With the “Cream” the owner of Lord Drake Kustoms, Fran Manen, intended to make a cafe racer in the purest style, without the motorcycle losing the classic touch and doing at the same time something different and especially elegant … a motorcycle to attract glances.
The Yamaha XS model
The XS arrived in our country in the eighties, with a level of advertising in the magazines of the sector that achieved the objective of opening their eyes to products arriving from Japan. The truth is that we had lost (because of import protectionism) excellent Japanese motorcycles of the sixties and seventies, but many models with these acronyms were unpublished, absolutely unknown to the vast majority, when they were originally created for internal consumption and even destined to countries like the USA One of them is the one used in this case by Fran Manen. It is a very special model, aesthetically similar to that sold in Spain with a DOHC engine, but with one less cylinder: the Yamaha XS750.
The great exclusivity of this model is due to the configuration of its engine and its origin. He chose the Triple USA Custom model; one of the limited three-cylinder models of these XS that was only marketed in the USA and where this unit came from.
How it was made
And here the changes begin. The rear tail is made of metal – and by hand – in the image and likeness of the fuel tank, as the angles remain faithful. The rear turn signals have been embedded in the subframe bars that have been modified by losing their double seat support function, to accommodate only a single seat and single seat.
The front suspension was also shortened, to give the general line to this motorcycle, now much more in line with the cafe racer standards. The result is greater rigidity in its suspensions despite the greater rear travel with a pair of shock absorbers with separate gas tank. The new more aerodynamic driving position is achieved with a two-piece handlebar anchored directly to the suspension bottles.
Technical data
Name: “Cream”
Style: Cafe Racer
Brand: Yamaha
Model: XS750 Triple USA Custom
Year: 1981
Engine: 750 cc
Transmission: Gimbal
Front wheel: 19 ”Wheel with copper paint powder effect
Rear wheel: 18” Wheel with powder paint copper effect
Tires: Firestone Deluxe Champion
Fuel tank: Original
Front suspension: Modified by LDK
Rear suspension: Rise +3 ”air absorbers
Front fender: Manufactured by LDK
Rear seat: Manufactured by LDK by hand and in metal
Seat: Manufactured by LDK
Exhausts: 3 in 1
Air filters: K&N
License plate holder: Manufactured by LDK
Rear turn signals: Inserted in the chassis
Lighting: Front light, rear light incorporated into fenders, front turn signals and rear LEDs on seatposts and dampers
Other modifications: Handlebars, cuffs, handles , gas cap, mirrors …
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