Did you know that the evergreen Yamaha XS650 was launched over half a century ago" Although the production line closed down in 1985, the air-cooled parallel twin is still a top choice for many custom builders, including Minnesota-based Dan Riley.
Operating as Gunn Design, Dan is a gifted freelance designer with good business smarts, too. A few months ago, he contacted Tucker Powersports and suggested a custom bike collaboration?which makes sense, because Tucker distributes custom-oriented brands that regularly appear on these pages, such as Vance & Hines, ProTaper and Renthal.

Dan pitched the idea of a build using parts sourced from Tucker brands, and suggested a platform he has worked with on several occasions?the XS650. The Tucker folks agreed, and a 1975 XS650 was bought off Craigslist for a mere $650. Now called the ?Techno Tracker,? the Yamaha had to be finished in time for the annual Tucker dealer show held every January.

Dan set to work on turning his concept into reality. ?It serves as an example of what can be done primarily with bolt-on parts,? Dan says, ?and on a budget less than the cost of a new motorcycle.?
A few key parts are not from the Tucker catalogs, but they?re still mostly bolt-on and affordable. Dan?s used the forks from a YZ250, and has grafted on the front calipers from a bigger YZ450?using them at both ends of the XS650.

?I mounted the YZ forks using the stock triple clamps,? he explains, ?milled down and with the casting marks sha...