Hookie #4 xs 360
By Anthony van Someren - 27 Mar 13
This is Hookie #4, a Yamaha xs 360 built by Nico, AKA The Hookie Custom Motorcycles in Germany. After taking a two-year break Nico decided to start a new project to built a little cafe/tracker hybrid for the urban rough stuff, with clip-ons and a cafe seat, but wearing big knobbly tyres and finished rough and raw. It was also destined to be his daily ride and he was determined to finish it in just 3 weeks. In his own words; "Build it and ride it. Little modification with an big effect."
The donor is a 1977 Yamaha XS 360. The front of the bike has been lowered for a more aggressive stance, and while the brakes and calipers are standard, they are fed by braided steel lines.
The seat has been a lot of work and looks fantastic; custom built in steel and upholstered in Japanese 16oz denim, made by Ruttloff Garment and comes complete with a handy pocket for your pinkslip/condoms/divorce papers.
Low race handlebars provide accurate cornering while a mini speedo keeps track of velocity. The headlamp is a 4 1/2 inch unit with mini turn signals, keeping things bratstyle-flat at the front.The engine is standard and the airbox has been retained, albeit without side covers, and the pipes are from Megatron. Tyres are 18 x 4" Heidenau K67s.
No fluff, no frills; Hookie#4 looks business-like and ready to ride.
Check The Hookie's Facebook pages here. Credit for the Photos go to David Ohl of ParadaxArt