Custom builders often strive for ‘that factory look’—bikes that are neat and cohesive enough to be mistaken for OEM machines. And when you’ve got an exquisite, limited edition production motorcycle to your name, ‘factory’ is second nature.
Based in Estonia, Renard Speed Shop is the custom division of Renard Motorcycles—the outfit behind the mind-boggling Grand Tourer. So this barely broken-in Yamaha SR400 was in good hands when its owner delivered it to Renard Speed Shop.
“The client was asking for a street tracker,” the guys tell us. “We wanted to make the bike look like it was a factory-built prototype. Like Yamaha were playing with the idea of building a bike to rival the Ducati Scrambler.”
Since the SR400 was practically new, there was no need to fiddle with the engine or airbox. Renard simply removed the emissions kit for a cleaner look, and adapted a Gianelli exhaust (originally designed for a Suzuki SV650) to fit.
Renard gave the bike an extra kick in the rear with a set of Triumph OEM rear shocks; they’re roughly two inches longer than the original SR units. The ergonomics were further massaged into shape with burly, enduro-style handlebars and repositioned footpegs.
The SR’s tank was raised by almost an inch at the back, and repainted in a color scheme inspired by a previous Renard build. The seat’s custom, but the team had to look beyond their own borders to find someone that could execute the bronze stitching.
Renard hand-made a pair of fenders, and a headlight cowl cut from an old Givi screen. The SR’s stock 18” rims were repainted in a bronze color with black pinstriping, and equipped with Dunlop K180s.
A sprinkling of handpicked parts round out the build: a speedo from Motogadget, turn signals from Kellermann, and smaller head and taillights. The guys also upgraded all the nuts and bolts, and sent a bunch of parts (like the shocks) to be ceramic coated—with a method normally used on rifles, to shield them from the elements.
We especially love the new handlebar switches—attractive CNC-milled units that Renard produces in house and sells to the public. They’re designed to mate with the Beringer master cylinder that’s been fitted.
The answer, according to Renard, is a resounding ‘yes.’ The client loves the bike and rides it almost every day. If it was in our garage, we’d feel the same.
It’s as classy a build as we’ve come to expect from Estonia’s finest, and looks utterly rideable to boot. But the real question is whether the client’s happy.
The answer, according to Renard, is a resounding ‘yes.’ The client loves the bike and rides it almost every day. If it was in our garage, we’d feel the same.
