Yamaha X-Seventyfive: A Skateboard Café Racer with Frankenstein's Charm

If the X-Sixtyfive was a zombie shambling back from the scrapyard, the Yamaha X-Seventyfive is Frankenstein’s monster, stitched together from retro parts, charged with raw energy, and still figuring out how all its limbs work. It’s the second in our growing lineup of skate-inspired builds, taking cues from the X65 but choosing a rougher, grittier path. Think skate park chaos meets garage experiment gone right enough.

From Abandoned Café Racer to Beautiful Chaos

The X-Seventyfive came to us as an American import—an abandoned café racer project waiting for redemption. The bones were good, and we decided to keep much of its original rough-hewn charm: the tank, side panels, clocks, and even the switchgear (complete with their charmingly faded stickers). We’re not full-on patina bros at BGM, but there’s something honest about a bike that shows it’s lived a little. A spit-shine? Nah. This one wears its scars with pride.

After years off the road, the bike needed a complete overhaul, though we didn’t aim for perfection. We rebuilt just about everything—carbs, suspension, wheels, brake systems, and the engine itself. The clutch was rebuilt, valve clearances set, and the timing chain dialed in. It’s tuned well enough for unpredictable British weather because precision isn’t the only path to joy.

Tech Specs: Old-School Cool with Skate Flair

Here’s what makes the X-Seventyfive a worthy successor to the X-Sixtyfive:

• Tyres: Shinko E270s for that perfect blend of classic tread and modern grip.

• Suspension: Shortened fork stanchions with Telefix adjustable clip-ons for dialed-in handling.

• Braking: HeL lines for better stopping power—because speed without control is just chaos.

• Lighting: The original Yamaha 7” headlight, now lowered alongside the factory clocks for a sleeker silhouette.

• Details: Builtwell Oxblood grips to match the seat and Vance & Hines matte black Cerakote exhausts that sound as raw as the bike looks.

• Skateboard Seat: Upholstered in oxblood vinyl with diamond stitching by Custom Coach Trimming near Evesham. Because nothing says sit here like a little luxury atop a hardwood board.

• Sharpie Artwork: Custom zombie-hand drawn graphics by Grim sealed in matte lacquer, perfected after our wild experiments with the X65. Think skate punk meets horror art class—with a permanent marker twist.

Evolution, But Rougher Around the Edges

While the X-Sixtyfive had a slick and sick, zombie-apocalypse vibe, the X-Seventyfive doesn’t aim to refine that chaos—it doubles down on it. Faster? Maybe. Smoother? Not really. But it’s got a street-tough authenticity that doesn’t apologize for itself. The hand-drawn zombie flying hands motif makes a comeback, honed from lessons learned on the X65, but with a rougher, more confident form that fits the bike’s wilder nature.

We even kept the dog-eared original U.S. “go-faster” stickers on the chassis, because sometimes nostalgia is the best decoration—especially when it’s peeling slightly at the corners.

A Bike with Heart

This build went to Russell, a long-suffering friend of the shop who’s endured plenty of our madness over the years. Now he gets to ride it—when he’s not busy fielding questions about why there’s a skateboard under his backside.

The X-Seventyfive is proof that not every evolution needs to be polished—sometimes rough and ready is exactly what the road demands. When this monster roars to life, it’s clear that chaos can be beautiful, too; and chaos loves a challenge!

Stay tuned, because the X-series is just getting started. We've got more ideas brewing, including a Joker-themed ride and a pinup sailor bike. The X-Seventyfive might be a little rougher around the edges than the X-Sixtyfive, but who ever said Frankenstein wasn’t charming?