Make your own custom bike with Yamaha Yard Built: Gibbonslap SR400 and more to come

Yamaha’s ‘Yard Built’ activity continues to make the dream of owning a custom motorcycle a reality for bikers around the world. An ever-increasing number of the most respected customisers in the industry are collaborating with Yamaha to create beautiful Yard Built specials. The unique aftermarket kits that support selected specials then give the dreamers of the world the chance to make their custom bike a reality.

The story kicks off with news that the custom bike conversion kit for the stunning Wrench Monkees Yard Built SR400 ‘GibbonSlap’ is now available both through Wrench Monkees and German based Parts Specialists KEDO. With no cutting or major frame modification required, anyone with reasonable technical ability can create their own beautiful SR GibbonSlap from the Yamaha model. Everything you need to re-create this build yourself can be found on the dedicated website, http://www.wrenchmonkees.com/the-yard-built or www.gibbonslap.com.

Next up is the announcement of an exciting new ‘Yard Built’ project with Marcus Walz. The German bike builder is a long time Yamaha fan whose first bike at the age of 18 was the cult Yamaha RD350LC. Marcus has already made his mark in the custom Yamaha world with his incredible hyper modified VMAX and TMAX machines. Now the inventor of the world famous Drag-Style frame is turning his attention to the new Yamaha XV950. Embracing a ‘performance café-racer’ concept theme and classic Yamaha colours means you can expect to see an instant icon when the bike is unveiled at the Intermot show in October.

Hot on the heels of that build comes another ‘Yard Built’ project to wet the appetite of custom bike lovers. Following a successful partnership with the Wrench Monkees developing kit parts for ‘Yard Built’ Specials, German company KEDO has been inspired to collaborate on a solo project with Yamaha and is working on two special SR400 builds, to be unveiled at EICMA in November.

Custom fans will be treated to two versions of KEDO’s ‘Yard Built’ SR400, embracing a “Duo” concept by sharing several design queues with two different build philosophies. This is the first yard build where builders are tasked to simultaneously build two bikes at the same time, sharing family DNA yet being totally different in concept. As a specialist parts supplier for Yamaha single and twin motorcycles, KEDO’s intimate knowledge of the SR400 should go beyond anybody’s expectation to deliver something pretty spectacular!

Next month will see the world’s best customisers and their machines descend on Biarritz in France for the amazing Wheels and Waves show from June 12th to 15th. Yamaha is taking this opportunity to allow you to get up close and personal with its entire Yard Built Special collection in one place. This is your chance to feed your imagination and see the result of collaborations with Wrenchmonkees, Deus Ex Machina and others all lined up for inspection.

On the evening of the second day, 13th June, after the classical races have run their course, Yamaha will hold a special ‘Meet The Builders’ gathering where you can shake hands and ask questions to the clever minds behind some of Yamaha’s coolest ‘Yard Built’ Specials. The gathering will take place from 18.30hrs at the Hondarribia Marina where drinks and good Wheels & Waves vibes will be on hand to guarantee you soak up the real ‘Yard Built’ atmosphere.

To make the event even more special, Yamaha will unveil two brand new ‘Yard Built’ Specials live for the assembled fans. The two SR400s, one by leading custom industry icons Deus Ex Machina and the other by German custom Yamaha specialists, brothers Raphael and Christian Bender.If you can’t be there in person you can follow the action on Yamaha’s Facebook page, here: www.facebook.com/yamaha.motor.eu