Back in 2012 Raider custom built the GB and labelled it their SLS (Salt Lake Sickle). It was created as a showpiece for the company to display their abilities at the Sydney Motorcycle Expo, one of the biggest 2 wheeled events in Australia. As you would expect Raider went all out on the little Honda’s transformation with a full bodywork overhaul and an extensive list of engine mods.
To get the performance they wanted out of the 400 (or in their words “enough power to blow the wheels off most 500/650cc bikes“) Raider revised the GB’s camshaft, added a larger carby and upgraded the cylinder-head, the internals were ported and polished and a full custom exhaust with mufflers tucked away in the bike’s undercarriage. The note from the exhaust is enough to make your ears ring and keeping up with GB on my W650 required liberal amounts of throttle twisting.
Raider replaced the controls with all new switches and dials which they mounted to a set of low slung clip-on bars. The pegs were replaced by an adjustable set of rear sets and the frame was chopped to shorten the bikes stance.
Raider originally wrapped the GB’s widened XS650 tank in a carbon fibre film but with his contacts in the custom scene, Jimmy saw it fit to add some flake to his ride. Painter Thom Armstrong laid the new paint using 3 different kinds of flake and copious coats of clear leaving a finish that has to be seen to be truly appreciated.
