We have to admit that when Yamaha first started its Yard Built program, and followed it up with the Faster Sons theme, we weren’t quite sure what they were getting at. As we recently explored, however, some of these modified UJM-like machines have a cross-generational appeal, and Yamaha can be credited for some foresight with regard to market direction. We have yet to see, however, how the first Yamaha production model derived from this thinking, the 2016 XSR700, will sell when it hits dealers’ showrooms later this year.
In the meantime, we take a look now and then at the Yard Built projects on Yamaha’s web site. This one caught our eye. It is a beautiful modification of a Yamaha XJR1300 by the German dealer Motorrad Klein. Here is how Yamaha describes the mods:
Motorrad Klein has built an XJR1300 using custom made triple clamps (only one piece!) by BKG, designed by Klein, with milled Yamaha Yard-Built Logo, blasted with glass bead and anodised; BKG-3D handlebars, blasted with glass bead and anodised; a Motogadget digital rev-meter/tachometer; Motogadget grips, buttons, M-Lock-System, handlebar-indicators and mirrors; painted and polished PVM 5Y Spoke rims of forged aluminium, wave design FE-brake discs, brake calipers from the 2015 R1 with steel-flex brake tubes; an MT01 fork, DLC coated inner tubes and modified damping; a Bridgestone Moto3 front rain tyre and a hand made rear tire by Bridgestone; a Magura HC³ radial forged brake- and clutch-cylinder (there is only one piece world-wide of each in black color, thanks a lot Magura Powersports-Team!); Nolden 7″ Bi-LED headlights with hand-made attachments; a Billet rearset kit, sprocket cover, swingarm pivot covers, custom fuel injection covers and oil cooler side covers; Öhlins shocks with black anodised parts; an OVER-Racing modified and black anodised swingarm, an OVER-Racing black anodised sub frame kit; a hand-made seat; a Yamaha Sport Tracker mudguard with hand-made attachments; an Alu-sprocket; a Lightech black anodised tank cap; a 220mm rear brake disk, OW01 brake caliper with custom made attachment; a white ceramic coated exhaust system with Akrapovic “silencer” and Brandy-Red paintwork from a 1973 Yamaha RD350.
Enjoy the rest of the photos of this beautiful bike below.
I think it is fantastic.
One and fine looking motorcycle.
I want to build one!!
Dirck: For some reason, I’m not able to post here anymore. I don’t recall saying anything worth even censoring, let alone banning. Any ideas?
After the last five tries, this one goes through? Never mind!
Apparently is all about numbers the fact that it seems we don’t get as many options here in the USA compared with Europe. It is really a shame, I feel left out :(.
Hermosa!!!
It always seemed cruel that Yamaha made the XJR1300 for so many years and never offered it to American riders. There have been some nice retro UJM bikes available from other makers over the last 25 years, but none have wooed me more than this machine. If I could I’d buy two; one to keep original and one to customize like a period Superbike racer.
Build it and I will buy!!!
At first I thought this was a custom based on the FJR1300. I didn’t even know the XJR existed (well, not in the states). It’s not far off from this bike already.
In my world the late 70’s/early 80’s superbike look is always in style.
Wow, she’s a peach, fer sure!
The paint absolutely caught my eye, and the text explains why: who can resist ’73 Yamaha RD350 red on this bike?
Very nice indeed. I would own one. Perfect for blasts down the highway. I happen to like wind. Perfect for bike nites as well. Really sharp.
I never cease to be amazed that custom builders (and factories, for that matter) will invest in all manner of bling for a bike, and then hang what look like urine sample cups off it for the hydraulics. I can see it for a price-point bike, but not one like this.
Doesn’t anyone make one out of metal, or even dark, inconspicuous plastic?
I feel what you’re saying. Check out the master cylinder reservoirs on the Motus. They look totally out of place. They should be nice integrated units on a bike like this.
All my old bikes (at least the ones with disk brakes…) have very nice, integrated reservoirs in the levers. It’s not until you get to my expensive modern bikes where you start seeing cheap, tacked on crap like these. People care more about the software on motorcycles these days and much less about the hardware.
These types of reservoirs signal racing master cylinders. Ever look at a MotoGP bike? I have a nicely integrated front master cylinder on my Bandit 1250 which is a flexy-flyer piece of crap that will soon be replaced by a Brembo unit with ‘urine cup’ reservoir. Why? Because it works!
It might be that you are overly fixated on urine sample cups. To me they look like hydraulic fluid reservoirs. I’m just sayin …
You nailed it. I read his post, looked closely at the hydraulic fluid reservoirs, and thought only of the same parts on my several 70s-era Suzukis, including two GS1000S aka Wes Cooley replicas. No knurled caps on urine cups, BTW.
Of course I wish I kept the ’79 S model. When Honda’s ’83 VF750F Interceptor arrived I remember being jealous of its technology compared to my GS. If you compare the cosmetics now, the S looks classic while the VF looks like a dated race replica, especially its bitty 16″ shoes.
I only test rode the VF once or twice, but remember the sensation of the front “falling” into turns, possibly related to the 16s. Similar power to the GS, maybe more torque at the very bottom, but what a completely different riding sensation.
Well, I have invested most of my adult life in developing new and exciting urine sample cups. Or is that food additives…
As the owner of a lightly modified Kawasaki ZRX1200R,[green, Lawson replica] this really appeals to my tastes.
Chainguards going the way of center stands?
It is a custom bike. Yamaha lawyers would never let it go into production without a chain guard. And they shouldn’t.
That is nice… love the trick adjustable clip ons, sculpted bodywork, and deep paint… very cool!
Muffler is a bit too big…
“Muffler is a bit too big…”
ha!
It looks a lot like my XJ650R but minus the shaft drive. I like it. Yamaha should do somethin like this and call it a Seca III.
Ooh, that 650 Seca was a gorgeous bike!
It WAS a nice looking bike! Very classic and quite functional.
What a beautiful bike and an awesome colour scheme- I love it!
I was cured of wanting another bike in this class after owning a 1996 CB1000 “Big One”… I got such an incredibly low price for the “Lightly Used” garage queen, I couldn’t pass it up. Not even a year later I sold it and bought a 99 SV650. What an upgrade that was.
The Big One was; heavy, slow, ponderous and uninspiring
This Yamaha is a Looker though!
This would also be heavy, slow, ponderous and uninspiring since it only has 98 HP at the crank, double cradle steel frame, dual rear shocks and weighs 530 lbs, but at least it looks trick doing it.
Weight is very important here so I sent an email to the builder to see if they actually weighed it when complete.
These DOHC Yam 4s can be compelled to deliver adequate power no problem 🙂
Mickey, You are wrong. A stock XJR1300 makes between 98-103 rear wheel HP as tested here in Europe in dozens of tests. With this exhaust set up, it is probably making about 120, as the stock bike comes with a very restrictive exhaust and EU emissions friendly jetting.. I assume this bike has been jetted for this exhaust. This bike might still be heavy by modern standards, but it is certainly not ponderous or uninspiring as you say. What a daft comment !!! I still ride my “like new“ 1986 FJ1200 here in Ireland, and it can really fly. Monster torque makes fast travelling effortless.
Well the reports I read said 98 hp and 530 pounds for the XJR1300 and since Blackcaymen referenced the 96 CB1000 as being heavy, slow, ponderous and uninspiring with its 135 hp and 515 pounds I doubt he would find this bike any better with less horsepower and more weight.
I would be amazed to find an aftermarket pipe that added close to 17 hp as you claim. There has certainly been no such gains from pipes, power commanders and reflashes combined on the new CB 1100 on that forum. The most that has been gained is approx 9 hp. Going from 87 to 96 RWHP.
Personally I would find the horsepower and handling perfectly acceptable on this Yamaha ( Since I ride a CB1100 which also has less horsepower and more weight than the XJ even,) however many riders are used to modern bikes with 150 hp and 400 something pounds, single shock, adjustable suspension etc and would absolutely find this XJ heavy, slow, ponderous and uninspiring.
As far as me being wrong, it happens, but not this time, and not in the context of replying to BlackCaymen
Now THAT is sweet. Put a bikini fairing in the accessory catalog and I’ll be on my way to the Yamaha dealer, checkbook in hand.
Reminds me of my 87′ FJ1200, sans bodywork of course.
It was great until you got stuck in traffic on a hot summer day.
The heat that radiated off that engine was almost Biblical.
But I in the mountains it was a pure joy to ride.
“Sherman, set the way back machine” . . . . . . . .
Put on a dual seat so that my wife can tag along occasionally, quieter muffler, and an upright/standard handlebar, and I would be interested.
That would be the standard XJR1300… Right?
I want one if it’s under $10k…I know, only in my dreams.
Jawohl. Ausgezeichnet.