Blank Check: Bill Becker's Immaculate XS 650

If you had no deadline and a blank check, what sort of motorcycle would you build? For Bill Becker, the answer is this perfectly proportioned Yamaha XS 650. Based in Philadelphia, Bill is a retired architect who's spent the last several years working on customs and restorations. His bikes draw aesthetic inspiration from the 60s and 70s, with improved functionality. A friend of Bill's son caught wind of his work, and twisted his arm to take on the project (Bill never takes commissions). Relatively new to motorcycles, the client's only requirement was that the bike have a vintage vibe—leaving the...