The spunky little Yamaha SR400, simple, single-cylinder and lightweight, is an ideal make for a custom job. There’s loads of revamps out there, but this particular ride takes it to the next level.
Three years young, Yamaha’s Yard Build Programme works with the top custom builders in the game, giving them an opportunity to put their individual spin on heritage rides. For this collaboration, the Japanese manufacturers chose Belgium’s notorious two-time AMD World Championship winner, Fred ‘Krugger’ Bertrand. And in turn, Krugger chose to take design inspiration from his dear friend Bernard Ansiau, the mechanic for possibly the greatest rider the world over, Valentino Rossi.
For the project, Krugger and Ansiau wanted to embody ’70s race culture and pay homage to the Yamaha TZ motos. The duo beefed up the bike’s engine with an Aisin 300 supercharger, a one-off stainless steel exhaust and a 48mm carburetor. The front forks were taken down a notch, fox shocks were added in the rear, and the bike was suited up with a set of Dunlop K81s, a tribute to tires of the first bike to run a 100mph lap of the Isle of Man TT course.
But that’s just the beginning.
The team installed a Motogadget speedometer and custom craft handlebars. The brakes and clutch were souped-up with Beringer pieces for added oomph control. And while the ride sports its original fuel tank, it was obviously heavily modified to be slimmer and elongated. But the most endearing feature is hands-down the white and blue paint job with the names of all the riders in Ansiau’s racing career interpreted into the design.
“This yard build really is a unique piece of art,” said Yamaha motor Marketing Coordinator Cristian Barelli in an interview with designboom. “I think it’s impossible to have a custom that lives and breathes our racing history better than this.”
So special it’ll leave a fella slack-jawed. We can’t wait to see what the Yard Build Programme comes up with next, because this beauty sets the bar sky high.
via designboom
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