Hugh’s First Build Yamaha XS650

This 1981 Yamaha XS650 has a range of 707 cc to 770 cc—all in the pursuit of speed. Paint is by William Crazy Man. Special work includes “Hardtailed” frame, custom laced vintage wheels, rephased engine, and the famous “James Tank.”

•  Version 10 lighting

•  For more lighting details: www.frankjbott.com/setup

•  Hugh’s HandBuilt: www.hughshandbuilt.com

I remember a guy in a bar told me one day, “The best guy to contact to find motorcycles is named Hugh.” He had a small shop in a red brick building. So, I took his advice and found him.

Hugh and his friends played a very big role in the development of the motorcycle photography project. He brought this specific bike, which he built for his senior thesis show in Industrial Design, to the studio several times to help Eli and me work through lighting challenges. We photographed about twenty-five bikes through Hugh and his friends. Thank you, Hugh.