The first “Yard Built Yamaha” is born

In garages around the world, motorcyclists dream of having a motorcycle made just for them. Yamaha tries to make these dreams come true by asking the most talented bike makers to transform the Yamaha today in "Yard Built Special”, an expression that plays on the ambiguity between the two meanings of "yard": motorcycles built on site, like ships, or built in the backyard, as unique specimens. After having created a special, the manufacturers involved have the possibility of producing and selling aftermarket kits. To satisfy the desire of those who want to own a motorcycle that is different from all the others.

The first bike makers to take up the challenge of Yamaha it was the Danes Wrenchmonkees. Born in 2008 in Copenhagen, on the initiative of For Nielsen e Nicholas Beck, have the aim of creating on-off motorbikes for riders who want models that are decidedly outside the norm. In their aim to create custom motorcycles that can be ridden every day, they are supporters of a mechanical aesthetic that tends to put the basic components of a motorcycle not only in view, but in the best light, to let the design itself speak. There could not be a better choice to demonstrate what can be achieved starting from the classic style of Yamaha XJR 1300.

“We have observed with interest the birth of other projects Yamaha , as TMAX e VMAX Hyper Modified. That's why they called us to work on it Yamaha XJR 1300 we were thrilled. We thought we heard a giant pat on the back – declares For Nielsen, foreman of the Wrenchmonkees -. We usually deal with old style motorcycles, like the Yamaha SR500 e XS650, but it was really fun to be able to show what we can do with a bike that is modern but with a character that looks to the past, XJR 1300".

“It wasn't easy though. All the sensors, wires and mandatory emission control devices make it very difficult to tune a motorcycle today - goes on -. On a motorcycle built many years ago you are more free to work because the design is simple, and essentially includes the engine, frame and wheels. In a recent model, the hidden parts are not meant to be seen and so, when you remove a plastic, I have to find another place for the cables and electrical devices”.

“We were determined to highlight what could be done with XJR extension, and how beautiful she could be to discover her look inside from cafe racer. It would have been easy to freshen up the bike by changing the paintwork and seat, but we wanted to raise the bar and do something that would strike the imagination of the XJR extension".

“First we had to decide the number of components to change. We wanted to maintain the identity of the bike and make it immediately recognizable as XJR extension, and so we did not modify the tank, the engine and the main parts of the chassis. Then we looked at the bike and said to ourselves: Ok, what do we do now?”.

“The front was the first step – explains Nielsen –. After having mounted the fork and rims of one YZF-R1 we realized that they weren't so suitable and so we replaced the rims with spoked ones, made for the occasion. At the front there is a 19 inch rim and an 18 inch one behind, to give the bike a vintage look with the touch of modernity of the fork and the six-piston caliper of the R1. The rearset footrests created by us offer greater height from the ground, and the clip-on handlebars allow a riding position from cafe racer. The exhaust is made of steel, it is built by hand and recalls the trumpet look of the first one XJR extension with double muffler, but is made contemporary by a racing style inspired by MotoGP".

“To accentuate the look cafe racer the saddle was rebuilt from scratch, and now rests on the original frame. We removed the battery compartment and moved the cables, hiding them in the tail, also made specifically. But a problem remained. Where to put the battery? Given that the  XJR extension It still has two shock absorbers, there's a lot of space under the swingarm, and so we used a small lithium battery just behind the engine."

“In our world there are no bright, shiny colors, so we opted for a matte dark olive green, with a little hint of metal flake.” The chassis turned out spectacularly. The swingarm and the engine of XJR extension They are painted black, but we wanted the frame to stand out more so we sanded and sandblasted it, before exposing it to the fire, to create a fantastic 'burnt steel' effect.”.

“We are very happy with the result obtained with ours Yard Built Yamaha. The bike's muscular engine has retained its retro look and mechanical beauty. Much of the charm of XJR extension derives from its air-cooled engine, and our development highlights this, also thanks to the contrast with modern components such as the upside-down fork and the 6-piston radial brake calipers”.

“We hope that our bike will be a source of inspiration for the owners of XJR extension who want to transform it into something even more special. After making our prototype, we are trying to figure out how to produce a XJR 1300 kit that allows drivers to reproduce some of our ideas in their garage, making it as easy as possible to allow processing by customers in their garage. To do this, we think of kits that do not require drastic interventions on the frame and swingarm, but which allow the appearance of the bike to be radically changed by simply replacing the standard components. Everyone can thus build their own Yard Built Yamaha, which will be the mirror of his personality", concludes.