Yamaha’s Yard Built Project Breaks New Ground with El Solitario’s Big Bad Wolf.
This summer Yamaha teamed up with Spanish customhouse El Solitario. The result a race inspired track monster, the ‘Big Bad Wolf’. El Solitario stayed true to the Yard Build ethos with no cutting or welding to the frame of the standard bike.
Key to the success of the project was the collaboration with Mauro Abbadini, from Classic Co. as technical director of the build. The ‘Big Bad Wolf’ AKA: BBW, has almost everything custom made with the exception of the frame, the tank, the handlebars and the rear light, reducing the wet weight to just 183kg.
The Motor was blueprinted and the heads were ported and flowed. The intake port flow was increased by 50%. Compression was raised from 9.7-1 (Stock) to 10.7-1. The combustion chambers were reshaped & the squish areas increased. The rods were reinforced with titanium bolts and the crankshaft was rebalanced. All the electronics and were removed and state of the art Lectron 42 Carburetors were added. A Dynatek Programmable Ignition was installed, taking the power up to 148 BHP at the rear wheel.
Classic Co. then fabricated a carbon fibre tail section, motor air rams and the belly pan, as well as all the aluminum brackets for the needed modifications. UK based Dymag developed the carbon fibre wheels and Acke Rising from ISR in Sweden made the custom triple trees, disc rotors and rear brake caliper bracket. ISR hand controls were added along with ISR front 6 piston calipers and rear 4 pistons caliper.
K-Tech Suspension and Novatech developed the front forks and rear shocks, the screaming custom titanium exhaust was made by Asahina Racing in Japan, designed to fit not just the BBW but the stock XJR1300 also. Moto GP oil cooler supplier, Taleo Racing created the custom semi circular oil cooler and EMD in France, machined in aluminum the prototype motor covers.
A TWM custom gas cap sets off the tank and a stunning custom aluminum swing arm by Over Racing in Japan finishes the rear along with a set of their rearsets. The BBW was wired using the Motogadget M-Unit & uses the M-Lock for on/off. Corona supplied the super cool quick shifter and PIAA supplied the intense headlights.
The BBW stays stuck to the tarmac with Michelin street, slick and rain tyres to maximize the fun whatever the conditions. Last but by no means least the beautiful custom graphics and paint was the work of London artist Death Spray Custom.
