Spain, Poland and Greece Rule the 2016 Yamaha Dealer Built Competition

On Thursday 31^st March the second edition of the Yamaha Dealer Built competition came to a close after an impressive round of voting. Over 22,000 votes were cast for builds from across Europe, as custom bike fans got online to register their appreciation and deliver three category winners; Spain’s Eduardo Castro Motors in the Mono/ Parallel Twin category, Poland’s UHMA Bike in the V2/ V4 category and Greece’s Jigsaw Custom Motorcycles in the Parallel 4 category. Added to the three publicly voted category winners, a fourth special Grand Jury Favourite was chosen, the winner Pol and Position from Poland.

“When we started the Yard Built programme with the world’s top custom builders we didn’t think that our own network of Dealers would match the level of work we saw,” said Yamaha Motor Europe Marketing Coordinator, Cristian Barelli: “In fact they have proved that the possibilities to personalise your own Sport Heritage machine are not just limited to the experts with an unlimited budget. Our four winners have each shown true originality in each of the categories, really deserving the respect and votes given by the public”.

Spanish Yamaha Dealers Eduardo Castro Motors won the hearts of the public earning 4000 votes in the Mono/ Parallel Twin category with their stunning take on the Yamaha XSR700 (pictured above), named the ‘BY DESIGN E.CASTRO’. The tough looking take on the XSR700 was achieved with several modifications, including oversized block tyres, custom tail and headlight and fenders and beautiful custom seat. A custom Akrapovič exhaust pipe adds a serious flavour as does the custom handlebars, foot pegs and mirrors. A perfect paintjob completes the look, making this a worthy winner in its category.

Storming to a decisive win in the V2/V4 category and scoring an impressive 5470 votes was Poland’s UHMA Bike (pictured above) with their interpretation of the legendary Yamaha VMAX, ‘NOAH’. The slick take on the monster road machine was achieved with a number of modifications, including a different rear seat, tail lamp and indicators to transform the rear end. Further modifications include the tank, handlebars, brake disks and foot pedals, all making a serious statement worthy of the VMAX. Modifications to the exhaust complete the job and add a sonic soundtrack.

Greece’s Jigsaw Custom Motorcycles came out fighting with the XJR1300 (pictured above), scoring 3503 votes to win the Parallel four category with their stunning creation, ‘The Missing Piece’. The street legal, brat style café racer tips its hat to the pure racing days of the seventies with a period inspired full fairing. Add in a custom rear end, wire wheels and matt black custom exhaust and it’s a real heartbreaker. Finished in gloss black and featuring the legendary Yamaha Speedblock design, the XJR is a real head turner.

Pawel Ryback and Greg Dabrowski from Poland’s Pol and Position were the rightful winners of the Grand Jury Favourite decision with their totally original take on the XSR700 (pictured above). Choosing to pay tribute to the bike that started it all, Yamaha’s first ever machine, the YA-1, Akatombo’, released in 1955. The transformation is incredible, the beating heart of the state of the art XSR700 sits beneath a custom machine that lives and breathes its legendary ancestor.

If the work of the Yamaha Dealers has inspired you and given you a taste for more, Yamaha will be joining the Bike Shed custom motorcycle exhibitions in Paris and London over the next two months to showcase more inspirational builds based on the Sport Heritage range, from builders including Italy’s Moto di Ferro, Switzerland’s GS MASHIN and more.