Basic Black Bike from THE FONG BROS!
Denis – Like the title says, it’s pretty much a basic black bike. I do want to thank T.C. Bros for giving me a good deal on the hardtail. I just had an idea where I wanted an all black and chrome/polished bike with white grips, so that’s what I went with. It has 18 inch wheels front and back with 4.5 Firestones. Also, there are drum brakes front and rear (xs1 front and Heritage Special 48 spoke rear).
It has a Pamco ignition and outside of that, I can’t really say there is a great deal of really custom stuff. I built it in about 3 weeks from start to finish excluding the wiring.
It’s just been sitting in my garage since February and since I finally wired it up this weekend, I figured I’d post some pics before it goes to the new owner in New York.
More fong-bros >
3wks to do the bike and 8 months to wire it? Ouch. I’d be wanting to ride that.
Cleeeeeaaaaannnnn. Perfect example of “Less is More”. Love it.
that shit is hard …just love it im from n,y hope i see it around
do want.
GAWD! I HATE YOU & YOUR BIKES!
I’m completely lying.
Pretty perfect!
Cool..very very cool..
Man. That all-black, same-size-rims, just a few polished pieces sure looks good. I also like the hard-tail combined with the rear section of the original frame. Gives it a more ‘filled in’ appearance. Very nice job, Denis.
I love the bike and color !!!
LOVE THE FRAMES DONE LIKE THIS…MAGIC BIKE.
Feast your eyes on this fine and first class fabrication from the fertile minds of the Fong Brothers.
I finally got Denis, the Pharaoh of Fong, on the phone. “I was just checking the fluids in my Ford,” he said. “Why don’t you come over for a few by the fire?”
“It could be a phase, but we find the XS fascinating. They’re our favorite fetish, like a fixation,” he began. “First, we went to the fridge, then we did some fact finding. We fermented our feelings in front of the fireplace. It’s a field of study for us,” he continued, filing away at a filet of pheasant. He fiddled with his false teeth. “I should have flossed,” he said forcefully, “and used fluoride.” He took my Fresca from my fingers. “That has phenylethylamine in it,” he said flatly. “Have a few of my Fosters. Or would you prefer some firewater? I could put some fizz in it.
“It’s unfathomable why anyone would leave a stock XS unfucked with. I’m flummoxed,” he fumed, flipping me some flapjacks with his fork. “Some of those fiascos look like they were fabbed up by febrile fuckwits who need more fiber and a defibrillator. What do these guys have in their veins?”
“Formaldehyde!” I said forthrightly.
“We always forge forward and follow through. Fondue?”
“I’m fit to forage if you are,” I replied.
“As fortune would have it, it started out as a fleabag we fished out of the flaxweed behind the firehouse. It was fabbed up in February, and we went through it with a fine toothed comb. I’d have finished it faster, but I caught a flesh eating face fungus. My whole family was affected. Fortune cookie?
“Special feedback goes out to TC Bros, whose hardtails are more fun than a feverish farm girl’s Fallopian tubes. Fancy a fling on it?”
I eyed Denis’ fleshy and flirty, force-fed first cousin Francine Farkle (no relation), who had just fluttered into the foyer. That filly is a floorshow in her own right, and I’m fond of her, even though her formidable front porch are actually falsies made out of foam rubber. I found that out when I fondled her. “You boys go outside,” she said, ”and Frank, I’ll flog you later. I just fellated the flotilla, and my flat feet are killing me. I hope I don’t have the flu. I feel a little flush,” she said forlornly. Francine has fingered my flute before, and a fortune teller told me she’d find it again.
I put it in first gear, and finessed a few fishtails. When flat out, it flies, and feels fantastic, like a pocket full of lit fireworks with a short fuse. It’s faster than a fucked up female from Fiji. This is not a bike for a phony, fat-assed fashionista, or a flabby, fat cat Fauntleroy with a feather boa. It’s fast and feral, but it’s not a finicky featherweight. You could outrun Federal Express on this fucker. You could even flee from a felony. Or simply go with the flow, like a flower child.
“Great balls of fire,” I thought, “this feels fine!” I truly felt fortified.
I was flabbergasted at the Fongs flair for flawlessness. There’s no fluff. It’s not fancy, or festooned with flavorless finery that only serves to defang.
There’s not even a fingerprint in its fantastic finish. I think it deserves its own feature film. I simply had to fawn over it.
Finally, the time came for me to go. I was fagged from freaking out all Friday.
“It’s been nice chewing the fat with you, but I have to flake off, or I’ll be late for the Florida Philatelist’s Club.”
“Frank, I’m surprised,” remarked the Fongmeister. “You don’t look like a masturbator.”
God really? what a POS… Enough with the crap frame using all the stock (HEAVY) parts. Get a clue on design already. These bikes are just basic novice builds and obviously there is not any thought of function going into them. That seat fits like crap, totally kills all the lines, tank blows too, and clubman’s really? no style at all here people…
funny frank, you forgot to take your meds again didn’t you?
” no style at all here “, Falcon? “POS”? “Get a clue “? ” not any thought of function”???? I guess maybe we’re all idiots here, then. Personally, I’d rather read the next installment from Funny Frank Farkle.
FFS…
To start, I would like to thank everyone who has posted a comment, whether it was positive or negative. One thing we can all remember is that you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time. I think for most of us, we build what WE like without concern for the thoughts of others – or so we say.
With that said, I will now address Falcon’s comments which read “God really? what a POS… Enough with the crap frame using all the stock (HEAVY) parts. Get a clue on design already. These bikes are just basic novice builds and obviously there is not any thought of function going into them. That seat fits like crap, totally kills all the lines, tank blows too, and clubman’s really? no style at all here people…”
REPLY:I do respect the fact that you don’t like this bike, so I will not try to persuade you to think differently. However, I will respond objectively to your comments. To start, in my opinion, this bike is not a POS, but you were right to start your post by calling me GOD. Second, I happen to like the look of the frame with the stock heavy parts i.e. footpegs/mounts because they eliminate the negative space left in front of the wheel when a hardtail is added. Beyond that, I guarantee my frames, with all the extra pieces are WAY stronger than those without (so there is some thought of function). As for it being a basic novice build, did you read the title BASIC BLACK BIKE? Basic is in the title. As for novice, I’m still satisfied with my skill level. My bikes are built for putting around town and barhopping, not for winning the next drag race, stunt competition, or Isle of Mann TT. So therefore, I think they function just fine considering their intended purpose. The seat is positioned to keep one from sliding into the back tire (function), and I do not feel it detracts from the line of the bike. I like the tank. It’s a Wassell and I’ve been using them for years. I know you think they blow, and yet somehow they command a fortune and 2 major companies DETROIT BROS and LOWBROW are re-making them. Those companies must have very little forethought to spend the money to market and make a part that blows. Just think how much money they and other builders could save if only they had taken the time to hire you as a design consultant – with your eagle eye. It’s keen vision like yours that sees clubman bars where there are none. This bike has Daytona which are nothing like Clubmans. Finally, as to my getting a clue about design, I have degrees and certification in both Art and Engineering, so I think I might know a little about design – well, as much as anyother novice. This bike has style in spades, but maybe not the style you like. I respect that.
Beautiful bike, and awesome wheels. Did you have to modify the stock forks to run the larger front wheel?
Wow Falcon!!! We usually wait till the end of it all to hear God speak to us individually. Special treatment for a special guy I ‘spose? I somehow get the feeling that the Fong Bros are not Oriental but I can see the rice influence in the grips. Keep me heavy
I got ADD and y’all killing me…I still love the bike and color, LOL
I like the Basic Black Bike and it’s beauty of simplicity.
Some people don’t get it and possibly never will get it…I got it and it rocks!
@Carl – no, forks are not modified other than shaved the fender and brake mounts
WOW!!! the Fongmeister not only builds nice bike, he also engineers searing rebuttals!! Novice??? I think not!!
Love the symmetry of this bike everything flows. Do you sell frames? Can I hire you to duplicate a frame like this one??
Ison, contact me using Fongbros@gmail.com
What’s the deal with no rear fender on some of your bikes?
Don’t understand the trend of no rear fender on any bike frankly.
Otherwise, nice basic bike.
The bros have done it again! Sweet bike!
Jake, you didn’t just say “frankly” did you??? lol
These 650′s can be built so many ways. I enjoy seeing what guys can do with them here….
This one , looks simply solid …
the black, the polished alum , and big tire stance gives it that firm grip on the planet.
and I like it
Billy Joe Fong…Awesome bike once again! I have a 1979 XS…she’s a work in progress (they are never done unless you are selling them!) My Chop is on this web site under 79 Chop…I just have couple questions about your basic black bike. What head light, and exhaust are you using???
Thanks Pedro. The exhaust is a Mac 2n1. As for the headlight, no idea. I was collecting old fog lights for a while and it’s one I had in the pile. I wish I had a few more.
There is only one other bike I love as much as this one and it’s also a Fong Bros. Super nice bikes!!!!!
Fong bros bikes are way cool – I am copying their style from this & the cream “62″ bike for my own ride. If only someone would reproduce those xs1 drum front ends as well…or maybe they blow too..??…. rock on Denis keep building those sweet rides.
It looks like project two is going to follow in the same lines. I suppose keeping the rear stanchions helps with rigidity and the simplicity to hard tail without a professional frame jig. Would like some feedback and considering emailing the FongBros for input. Down here in Trini I have to deal with alot of idiot hamsters who only know how to shit on themselves.
frong bros ! seen one well… you’ve seen them all!!
Now that the secret is out, you can stop looking.
I heard that one can be seen in NY, that true?
I really don’t see why anyone would find fault with this bike. Fong is one of the small number of guys who discovered XS650′s bobber potential over 6 years ago. What Fong has done is find a way to make a reasonable facsimile of a 50′s or 60′s custom bobber for short money. In the mid-late 2000′s, guys were getting these donors for free, $75, $300 etc. You do some welding, scrounge some parts, buy some other stuff, paint with rattle cans, and voila, you have a wrenching and riding project for small money. You save time and fabrication expense by using the stock peg, rear MC, and exhaust mounts. Perhaps the stanchion is too ugly for some people, and leaving it is a corner you wouldn’t want to cut. Okay, point taken. But you can nitpick every single detail if you want. In fact, some builders will tell you they are never done, it never looks right, where they thought something looked right, after a while looks all wrong. There’s no way to be 100% perfect. It’s way less money to hardtail a frame than to start from scratch. One could argue all day.
Fong is among a small handful of guys who have done the work to show the rest of us how it’s done. Now that these guys have done the work, all one needs to do is look the bikes over and decide which one you want to emulate. Now we know how each different kind of tank looks, how different wheelbases look, girder vs springer vs stock forks look, handlebars, ground clearance etc. There was a time when none of this had been done for the XS yet. The evolution has been going on for years now, and criticizing this bike is to find fault with the time and work spent on bringing the XS bobber to its present point. Sometimes people even say, “How boring, this has been done before.” Yeah, you’re right. By Fong!
Or, perhaps they aren’t “real deal bikes,” ie, V-Twins or Triumphs. Maybe that’s what the problem is.
I think you guy’s do really awesome work,i just would like to see something else from you guys,if this was your 1st bike it would be simply killer,i think the look has just got watered down a bit, the same hardtails,peanut tank, clubmanbars,seat no disrespect,they look like an assembly line build now with very slight differencnot taking anything away from this bike it’s really cool
Totally agree with you xsslinger, but there is a look I am trying to get and I feel I haven’t gotten there yet. I’m gonna keep tweaking and fine tuning until I get there. So the bad news is the one I’m building now will be similar to this, but with some minor changes. Eventually, I will say yes, that’s the one and it will be perfect to me and I will move on. I have other ideas, just not putting them together until I get this one right.
fong,i got an idea for this style bike,it would take a little frame mod but, fabricate a single carb manifold,and run a amal 930 carb like the old tr6, the single carb would really clean the bike’s up. this is something i’ve been wanting to do, i build my bike’s with a similar look. i think this would really seal the deal on this style, not talking about a wizeguy manifold,a tight to the motor setup just like a tr6, just my though what do you think ?