Deus Ex Machina and Yamaha turn XSR900 into a race bike with a twist

The XSR900 is one of those bikes that screams “custom build”, which Yamaha itself clearly agrees with.

02 Apr 2026

Yamaha’s XSR900 has been turned into a full-on race bike as part of the third edition of the Deus Swank Rally On Ice.

The custom build project comes from Deus Ex Machina, together with Yamaha Motor Europe, which has led to one of the most surprising transformations.

While the bike remains similar to the standard XSR900 in many ways, it seems as though Yamaha and Deus Ex Machina have opted for a flat-track style at the rear, thanks to the enlarged race number plate. Unmissable to the naked eye is the change of tyres, as off-road specific rubber was also fitted.

According to Yamaha, the custom build draws “inspiration from the Yamaha YZ125s and YZ250s of the ‘90s”. The Japanese company goes on to say that the design of the XSR900, which combines a white and pink livery, is full of “retro soul and aggressive edge”.

Additionally, an array of handcrafted parts were added, while the bike is further enhanced by an Akrapovic exhaust system.

Alongside the custom-built XSR900 machine, the event saw guests enjoy the all-new Yamaha WR125R. The new entry-level adventure bike was part of a scaled-down Deus Swank Rally.

Unsurprisingly, off-road racing legend Pol Tarres set the quickest time while riding the new WR125R. Tarres was also quickest when riding his XT600Z machine, despite close competition from other riders.

Alongside the vintage bikes that sat in pit lane, three brand-new 2026 Yamaha WR125R machines were available for anyone to try.

The third edition of the Deus Swank Rally On Ice took place in Andorra on 14 March, where competitors were given three hours during the morning to test their machines and complete as many laps as they wished.