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.
The venerable Yamaha SR400 has been customized in every way imaginable—which is a testament to both the plucky little single’s longevity and its versatility. This 1988-model comes from Ken Ken Motorcycles in Taiwan, and it’s the perfect example of this. It combines the stance of a street tracker with the sensibilities of a chopper, to…
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Any custom workshop that’s been operating for a decent length of time is sure to have a multitude of leftover parts lying around. But how often are those the right kind of parts to build a thoroughbred race bike with? It’s a rare scenario—but it’s the story behind this race-bred Yamaha framer. It’s the work…
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If you follow Bike EXIF on social media, you might have noticed that we launched a new Facebook group recently. It’s a place for you, our readers, to engage with each other, share what you think is cool, and, most importantly, show off your own custom motorcycles. From time to time, we’ll pick out bikes…
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What motorcycle did you dream of owning when you were young? For Mike Chen, it was the mighty Yamaha TW200—and who could blame him? Loved by multiple generations of fans, the TW200 is the coolest farm bike on the planet. Mike’s dream stayed out of reach for a while though. He came close when he…
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I recently had the opportunity to throw a leg over a 1996 Yamaha TW200. Or was It a 2008? Or a 1988?…
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Any conversation about the good old days of motorcycling will eventually include the words “they don’t build ’em like they used to.”…
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The first Speed Read of 2023 kicks off with a handful of parallel twins. Unit Garage debuts a custom kit for Yamaha’s…
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If you live outside of Taiwan, you’re probably not familiar with the Yamaha SR150. It was exclusively made and sold locally, and…
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Made in Taiwan and only sold locally, the Yamaha SR150 was a hit among commuters and delivery riders. But it was a…
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Alex Winkler wears many hats. By day he’s an industrial mechanic—but by night, he puts those skills to work in his home…
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Maarten Poodt is a creature of habit. Each winter he drags another Yamaha into his workshop, rebuilds it to his taste, and…
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Takashi Nihira has won awards and taken commissions from major OEMs. But the man behind Tokyo’s Wedge Motorcycle also knows how to…
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