Yamaha took the opportunity to unveil three new concept bikes at the EICMA show earlier on this month. Adding to the brand’s ‘Yard Built’ series, the new machines wrapped up a year of collaborations with some of Europe’s most well-known custom bike builders.
First up were German brothers Raphael and Christian Bender. The duo’s latest project – the XV950 ‘Boltage’ – follows on from their previous Yard Built SR400 ‘Homage’ creation.
Paying tribute to Yamaha racers of the seventies, the Boltage is a café racer inspired by their previous ‘Jericho’ creation, a custom machine based on a 1983 Yamaha TR1 and reminiscent of the TZ750 Yamaha Racers of the past.
The brothers have built on the core technology and design of the XV950, keeping the engine, chassis and suspension unchanged as their base. A number of bespoke pieces have then been added including the tank, seat, front fender and exhaust system, all designed and handmade by the brothers. A Hattech silencer delivers the sound and a retro Yamaha paint job completes the look.
Joining the brothers under the EICMA spotlights were fellow Germans, KEDO. Having helped create the parts required to transform the Wrenchmonkees’ Yard Built ‘Gibbonslap’ last year, KEDO have been busy working on their first independent Yard Built projects and unveiled not one, but two, SR400 concepts in Milan.
The first Yard Built KEDO SR400, dubbed ‘Stallion’, traces its roots back to the seventies. The guys at KEDO stripped back the bike before adding a number of their own products to re-style the machine. Dominated by sharp lines and rounded edges, the SR400 gets a KEDO aluminium rear swing-arm, KEDO custom handlebars, rear sets and of course, the Stallion seat unit.
A custom front fender, front lamp mask and side covers were all designed and made in-house. The changes are finished by a turquoise blue metallic paint job and Stallion logo decals.
Pulling up alongside the Stallion was the second Yard Built SR400. Named the ‘Bronco’ and sharing the same major assemblies as the Stallion, the designers say the bike is more suited to everyday use. The machine gets a tougher look, sitting up on 18 inch tracker tyres and also features several KEDO parts, including the aluminium rear swing arm, polished aluminium front top yoke and custom made handlebars.
Custom front and rear fenders, side covers and front and rear lights are all complemented by a candy gold paint job and Bronco decals. Just like it’s brother, the bike also gets the full Daytona clock treatment with a digital tachometer and LCD screen and dash LEDs integrated into the front fork top yoke.
Yamaha also announced at EICMA that German custom builders JvB Moto are currently working in their workshops near Cologne transforming a VMAX cruiser, with the bike set to mark its 30th anniversary in 2015.
The Wrenchmonkees are also back. Yamaha says the Copenhagen-based Danish builders are currently working on an all-new XJR1300 Yard Built project to be unveiled sometime in 2015.
The building doesn’t stop there as Spain based custom design studio Matt Black Designs joins the Yard Built platform. The Spanish studio will be working on a special XV950 custom build to be revealed next year.
German builder Marcus Walz from Walz Hardcore Cycles will also be unveiling his take on the Yamaha XV950 later on in 2014. Paying homage to the café racer scene, the XV950 gets the full Walz treatment including a stripped back seventies street sports style with dropped café racer bars and a chopped rear end.
Source: Yamaha
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