Yamaha’s Yard Built projects are now familiar to riders in the land of the Stars and Stripes. Both west coast and east coast builders have delivered different interpretations of Yamaha’s Sport Heritage range, including the XJR1300 Rhapsody in Blue from New York’s Keino Cycles and of course Roland Sands’ multiple Yard Built creations.
But for the very first custom build of the new SCR950, Yamaha has turned to Japanese builder and California resident, Go Takamine of Brat Style.
Born in Okinawa next to a US military base, Go Takamine’s first exposure to motorcycles was witnessing US soldiers riding bikes on dirt track courses on the base. Originally founded in 1998 as a workshop in Tokyo, Brat Style now resides in California with a brand name that has become associated with the SR400 and 500. The Japanese builder has created over 100 of the Brat Style SRs in his career, including his first Yard Built collaboration, the SR400 B.S.R.
“The SCR950 Scrambler is a natural evolution of the Sport Heritage range,” says Yamaha’s European marketing coordinator Cristian Barelli. “Go Takamine has perfectly captured the spirit of the scrambler, and his influence and style is clear in the build. We love how he was able to turn the single airhead SR into a scrambler style cool toy, and we wanted the same feeling with the SCR, which he delivered in proper Brat Style!”
“I really like the SCR950,” adds Go Takamine. “As usual I fabricated most of the key body components to make this into a ‘Brat Style’ machine; fuel tank, seat, fenders, side covers, exhaust pipes and handle bars. The fuel tank was especially challenging, I scrapped the finished fuel tank a couple of times to make it perfect! Also the fuel pump integration was tricky. I took out quite some weight compared to the stock SCR950, and now it’s even more fun to ride!”
To create the ‘Chequered Scrambler’ Go Takamine cleaned up the front end, adding wider handlebars for better off-road control and a new smaller headlight unit. Brat Style signature engraving can be found on the fuel cap, paying tribute to Yamaha’s Faster Sons platform as well as an engraved custom air filter cover.
Custom rear suspension by Works Performance is added for increased travel and ground clearance and a handmade sub-frame and rear fender cleans up the back end to match the front.
Chunky off road tyres are added to prototype wire rims and no Brat Style bike would be complete without his signature rear light unit. Custom exhausts run both sides of the Chequered Scrambler and a handmade heat shield keeps the legs from cooking!
A handmade seat unit by Mauricio Aguilar and old school paint design featuring vintage Yamaha graphics and chequered flags by Denis Babin on the tank complete the bike.
Source: Yamaha
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