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Article By: Heather Callen
Photos By: Kerri Schindler
Originally Published In The October 2018 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine
Thanks to Austin Andrella of Austin Martin Originals (AMO), Timeless, the bike gracing these very pages, has a style that is just that, timeless. This bike started life as your typical stock ‘76 XS650. Like many people fi nding their way in this industry Austin works a day job to keep the lights on for his family while AMO plays second fi ddle and fi ts into his “spare time”. Just like any plumber or mechanic, his projects are the last to be worked on. After being on the back burner for about 6 years, Andrella fi nally had a chance to do something for himself. Wanting to push not only his fab skills, but also his creativity and ingenuity he got to work. He started by sketching the frame out then promptly started cutting, bending and notching tube. Austin turned the neck down from a solid piece, rolled and arched the backbone, and went with a gooseneck single downtube front section. The hardtail section is made of two U- bends and more arching gussets.
With the gooseneck and 7” stretched rear it keeps this bike super low and long. The matching 21” wheels keep it all proportioned from front to back, and with a 21” seat height you actually sit in the bike. Austin’s buddy, Cole from 138 Cycle Fab, was cool enough to let him come down and weld together one of his knee action girders. To complete the look he used the slender Wassell aluminum rear fender. For the gas tank, he chopped down a sporty tank, narrowed it a bunch and domed the fl at spot on the top. He then hammer formed a new bottom and made an arched tunnel to mate up on the frame. To finish the aluminum and threw some bead rolls on the side. This air box hides not only his pod fi lter but also the capacitor, and fuses, the regulator is hidden on the underside. It fi lls the void like it’s supposed to be there. The paint on the tins was a collaboration between two talented painters. Steve from Flamethrower Customs laid down the 1940 Ford Lyon Blue and Alex of Hamilton Design Co. did the aluminum leaf and graphics by hand.
Now for the power plant, after shaving 150 pounds off the stock platform, Andrella wanted to add some HP’s. Ace Powder Coating did all of the vapor honing in a crazy turnaround time of only 2 days. Meanwhile, Hugh from Hugh’s Handbuilt received the crank and cam to be rephased. (Did I mention he loves deadlines?) Hugh actually closed his shop that Monday and focused completely on the project so Austin’s could get it back and assemble the motor that weekend with Daniel from Pandemonium.
Did I mention that he managed to build this bike in 3 months after hours while working a full-time gig? Back to the motor, rephased 700cc JE forged pistons, HP clutch plates and springs. Daniel stepped up and worked Friday till 3 am and was back at it on Saturday. By Sunday, the duo had a tuned Monster XS motor ready to be thrown in the clear powder coated frame done by RH at Capital Powder. The mid controls and linkage for the external foot clutch and suicide shifter were all made in house. Andrella whipped up some nice stainless bars with internal throttles leaving the bars with no levers; nice and clean. The stainless curvy exhaust was next, winding back thru the frame and dumping out the front. He also put some ribs in the pipe for accent. Barebones Leather covered the seat, and as always did an impeccable job. A bike with all this motor needs some stopping power so Austin turned to Lyndall Racing for a fully fl oating crown cut race rotor with a modifi ed Harley caliper. A Brembo master cylinder with LC Fab remote reservoir rounds out the braking. 138 Cycle Fab also made the leather grips. AMO machined some accents on the motor covers, less is more, and contrast is where it’s at.
She won “Best of Show” at the XS 650 Chop off last year and is his favorite bike to ride. Yes, she gets ridden! He was also lucky enough to be an invited builder at the 1st In Motion show in Galveston, Texas last November. Austin would like to give thanks to his buddy, Mark, for help with the reassembly, which only took 5 days from parts to a running bike! Damn fi ne job, and we are looking forward to his next offering.
TIMELESS TECH SHEET
Owner: Austin M. Andrella
City/State: Akron, Ohio
Builder: Austin Martin Originals
Year: 1976
Model: Yamaha XS650
Value: Priceless
Time: 3 Months
ENGINE
Year: 1976
Model: XS650
Builder: Pandemonium Custom Choppers
Ignition: Pamco 277
Displacement: 700 cc
Pistons: JE Forged
Heads: Stock
Carb: Stock Rejetted
Cam: Stock
Air Cleaner: Uni Pods
Exhaust: AMO
Primary: N/A
TRANSMISSION
Year: 1976
Make: Yamaha 5 Speed
Shifting: Handshif – AMO
FRAME
Year: 2016
Model: AMO Gooseneck
Rake: 32°
Stretch: 7”
Forks
Builder: 138 Cycle Fab
Type: Knee Action Girder
Triple Trees: N/A
Extension: N/A
WHEELS
Front Wheel: Black Bike Wheels
Size: 21”
Tire: IRC Trials
Front Brake: N/A
Rear Wheel: Harley Hub
Size: 21”
Tire: IRC Trials GP-1
Rear Brake: Lyndall Racing High Carbon
PAINT
Painter: Flamethrower Customs
Color: Lyon Blue/1940 Ford
Type: No Metallic
Graphics: Hamilotn Design Co
Chroming: Nickel Plated by Akron Plating
ACCESSORIES
Bars: AMO
Risers: N/A
Hand Controls: N/A
Foot Controls: AMO
Gas Tank(s): AMO
Oil Tank: AMO – It’s An Air Box
Front fender: N/A
Rear Fender: Wassell Aluminum
Seat: Barebones Leather
Headlight: Aux Beam LED
Tail light: Light Asylum/Old School
Speedo: N/A
PHOTOGRAPHER: Kerri Schindler
XS 650 Chop off last year and is
his favorite bike to ride. Yes, she
gets ridden! He was also lucky
enough to be an invited builder
at the 1st In Motion show in
Galveston, Texas last November.
Austin would like to give thanks
to his buddy, Mark, for help with
the reassembly, which only took
5 days from parts to a running
bike! Damn fi ne job, and we
are looking forward to his next
offering