Brad Monk is a racer. Sure, he has a day job, but come Sunday, he’s a racer?and this is his race bike.
Trying to figure out what it is" We can help: it’s a ‘Yamando’; part Yamaha XS650, part Norton Commando. Or, as Brad puts it, ?the best of both worlds.?

If you’re wondering if the combo is effective, it most certainly is. In Canada?s vintage road racing Heavyweight class, Brad took home the overall title this year. And the Yamando’s had success Stateside too.
The builder?or should we say engineering genius?of this mad machine is retired racer Toivo Madrus. Tovio co-owns the bike with Brad, and has been fine tuning and rebuilding this beast for literally years.

?The Yamando MK V wasn?t born overnight,? says Brad. ?It’s actually the culmination of four previous versions, each one improving on engine angle and position, and engine performance that started at around 65HP, to what is now over 80HP.? Yamaha and Norton seem an unlikely pairing (we’re more used to seeing vintage Triumphs offer up their engines), but Brad explains the thinking: ?For anyone who?s ever ridden an XS, they can tell you about the extraordinary vibration this motor throws at you.?

?The solid mounted XS race engines create a vibration so extreme, they actually make the bike a challenge to handle, and in the end will rob you of speed through cornering and straight acceleration. And all the while, you?re losing feeling in your hands going down the...