YAMAHA'S ‘Yard Built’ project – where it asks custom builders to create specials around its machines – has already led to a handful of production models like the XJR130 Racer and XV950 Racer, not to mention the XSR700 and 900, so perhaps there’s an outside chance that the latest machine to carry the Yard Built tag will also inspire a production model.
And this is it, a V-Max made by Portugese firm itroCkS!bikes (yep, that’s how they write the name).
Revealed at the Salon de les Moto in Paris, the bike was commissioned by Yamaha Motor Europe and goes by the name CS07 Gasoline.
The inspiration is clearly from drag racing, which makes sense given that straight line acceleration is what defined the original generation V-Max. The current version, which originally made headlines for its 200bhp 1700cc V4 engine, has been somewhat overshadowed by other, more powerful machines since its launch, but by dropping the dated, custom bike inspired styling of the stock machine for this new, faired look, surely there would be scope to find a new set of customers?
Of course, this is just a one-off. The bodywork, including the tank, fairing and seat unit, is all handmade from aluminium and the wire wheels give it something of an early-70s feel.
It’s the second faired V-Max to emerge from the Yard Built project, following on from Liberty Yam’s V-Speed Café Dragster, so let’s hope Yamaha gets the message and thinks about offering something similar straight from the factory.
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