As you click thorough these photos try to bear this in mind. Mick, the owner of this smart GS750 streetfighter, put this bike together in a mere six weeks. That's a month and a half, about as long as it takes me to lube the chain on my bike. Now I've built a few bikes myself but I can't say I've ever put something together in a mere six weeks, and certainly not to the standard you see here.

Mick is founder member and prime mover of the Puritans MCC, and obviously knows a thing or two about what makes a tidy and useable street bike. He's been down the Harley route before, having put lots of time and effort into a 1200 Sportster. This time around he was looking for Japanese performance and reliability with potential to be both stylish and practical.

The mixture of new and old parts he used on this GS sound unlikely on paper, but seen as a whole blend together to produce a coherent and timeless look. Classic Japanese power comes in the form of a stock GS750 lump carefully rebuilt by club members Ant and Phil. The GS750 also donated the main frame loop, but there any resemblance to a stock GS ends as the suspension and running gear, both front and back, are grafted from a ZXR400 and bring the bike bang up date with alloy monoshock, USDs, three-spokes and big floating discs with four pot Nissins. B&I Engineering at Huddersfield were responsible for the frame modifications needed to make everything fit, and those smart alloy slab yokes were made by Ruskin Engineering of Morley to Mick's own design.

Mick persuaded the motor to breathe a little better with the addition of K&N filters and a Vance and Hines pipe modified to take a Harley baffle. A Boyer Bransden electronic ignition kit replaced the standard engine's points set up.

When it came time to style the bike Mick went for the unusual combination of the stock GS750 fuel tank combined with a tailpiece originally intended for a Ducati 916, which visually blend in a way that suggests they were always fated to be together. Roadhouse at Pudsey applied the fine paint job, which should leave no-one in any doubt as to the bike's country of origin, and contrasts subtly with the dark purple frame finish applied by LSN Powder Coatings of Castleford.

Mick describes the build as a "total nightmare", but allows himself a sly grin as he says it. The fact is, building a bike to this standard in such a short time demonstrates a huge amount of skill and dedication, to which I for one would raise my hat, if I was in the habit of wearing one. Mick is full of praise for the support and encouragement he was given by other members of the Puritans MCC, a small club who are rapidly building a reputation for producing some fine looking motorcycles. Nice one Mick.

Dr.Rod.