HORSE’S XS650 TRIKE.

Came across this one at the recent 2007 WheelsDay show in Aldershot, so
apologies for the lousy photo composition, but we were surrounded by other
vehicles.
Paul Clark, (“Horse”), & his wife Rachael, (“Randy Mare”), are the proud
owners of this attention grabbing little XS650 Yamaha. The Triumph roulette
green paint with black graphics ensure it really stands out from the crowd.
Paul’s good friend, Mick Chapman, actually built the beastie, using a standard
XS engine cradle, mated to a hardtail rear end, which in turn holds an MGB
axle, converted to chain drive. Rear wheels are 15 inch Jaguar wires with
genuine knock-off hubs, sitting on the original MG drum brakes. A double chain
drive with offset adjuster links the axle to the 650 twin motor. Standard XS
down pipes flow into Royal Enfield silencers & the standard Mikuni carbs
breathe through open bell-mouths.
At the front, a pair of one-off slab yokes grip XR400 forks. The front wheel
is an XJR900 16 incher & a pair of 1 inch Bay bars sit atop twin 5 inch Bates
lights. All 3 brakes are linked to a single foot pedal. A Halco Tuning 1100cc
big bore conversion is planned for later in the year.
Mick’s added plenty of one-off parts of his own, from the square peg forward
controls, to the alloy battery box, to the tidy, enclosed rear guards. The
rear marker lights originally adorned the machinery in a milking parlour while
the shiny copper diff cover began life as a wok!
This is a tidy, useable trike & it’s new owner, Paul, certainly intends
putting some serious mileage on it over the Summer. We bumped into him again 2
days later at the Reading MAG bike show.
Thanks to both Paul & Mick for taking the time to chat to us. See you at
another show somewhere soon guys.

-Manky Monkey.