No bones about it, Auto Fabrica’s SR250 based Type 3 was a stunner. The little beige beauty, for me, perfectly encapsulated the simplicity and quality of the bikes from the ‘New Wave Scene’. It seems many others also loved the bike, a Google Images search for Yamaha SR250 brings it up first. It was so positively received in fact, that the Essex based workshop have beavered away to produce a sibling; the Type #3b, seen here.
Auto Fabrica have carved out a unique aesthetic. Their bikes are instantly recognisable due to one design ethos: a minimal look with extreme attention to detail on each component. This is harder than it looks to pull off, with such simplicity the quality of each part has to be maintained otherwise it will stand out like a turd in punchbowl.
The Yamaha SR250 is a keen base, fantastically light, with a punchy little motor. Having followed the Type 3 rasping up a gravelly, country road, it’s quite the little performer too. So other than a service and clean up the engine wants for nothing. The cases along with most other aluminium parts on the bike were aqua blasted, then brushed.
Sticking with a single block colour maintains the AF signature paintwork. A modern take on the classic Bugatti blue adorns the tank, providing contrast to the satin black powdercoat and brushed aluminium. The tank itself has been modified subtly, losing a few millimetres from the rear end. The seams have also been removed in order to maintain the flow through the bike from the seat.
The seat itself was a source of much discussion. Never one for Brat style planks, the AF guys settled on three different foam layers. Not only making the bike comfortable for daily riding this ensures the tank doesn’t look too heavy, adding visual balance. Clad in black suede tuck and roll with a cheeky triangle of brown leather to the rear it sits above the chopped and looped rear end. The alloy mudguard and LED light, offer token functionality, but the combination of knobbly tyres and no front mudguard means you’re unlikely to venture out in a storm.
The triple curvature exhaust doesn’t have a straight line in it. Tucked close in to the bike, the stainless pipe arcs around the foot controls terminating in two ‘pie cut’ slices. A two stroke baffle, hidden in the end keeps the engine noise on the pleasant side of raucous and maintains engine back pressure.
Take any part of this bike and you can see the attention to detail. The wheels, with their satin black rims, stainless spokes and polished nipples wrapped in knobbly rubber. The front forks dropped two inches to maintain the stance and quicken the steering. The textural contrast of matte, gloss and brushed finishes. Gaz and Bujar have worked hard to get the bike just so and as expected, have pulled it off. It’s great to see a new take on an old favourite.
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via The Bike shed
