Minus the mid-century innovations by Yamaha, Honda, and Suzuki, one could argue that motorcycling might be a lost art today. With their small engines, low profiles, and street-rider stances, these lightweight hallmarks of design give new riders all over the world a way into the fray, and experienced riders the perfect minimal ride.
These days, Yamaha motorcycles are at the core of the custom scene. They offer the perfect platforms for stylish urban rides with cheap price tags.
Models like the Yamaha XS650, SR400, XSR700 and XSR900 are among a legendary line of Yamaha motorcycles that beg to be turned into café racers, bobbers and trackers—and they fill our galleries of great builds.
After the Japanese got serious about making motorcycles in the late 1960s, bikes from every country became more sophisticated, more refined, more practical, and more reliable. Back then, no American or European motorcycle company would ever admit it; fortunately, those culture wars are now behind us. When we look back at the Japanese motorcycles that…
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We’ve had our eye on Sean Skinner at MotoRelic for a while now. The Virginia-based builder has a knack for creating tidy restomods and customs, and knows how to nail that ‘factory’ vibe. But he’s just thrown us a major curveball with his latest project: a vintage Schwinn-inspired Yamaha XS650. This deviation from MotoRelic’s usual…
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When we think of Motocrew, we think of sleek, muscular customs with a very modern edge. But sometimes it’s good to try something new, even if that ‘new’ is something old. And that’s what’s happened with Chris Scholtka’s latest build. The full-time firefighter, part-time builder has taken a swerve with his latest creation. The style…
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We all know Hagon for their shocks, often fitted to the custom motorcycles that grace these pages. But company founder Alf Hagon’s story goes much further back. Before he launched the successful suspension brand, he competed in speedway and grasstrack racing—and built some pretty sweet bikes. Most notably, he’s credited for creating the first aluminum…
Read more »Just over a year ago, the last SR400 rolled off the production line in Yamaha’s Iwata factory, marking the end of an…
Read more »The custom scene has changed a lot over the past decade, but the venerable chopper still has an enduring appeal. And when…
Read more »The big Seca is one of those bikes that should have been a hit, but missed the mark with buyers. After just…
Read more »The only way this year could be worse than the last, is if a planet-ending comet spiraled towards the earth or if…
Read more »Our final Speed Read for the year is all about kits—for Moto Guzzis, Royal Enfields and Yamahas. Plus a considerably more expensive…
Read more »Like many shops, Purpose Built Moto does a lot to put food on the table. On top of their regular custom bike…
Read more »We’re always curious about where custom motorcycle builders find their inspiration. But the creator of this aggressive Yamaha R1 cites an unlikely…
Read more »We’re pushing the extremes this week: a BMW R18 with air suspension, a land speed project powered by a radial engine, and…
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