Modern superbikes are complicated machines, each inside and outside. Not solely have their engines and electronics advanced in leaps and bounds over the previous couple of a long time, however their bodywork has modified radically too. The the aerodynamic packages developed for MotoGP racing are trickling all the way down to avenue bikes now, so OEM superbikes with wings poking out of their fairings are commonplace.
Like many people, Josh Merrill misses the times of quick bikes with slabby fairings… so he’s constructed certainly one of his personal. Based on a 2022-spec Yamaha XSR900, and wrapped in 90s race duplicate bodywork, his newest {custom} construct is a contemporary traditional of the very best order.
Technically the Yamaha XSR900 isn’t categorised as a superbike—nevertheless it’s not far off. Its 117.4 hp / 93 Nm output is nothing to sneeze at, and its chassis feels sharp and focussed. And in case you’ve ridden it, you’ll know what a peach its triple-cylinder motor is.
Josh presently works for a significant OEM, however he’s additionally the crew chief for a MotoAmerica race crew and runs his personal industrial design enterprise. With a decade within the motorbike business, he is aware of what works and what doesn’t.
“I have experience with motorcycle electronics, engine work, chassis, exhaust and component fabrication, as well as years of racing experience both for myself and for professional race teams,” he tells us.
“I’ve also worked at different race shops, one of those shops focusing on vintage race bikes. This taught me that even though I like the classic look, I do not like old bikes with old parts, heavy frames and out of date components.”
Using the Yamaha XSR900 as a donor was a no brainer for Josh, particularly because the 2022 mannequin sports activities a variety of upgrades over its predecessor. The trick was to match elements to the bike that might match the retro theme he was after, with out compromising efficiency. Working out of Create Moto—a communal motorbike storage in Milwaukee—he received all the way down to enterprise.
To nail the look, Josh turned to Yamaha’s historical past. Inspired by the legendary 1992 Yamaha YZF750, he ordered a YZF works racing fairing and stomach pan from Airtech Streamlining. All he needed to do then, was determine tips on how to match it to the XSR.
For the fairing, Josh fabricated a collection of brackets out of metal tubing and plates, with the higher fairing mount additionally internet hosting the instrument cluster. A trimmed race windscreen from Gustafsson Plastics finishes off the entrance finish. Lower down, the Airtech stomach pan needed to be modified to suit the XSR’s chassis correctly.
Working to Josh’s benefit have been the inventory XSR900 tank cowl, aspect covers and seat; a testomony to bike’s neo-retro vibe. So with the fairing and stomach pan in place, he merely added a passenger seat cowl from Funny Customs in Japan. Remarkably, all the things suits collectively prefer it got here from the identical supply.
With no actual want to separate the engine circumstances, Josh targeted on comparatively simple energy features. Those embody a full titanium exhaust system from Akrapovič, a DNA air filter and an ECU flash, courtesy of two Wheel DynoWorks.
Next, the entrance brakes have been handled to upgraded traces from Core Moto, with built-in brake stress ports, since he plans to put in an information monitoring system sooner or later. Josh added 310 mm rotors from Braketech, with longer bolts and spacers to reposition the calipers. They’re geared up with race-spec pads.
Josh plans to improve the XSR’s forks, rear shock and rear brake sooner or later. Why not now? It’s easy: he’s ready till there’s a wider vary of choices out there in the marketplace.
That didn’t cease him from throwing a bunch of different top-shelf elements at this construct although. The Yamaha advantages from a set of GB Racing engine covers, an Evotech efficiency radiator guard and a Motion Pro coolant restoration tank. Josh additionally put in adjustable rear-sets, clip-ons with a 1” rise, and Woodcraft rear stand carry plates.
Moving to the smaller stuff, Josh 3D-printed a bunch of {custom} elements, together with plugs to fill the OEM riser mount holes and brake line mounts, and help plates for the perimeters of the fairing. The clutch cable’s from an R6, and attaches to a custom-made finish bracket that’s designed to assist it clear the fairing stays. A full complement of Pro-Bolt fasteners rounds out the spec.
You’ll discover that the XSR nonetheless wears its taillights and plate bracket, however has no entrance lighting. Josh is on the fence; he would possibly go away it like this, or he would possibly add a headlight-equipped fairing.
Finishing the construct off is a fetching Kenny Roberts-inspired livery. What’s actually intelligent although, is that Josh designed all of the graphics to enrich the unique bike’s tank cowl design, which continues to be because it left the manufacturing facility. The new elements have been color-matched to the OEM look by FineLine Design, and the decals have been made up by Inline4Designs.
Now dubbed the ‘XSR900R,’ Josh’s bike is the proper blueprint for a contemporary sportbike with retro seems. Hopefully Yamaha is paying consideration.
ByJMR Design | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Brooke Tilidetzke
Source: www.bikeexif.com