Custom Bikes & Cafe Racer

[DaveM]

Last year we featured the Harley-Davidson “MX1000,” a 1000cc Ironhead dirt bike built by Takuya Yonezawa — “Yone” — the founder of Japan’s Bull Original (www.mc-bull.com). That bike was no mere showpiece — as the photos and videos attest, Yone regularly puts the 1000cc V-twin dirt bike through its paces on motocross tracks and in sand races.



Now we’re thrilled to feature another one of Yone’s builds, this Sportster cafe racer based on a 2005 Harley-Davidson XL1200. Yone has lived a varied and adventurous life, to say the least. He grew up in Sapporo, where he was involved in motocross and boxing, and later joined a Bōsōzoku gang in his teens. Says Grade Co. of that era:

“The Golden Era of Bosozoku: night racing, crime, hard guitar music and cool American clothes. This time determined the new generation; the generation of those people who supported the developing of Japanese custom culture. Takuya Yonezawa was one of them.”

He discovered American hardcore music through VHS motocross videos and is now a nomad member of Rumblers CC, the club founded by Roger Miret, the vocalist of band Agnostic Front. In 1999, Yone founded his brand Bull Original and later moved to Yokohama, where he opened his workshop. Around this time, he had a very close brush with death:

“I got into an accident and survived clinical death. I was about two weeks in resuscitation. I remember it was like I was literally alone in empty white room, but I’m still not sure whether it was for real or not.”

In this new city, Yone and his team would become involved in the legendary Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show, earning various awards.



The Sportster cafe racer you see here was built for a customer. Based on a rubber-mount 2005 XL1200, the build has a decidedly elegant, almost European look. Yone imported parts from England, Italy, and the USA, while molding and developing other elements on his own, such as the tail cowl. His intention was to give the bike a lean, level silhouette. Ultimately, this is one of the most beautiful Harley-Davidson cafe racers we’ve seen. Below, we get the full details on the build.

XL1200 Sportster Cafe Racer: Builder Interview



• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

I have been involved in motorbikes in a racing environment since I was eight years old. My style to be fed back from there is a style that not shapes but also features.

• What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?

2005 Harley-Davidson XL1200.

• Why was this bike built?

The theme from the customer was a “cafe style” build. I made it freely custom.



• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

It is a European cafe racer style.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

Imported the front fairing from England, imported gasoline tank from Italy, and we imported RSD parts from the US.

I set it up with my original tail cowl.

The first thing was the gasoline tank. I did various other work, and the rubber mount engine has settled neatly.

It is to make a level silhouette…



• How would you classify this bike?

Cafe racer.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

It is that I left the original skeleton without cutting the frame… I really wanted to cut the frame…an unconstrained state haha!

Follow the Builder

Web: http://www.mc-bull.com
Instagram: @bulloriginal
Facebook: @shop045

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[DaveM]

“Mechanical vibes like an old piston engine fighter…”

Few motorcycles have garnered the cult following of the air-cooled, single-cylinder Yamaha SR series. Part of the appeal must be the straightforward, no-frills nature of the SR’s design. For instance, the SR is kickstart-only, with no electric starter, and the downtubes of the high-strength steel frame serve as the engine’s oil reservoir and cooling system, eliminating the need for an external oil cooler. What’s more, these air-cooled singles were inspired by British design, giving them a classic style without the headaches of a vintage British machine.



Enter Yuya Ueda (@lambretta3104) of Osaka, Japan, who has owned this 1993 Yamaha SR400 for ten years, riding it since he was 20 years old. In fact, the process of customizing this bike led him to change his entire career, becoming a motorcycle mechanic:

“At that time, I was working as a beautician and several custom shops were around, but I began to think that I wanted to live as a mechanic. Four years have been passed since I re-started my career as a mechanic.”

When building the bike, Yuya had a definite philosophy in mind:

“Integration of classical with modern technology.”

The engine has been punched out to a healthy 534cc, with a Yoshimura camshaft, carburetor, and other goodies. Yuya fitted the front suspension from a Yamaha TZR 3MA, complete with a Sunstar disc and Brembo 4-pot caliper, and Ohlins rear suspension with an extended Beltlan swing arm. We especially love the gauge cluster — a DIY panel reminiscent of a vintage aircraft, with meters from Smiths, Daytona, and Lucas. Yuya is especially proud of the overall balance of the build:

“The total balance. The elegant design of the tank and fairing; the simple and beautiful meters; the mechanical vibes like an old piston engine fighter.”

Below, we get more details on this SR534 cafe racer — “Mary Jane” — from the builder himself.

Yamaha SR400 Cafe Racer: In the Builder’s Words



First of all, I would like to express my passion for my SR. From my childhood, I always loved to design and envision artistic things, to create and build something by myself. I started to ride the SR400 and one day I realized I wanted to fully customize my beloved motorcycle, and my career switched from beautician to motorcycle mechanic.



I really love cafe racers and old racers — not only their appearance, but also their cultural background. When I work out the plan to build my motorcycle, I did not want to just copy the classic motorcycle. I had a basic concept that ” integration of classical with modern technology.”



I see many customized motorcycles that touch my heart, and I began to dream that I also wished create a motorcycle that would touch somebody’s heart.



In Japan, majority of the riders enjoy the motorcycle life without any customization. Some add modifications but they only change exhaust, blinker, and fenders which is not so heavy and hard. I wanted my motorcycle to affect people who ride with stock to think that customization is cool and also people who own custom motorcycles.



I am still half-fledged as a mechanic now, but I have a staunch life time goal to become a builder who leads the trend, passing the cafe racer culture on to posterity.



・Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.

The engine tune was done by Beltlan. We’re located in the southern part of Osaka prefecture, but the most of the customization was DIY with support from my pals. I am 30 years old and I’ve been riding this SR since I was 20. At that time, I was working as a beautician and several custom shops were around, but I began to think that I wanted to live as a mechanic. Four years have been passed since I re-started my career as a mechanic.



・What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?

Yamaha SR400, 1993.



・Why was this bike built?

Personal



・What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

Fusion of modern technology and performance with classical cafe racer style.



・What custom work was done to the bike?

Engine: 534cc / 500cc crank / Wiseco piston 90Φ / Yoshimura camshaft ST-1 / WPC treated
Ignition: AS Uotani SP2
Carburetor: Yoshimura TMR MJN 40Φ
Exhaust: Ducati Conti retrofitted and modified from 900SS Bevel
Exterior: Modified Peyton Place
Tank: Brooklands
Seat fairing: Chop the Peyton Place tank and seat integrated type fairing.
Paint: Grant Paint Works
Frame: Pearl painted
Front fork: Retrofitted from TZR 3MA
Triple tree: Retrofitted from TZR 3MA
Wheels: Excel H pattern
Rear suspension: Ohlins
Front caliper: Brembo 4pot
Brake disc: Sunstar 320mm
Rear sets: Brooklands
Handle: Magura
Headlight: Lucas lights with Cibie lens
Swing arm: Beltlan 3cm long
Meter and Gauges: DIY meter panel / Smiths tachometer / Daytona speed meter / Lucas ammeter / Smiths volt meter



・Does the bike have a nickname?

Mary Jane.



・How would you classify this bike?

Neo classic cafe racer.



・Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of ?

The total balance. The elegant design of the tank and fairing; the simple and beautiful meters; the mechanical vibes like an old piston engine fighter.

Follow the Builder @lambretta3104​

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[DaveM]

The Ducati 999, built from 2003-2006, boasted a liquid-cooled L-twin Desmodromic engine capable of 138 horsepower and 80 lb-ft of torque. While the 999’s styling — which was the work of South African designer Pierre Terblanche — was highly controversial, the bike’s performance and results were undeniable. The 999 won three championships in World Superbike and the motorcycling press gushed over the machine:

“Simply the best V-Twin on the planet.” — MCN

Enter Pepo Rosell, the “extreme bike constructor” behind Spain’s XTR Pepo — one of the world’s most renowned customizers of Ducati machines. Pepo cut his teeth with his previous workshop, Radical Ducati, whose RAD and MANX are still fabricated and sold through French company Ducatiamo.



While Pepo has since opened his doors to a wide range of other makes, he still has a soft spot for red-hot twins from Bologna. This particular 999 — a 2004 model — has been transformed from a superbike into a race-inspired, street-legal rocket with Castrol livery and no shortage of high-performance components.



This build features a full array of parts from RAD and XTR, including everything from the RAD fuel tank, solo seat, and belly pan to the XTR clip-ons, fenders, CNC-machined adjustable rear sets, and much more.

Ducati 999 Custom: Build Sheet

• Donor bike: Ducati 999 (2004)
• RAD fuel tank.
• Lightech ergal gas cap.
• RAD solo seat.
• XTR upholstery.
• RAD bellypan modified.
• RAD Front Fairing modified for mount XTR endurance light.
• RAD front bracket modified.
• MRA windshield.
• XTR cnc machined regulable footrest.
• XTR clip ons.
• XTR carbón fiber rear mudguard.
• RAD alumium subframe modified.
• XTR licence plate holder.
• XTR rear light.
• XTR Led blinkers.
• Fresco 2 in 1 exhaust system.
• Spark megaphone.
• Repositioned wiring.
• LIPO Battery.
• XTR light.
• PT radial clutch pump.
• Brembo PR19 radial brake bump.
• XTR carbón fiber wáter pump protector .
• EVR cnc machined pinion cover.
• Regina Gold Chain.
• 520 PBR sprocket conversión kit.
• Artenruta painting.
• Pictures : Sergio Cardeña.

More Photos



Follow the Builder

Follow XTR Pepo: Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Web

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