We’re suckers for beautiful metalwork, but a good set of technical upgrades is just as likely to grab our attention. And seeing both boxes ticked on one build is a rare treat.
This graceful Yamaha XS650 was built for the ‘Motorcycles as Art’ exhibition at this year’s Sturgis Buffalo Chip, curated by the renowned motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter. It’s the work of Jay Donovan?the 23-year-old sole proprietor of Baresteel Design in Victoria, BC, Canada.

?I was very fortunate to be a part of it,? says Jay. ?I contacted Michael in the months leading up to the show, wanting to know how to get involved and what the theme was.?
?After hearing that it would be based around up and coming builders, I knew I wanted to take part. He had enough faith to invite me to participate in the show?without much previous work to show and without a motorcycle even started.?
With only two and a half months until the deadline, Jay dragged a 1979 Yamaha XS650 into his small shop and knuckled down. Baresteel is a true one-man show, so Jay handled everything on the project aside from the plating, powder-coating and upholstery.
He also farmed the engine top-end rebuild off to a friend at Whiplash Customs, mainly because of the project’s tight deadline.

From a design perspective, Jay wanted to heavily rework a stock Yamaha XS650?so heavily, that the final product would seem like it was entirely built from scratch.
?Much of the new frame and swingarm lines ...