Until California budget cuts finally caught up with their program, about a dozen first- and second-year machine-school students I know used to meet at San Diego City College on Thursday nights to work on personal projects.

One of these eager beavers is my friend Scott Shroyer. This XS650 is his school project-in-progress. If you want to learn how to build a fun bike on a budget, class is now in session.

Owner/builder: Scott Shroyer

Motor size, year, make, model: 1978 Yamaha XS650 with theee-over pistons and single-point ignition conversion

Frame manufacturer: I got the hard tail from Black Widow Choppers years ago. That guy sucks. I'll just leave it at that

Front tire size, hub style, rim: 100/90-19 Maxxis Classic tire with a polished and relaced stock hub and rim

Rear tire size, hub style, rim: 120/90-18 Maxxis Classic tire; same wheel polish and relace treatment as the front

Custom-fabbed parts I made myself: I shaved and polished the fork tubes; custom pipes with NOS cocktail shakers; sissy bar and LED dune buggy light; machined axle spacers and brake linkage. I redid all the electrical: new stator and rotor and regulator/rectifier. There's not one old wire on the whole bike. I made the knurled stainless mid controls in SDCC shop class

Plans for my bike moving forward: I just finished the first version in March, so I'm still breaking it in and shaking it down. As soon as I get another 500 miles or so it's coming apart for paint and chrome. I'm going to make a taller sissy bar. I'm also covering a Biltwell solo seat with a Mexican blanket. I also picked up and O-ring chain and some proper axle tensioners from Lowbrow. A friend of mine is making a bitchin' case for the oil tank tool holder thing. When I can afford them I'll get some 34mm decked Mikuni carbs

People and companies who helped me with the build: Thanks to Biltwell for the bars, and the guys at Front Street Cycle for the ribbed fender. Also, thanks to my welder and drinking buddy Eric, and much thanks to Joel Smith for his positive attiude and sound advice. Thanks to Stan for letting me use your welder. I still owe you a new cut-off wheel. And last but not least, thanks to my dad for letting me keep this thing at his house for so long