Our first Velocity Learn of 2026 boasts a racy Yamaha R5 café racer from the UK, a feisty Yamaha WR155R scrambler from Indonesia, and a burly Suzuki Bandit 1200 from Australia. Dig in!
1971 Yamaha R5 by Jets Without end
Constructed by Jets Without end’s Tony Taysom and Jeff Duval of their UK workshop, this beautiful Yamaha R5 two-stroke café racer is partly impressed by the legendary Yamaha TR3, and partly by the fabled ‘Montjuich’ class of bike racing.
Dreamt up by Individuals within the Seventies, Montjuich bikes had been hybrids of drag bikes and circuit racers, in the end designated for endurance racing. As references go, it’s past obscure—nevertheless it’s a cool idea regardless.
Jets began by reinforcing the Yamaha’s OEM body, whereas fabricating a truncated subframe that helps a single café racer-style seat unit. The manufacturing unit gas tank was matched to a svelte stomach pan, designed to chop by means of the air. A bikini fairing was fitted up entrance, with an identical entrance fender slung low over the 21-inch entrance wheel, and a steering damper to lend much more stability to the entrance.
New clip-on bars sport contemporary grips, a racing throttle meeting, and Beringer controls. A single Speedhut speedometer relays all the required data to the rider, conserving the cockpit good and clear.
The entrance forks had been rebuilt, and the rear shocks had been swapped out for a pair of recent models from CR Suspension. The brakes had been one other main efficiency improve, with Beringer supplying entrance and rear discs and braided traces to extend the stopping energy. A customized brake keep and caliper mount had been fabricated for the rear, and rear-set footpegs had been fitted.
The 18-inch rear wheel matches the entrance, with aluminum rims and stainless-steel spokes for lightness and longevity. As soon as every thing was assembled, the beautiful paint was accomplished by buddies of the Jets workforce, Picture Customized Design.
Underneath the hood, the crank, rods, and pistons had been all dynamically balanced, and the heads had been gas-flowed. The transmission was rebuilt, too, and a pair of Amal MkII concentric carbs was bolted on—however the sound of the open velocity stacks could be greater than drowned out by the K2 Tec exhaust.
Jets Without end’s Yamaha R5B is constructed like a observe bike—nevertheless it’s received lights, a speedometer, and a side-mounted licence plate, making it a real road-going racer. [Source]
Yamaha WR155R by Solace Bikes
The inventory Yamaha WR155R is roofed in plastic, however when Pungky Mardhany of Solace Bikes received his arms on one which had been flippantly custom-made, there was no going again. He turned this WR155R right into a avenue tracker just a few years in the past—however though he liked it, the extra he rode it, the extra he needed to do with it. As his private bike, Pungky got down to inject some Baja racing vibes into his beloved dual-sport whip.
For a small-displacement bike, the center of the Yamaha WR155R packs a somewhat techy punch. Not solely does the 155 cc single function liquid cooling and gas injection, nevertheless it additionally has variable valve timing. These options are commonplace on bigger, dearer bikes, however to see the identical tech on a small engine is uncommon.
The dual headlight setup was put along with assist from Dodo at Wasaka Bike, meant to imitate classic Baja racing bikes. Pungky and Dodo didn’t wish to use the normal oversize headlights, in order that they shrunk the entire design right down to a smaller scale.
Above the headlight is a digital Retouch Sprite dashboard (full with Apple CarPlay) and an XGrip McGyva software field, which is built-in into the handlebar pad. Barkbuster VPS hand guards had been put in together with ODI grips, and one other small software package was fitted on high of the headlight.
The customized tank, seat, subframe, and aspect covers had been already good, in order that they had been carried over from the earlier iteration of the construct. As well as, a baggage rack was bolted on for lengthy and brief adventures, sitting over a brand new rear fender and discreet lighting.
An aluminum swingarm from Scarlet Racing was fitted to enhance off-road efficiency, together with Dunlop D605 tires. The engine remained largely inventory, however the soundtrack was improved with an entire stainless-steel exhaust from Over Racing in Japan.
Yamaha has primarily provided the plucky WR155R within the Asian market up to now, however 2026 will see the marque introduce a small-capacity WR to America within the type of the WR125R. We certain hope that Pungky and Solace Bikes will encourage some equally fantastic customized examples. [Source]
Suzuki Bandit 1200 by Function Constructed Moto
A tire-shredding inline 4, a performance-loving buyer, and full inventive management—what extra might Tom Gilroy and the Purpose Built Moto gang ask for? When PBM buyer Pete got here to them with the concept of constructing a efficiency muscle bike, Tom was very happy to oblige. Nevertheless, when Pete turned up on the Gold Coast workshop with a Suzuki Bandit 1200, full with an upside-down entrance finish and a ‘rebuilt’ motor, the crew was doubtful.
With out getting slowed down with what was completed to the donor (or who did it), the PBM crew ripped into the bike. The Bandit’s tubular metal body lends itself effectively to customization, so Tom determined to go together with a flowing rear subframe to help the shapely seat and tail part.
Joe at Experience Dynamics dealt with the suspension and wheels—and it’s factor that he did. The USD entrance finish appeared okay from the skin, however was utterly wrecked inside. The forks had been rebuilt with all new parts, and their exteriors had been anodized black to match the Cognito Moto fork clamps.
A completely adjustable Öhlins TTX rear shock was sprung for Pete and his driving type. Subsequent, a set of light-weight Core Moto cast wheels was chosen for the construct and wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tires.
A customized entrance fender was made, which sits below a PBM Flashpoint LED headlight and a customized bikini fairing. The purple, black, and white livery was laid down by Nathan at Livin’ Loco Storage, with Jamason from Timeless Auto Trim knocking out an Alcantara seat cowl to match.
Identical to the entrance suspension, the engine appeared alright from the skin, however inside was one other story. The oil pump was broken, the rockers had been worn, the crank journals had been scored, and each inner nut and bolt was overtightened. The workforce was in a position to salvage the upgraded cam and the brace of Mikuni carbs not less than.
With every thing torn down, the engine was rebuilt with a knife-edged crank, new OEM conrods, and a high-compression 1,305 cc large bore package from Wossner. The efficiency cam wanted to be flippantly surfaced and was handled to new rockers and outsized valves from Absubo Racing.
The pinnacle was ported, and an exterior oiling system was fitted to feed oil on to the highest finish. An upgraded oil pump now sends oil to a brand new HEL oil cooler. The Mikunis breathe by means of a set of DNA efficiency filters, and the new air is distributed by means of a customized stainless-steel exhaust with inner baffles.
It’s large, daring, and packs a punch—precisely what we count on from the lads at Function Constructed Moto. [Source]
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