Follow your instincts

TOP 5 YAMAHA SR400

It’s one thing to talk about the ‘enduring appeal’ of a motorcycle. It’s quite another for that appeal to translate into solid showroom sales, year after year.

There are a handful of bikes that have stayed in production for decades, essentially unchanged—Royal Enfields and Urals spring to mind. But the king of that particular hill is the Yamaha SR400, a bike that has been punching above its weight for over 35 years.

Not surprisingly, there’s a huge array of aftermarket parts available for the SR400. It’s a mainstay of the thriving Japanese custom scene, and it’s now available again in the USA—this time with fuel injection. If you’re tempted to lay down some cash for a new model, or even dig out a secondhand one, take some inspiration from these five great recent builds.

Deus Grevious Angel Outside Japan, the Australian company Deus is probably the greatest exponent of the custom Yamaha SR400. ‘Grevious Angel’ is one of Deus’ signature builds, with looks that have scored it a place in Sydney’s Powerhouse museum. This SR400 is sporting a tweaked frame, an alloy bullet-style fairing, beadblasted engine cases, a CV carb and a K&N intake kit. The tank and ducktail seat unit are from the legendary Japanese brand Nitroheads, and the tires are classic Avon Speedmasters. Fans of Top Gear take note: James May has one of these in his garage. [Deus Customs]

Skull Motor Cycle No.19 With so many custom SR400s around, it’s hard to find one that’s truly different. This machine from a little-known Japanese workshop fits the bill, with radical hub-center steering and a pair of shocks tucked under the custom seat unit. The tank is from a Honda Dream 50 and the lovely pipe is from an XS650. Hiroshima-based Skull built this machine a couple of years ago as a showcase for their fabrication skills, and not surprisingly, it whipped the Japanese custom scene into a frenzy. [More about this bike | sr400times.com]

Gasoline Customs ‘Tomahawk’ Sometimes simple is best—especially if you’re after a daily rider, a role the SR400 fulfils admirably. We’re back to Australia for our third choice, this time to East Sydney’s Gasoline Customs, a workshop of some 20 years’ standing. There’s no rocket science in this build, but it’s beautifully judged—from the powdercoated XS650 wheels and brake rotors to the reworked frame and minimalist tail unit. The exhaust system is as simple as it gets, but adds to the industrial vibe of the machine. The tires, in case you’re wondering, are Shinkos originally designed for trials use. [Gasoline Customs]

Motor Rock SR400 #5 There’s relatively little ‘formula’ in Japanese custom building, compared to the West. You’ll often see the top workshops building a Kawasaki bobber one week, a Triumph café racer the next, and a Harley with skyscraper-high ape bars the week after that. Motor Rock of Nagoya is one such shop. Since opening for business ten years ago, they’ve built 20 Yamaha-based customs—most of them super-clean SR400s. Like many Japanese bikes, this one looks a little off-kilter to Western eyes. But it has a strangely appealing charm: there’s a hint of bobber styling at the back end, and a touch of café bike at the front. The detailing is beautiful, and the paint on the tank is to die for. [Motor Rock]

Boogie Single Racer SR400 At last year’s EICMA motor show in Milan, Yamaha Europe caused a splash by showcasing three ‘Yard Built’ customs. One came from the Wrenchmonkees, one came from Deus Milan, and one came all the way from Japan itself. ‘Boogie Single Racer’ was built by one of Tokyo’s top customizers—who officially remained nameless—and just drips with style. The forks are vintage Ceriani, the tank is immaculately cut-and-shut, and the rear frame loop isn’t simply chopped and tucked under the seat—it curves over the outside of the custom rear fender. There’s a vintage Honda drum brake up front and delicate filigree carving on much of the bare metal, including the wheel rims. Pure class. [More about this bike | Yamaha Yard Built Specials]

Last week’s Top 5 covered vintage Triumph hardtails.

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ARNOLDAS’ R100

If any proof were needed that the world rewards good people and hard graft, it is right here in the form of this lovely cafe racer Boxer. Arnoldas is a self employed tiler from Lithuania, when his elderly neighbour was moving house Arnoldas, being a damn fine human being, offered to tile his new place. After refusing to take any money for the work, his generosity was rewarded as his old friend pulled the sheets from a crusty old BMW that had hidden in the corner of his garage for the past 9 years and demanded Arnoldas take it as payment. Karma at its glorious best.

The reward for Arnoldas labour was a 1979 BMW R100RS with 90000 miles on its dusty clocks. After looking over the machine Arnoldas took stock of the work required before taking to the internet in search of stimulation. As a Bikeshed regular you will no doubt have some idea of the wealth of inspiration to be found when searching for custom BMW Boxers. Needless to say the beauty of the machines he found made Arnoldas an instant member of the Boxer fan club and compelled him to his shed.

Previous plans of a quick fix project were ditched in favour of a full restoration in the cafe racer style. “The easy part was to dismantle the bike,” says Arnoldas, then came the rebuild process.   Arnoldas gives little information about what he actually did, but judging by the pictures he followed the tried and tested route of trimming weight, tidying the rear, ditching the side panels, giving everything a lustrous coat of black and throwing a smattering of new parts at what remained.

The seat is modelled in the style of a Champion framed flat tracker, slimming as it rises to a pillion perch and upholstered in a dark brown that matches the clip on gracing grips. Wrapped exhaust headers lead to matt black cans that tuck neatly beneath new rear sets.

An Acewell speedometer sits tightly in its custom made top yoke nacelle. The correct shape was determined by Arnoldas drawing circles around a variety of vodka glasses and tea cups until he found the correct fit. Who needs a compass anyway?

The tank was finished in classic black with a chequerboard stripe. The number 23 adds a personal touch as it reflects Arnoldas’ birthday and is also the name he gives to his steed.

With continual changes of design ideas the build took 14 months to complete, sandwiched between Arnoldas work commitments and his Wedding, which leads us to the greatest success story of the build… Arnoldas wife was so taken with the results of his work that she is happy for him to get another project on the go for next winter. Great stuff Arnoldas, keep up the good work and the good deeds!

the Bike Shed

Rossi : « J'aurais dû me battre avec Márquez quand j'avais 22 ans »

Valentino Rossi a fini deuxième derrière Marc Márquez à trois reprises en cinq courses depuis le début de la saison 2014. Au Mans, le pilote du team Movistar Yamaha MotoGP était en tête en début d’épreuve, jusqu’à ce que Márquez ne profite d’une erreur de l'Italien dans les Esses Bleu. 

« Je suis dans une situation dans laquelle je veux évidemment gagner mais ce n’est pas un gros problème problème pour moi si j'y arrive pas, » a déclaré Rossi après la course. « Mes résultats étaient bien plus mauvais l’an dernier, encore plus les années d’avant, et je suis assez content de mon travail. »

« Vous savez… Márquez est sur un tout autre niveau. Je l’avais déjà compris l’an dernier et je m’étais dit : ‘Mince ! C'est difficile, j’aurais dû me battre avec lui quand j’avais 22 ans !’ Quoi qu’il en soit, le fait que le niveau soit aussi élevé est très motivant et pour le battre, il faut se donner à plus de 100%. »

Rossi a aussi discuté de son coéquipier Jorge Lorenzo, qui est à 80 points de Márquez après le premier quart de la saison 2014.

« Je comprends Jorge, » a affirmé Rossi. « Personnellement, je suis dans une situation différente. Pour moi, être sur le podium en étant derrière Marc est acceptable. Je sais que je peux essayer de me battre avec lui mais je suis plus détendu. C’est différent pour Jorge parce qu’il veut gagner. Jorge a réalisé des courses très impressionnantes l’an dernier, les meilleures de sa carrière, mais il n’avait pas pu remporter le Championnat. »

« Cette année, Marc a plus d’expérience, la Honda est légèrement meilleure que la Yamaha sur le plan technique et Jorge est un peu frustré parce qu’il sait que c’est presque impossible et qu’il ne veut pas être deuxième. Il n’est pas content et c’est peut-être pour ça qu’il a quelques problèmes. »

La prochaine manche a lieu la semaine prochaine au Mugello, où Rossi participera au 300ème Grand Prix de sa carrière depuis ses débuts en 125cc en 1996.