builds deep at the front, the ass must also go down. The dampers are shortened, the bike comes to the ground a total of about ten centimeters lower than before, a real flat iron. The rear TTS rim is converted to the serial hub, both wheels, covered with the eye-catching Conti studs, are coated in black. In general, black is the color of choice. Björn not only paints the fork tubes, but also the inner part of the series disc at the front and the drum brake at the rear.

The headlight, also the original part, is only painted and foiled. With a few resources, the North German achieves a harmonious interplay of his own achievements, a few purchased parts or shelf finds and the Japanese basic parts. Even the final painting remains inexpensive and handmade. Two edding pens, a sanding sponge, a bunsen burner and a few coats of clear lacquer are sufficient for casual accents.

Yamaha XVS 650 - Rebuilt in two weeks

Björn invests almost three and a half thousand euros in his Dragstar, the bike is as authentic as its owner. By the way, it took him just two weeks for the whole conversion. It was easy, because there is nothing else here.

The original post is written in German

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