Your complete guide to Yamaha cafe racer motorcycles, from classic RD two-strokes bikes to modern-day XSR specials. Here you’ll find everything from traditional XS650 cafe racers to the latest builds based on newer models. Discover the parts, seats and performance upgrades that’ll take your own Yamaha to the next level.
The big Seca is one of those bikes that should have been a hit, but missed the mark with buyers. After just a year on the market in the US, Yamaha withdrew it from the showrooms—despite a slew of positive reviews. Intense competition from other Japanese makers, the arrival of the FJ1100 and consumer distrust…
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Like many shops, Purpose Built Moto does a lot to put food on the table. On top of their regular custom bike builds they also fabricate exhausts, do wiring work and produce bolt-on parts. But when the right client and budget come along, the Australian crew loves to pull out the stops. Purpose Built Moto…
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The Yamaha XJR1300 is a relic from a bygone age, and we say that with a tinge of regret. It’s a big, brutal muscle bike that unfortunately has no place in today’s highly regulated market. The hefty, air-cooled inline four still has an ardent fan base in Europe though, despite the engine being a rejigged…
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Back in the 90s, the Japanese manufacturers went through a phase of building Italian-style sportbikes. Honda had the SuperHawk, and Suzuki the TL1000S—both 90° V-twins. Yamaha, however, took the 10-valve DOHC parallel twin used in its sport tourers and came up with the TRX850. The critical reception was mixed, to say the least, but these…
Read more »The Yamaha Virago is one of those bikes that just keep on giving. Yamaha’s V-twin cruiser first popped up in the early…
Read more »Like the Honda CX500, the Yamaha Virago is one of those “sow’s ear” bikes: it’s a challenge to make a silk purse…
Read more »Yamaha’s annual ‘Yard Built’ competition was one of the first and most highly publicized custom competitions, delivering a steady stream of killer…
Read more »We love subtle, understated style on custom bikes. But we also have a sneaking regard for machines that are aggressive and in…
Read more »A Yamaha Virago with Ducati superbike suspension from the US, a stripped down Ducati 1198S Corse from France, a Norton Commando from…
Read more »A show stopping Yamaha GTS 1000 from Italy, a neo-retro Yamaha XT250 from Australia, and a very slick body kit for the…
Read more »In the mid 70s, the Yamaha RD 200 delivered more fun than a small capacity motorcycle had any right to. A compact…
Read more »We’ve seen some truly out-the-box builds come from K-Speed. They’ve done everything from Honda Monkey cafe racers to a Yamaha XSR155 that…
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