Photos by Terry South. Two things a motorcycle manufacturer has to look out for when introducing a new model: the competition and the economy. Yamaha got the competition right when it introduced the XJ550 Seca in 1981, as mid-size bikes had not been very popular during the horsepower wars of the late 1970s. Honda had recently upsized its rather boring…
Peter Egan practicing on his Gibson ES-335 electric. (drew ruiz/)One thing you have to say in favor of COVID-19—if you’re semiretired and somehow still among the living—is that it gives you a lot of extra time, not only to ride motorcycles, but also to practice guitar.I was noodling around on my ancient Gibson ES-335 electric in the garage-band corner of…
Bottpower’s Carbona kit takes the XSR900 from retro throwback to space-age racer without any frame modifications. (Aaron Richardson/)The Yard Built kit apes the specials that Bottpower built to dominate the 2017 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. (Aaron Richardson/)The XR9 Carbona takes cues from the Yamaha R1 and R6, working in the sportbikes’ round LED marker lights and a number plate…