Spirit of the Seventies XS750 cafe racer

There’s a new kid on the custom block. It’s an English outfit called Spirit of the Seventies, and it’s bucking the current European trend for all things raw and grungy. The company was started by Tim Rogers and graphic designer Kev Taggart, friends who share an obsession for motorcycles “and other beautifully designed things.” Their aim is simple: to build motorcycles that are “nostalgic, characterful, and sophisticated.” They’re up to build #3, but the machine you see here is Spirit II, the personal ride of managing director Tim. Constructed by mechanic Martin Taylor, it’s based on a 1979 Yamaha XS750...