Yamaha's Yard Built projects have led the way in the revival of the cool custom world. Developing relationships with the rock stars of motorcycle customising, the project has delivered an incredible line up of unique and breath-taking one-off Yard Builts based on the Sport Heritage range of motorcycles. Legendary customizers from across the globe have turned their skilled hands to proving how easy it is to customize one of Yamaha's very flexible retro machines. The exercise provides inspiration and has set new trends in the motorcycle world, making it a reality for everyone to make their Yamaha their own. 

Portuguese custom builders it roCkS!bikes celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic street bruiser with a jaw dropping café racer creation, the Yard Built XJR1300 ‘Dissident’.

Working underground in a small workshop just outside Porto in Portugal since 2013, Osvaldo Coutinho and Alexandre Santos focus on creating their signature ‘monocoque’ one-piece tank, seat and tail units. 

The Yard Built XJR 1300 ‘Dissident’ is no exception, with a single handcrafted metal flowing unit stretching from just behind the triple clamps all the way back to the end of the tail.

The ‘Dissident’ features an ISR braking system, including master cylinders for front brake and clutch, front and rear calipers, and monster 340mm front discs and 267mm rear discs and 6 piston calipers with Hell Performance steel mesh brake and clutch hoses.

YZF-R1 upside down forks are modified to fit the XJR1300 steering column. A host of Motogadget pieces include LSL clip-on café racer bars, aluminium grips, M-Blaze turn signals and a hi-tech Motoscope pro dashboard mounted on a custom CNC machined aluminium bracket. 
Aluminium engine covers with glass windows look into the heart. A small high performance oil cooler keeps everything cool and a handmade 4-2 stainless steel exhaust screams as the rpms’ rise. 

LSL Rear sets and foot pegs are added and a small metal hand made fairing with recessed headlamp. An Aluminium ‘Monza’ gas cap adds the finishing touch and is complemented by an integrated tuning fork symbol ‘medallion’ set on the tank. An artisan made leather seat unit clips into the one-piece monocoque and beautiful 17” tubeless Kineo spoke rims with Pirelli angel GT rubber keep everything the right way up. 

Paying tribute to the XJR’s anniversary is the sublime paint scheme, a reinterpretation of the classic colours of the 70s and 80s with pearl white, black and gold and of course the legendary speed blocks.

XJR owners can take any or all of the Dissident pieces directly from it roCkS!bikes to personalise their own machines. Contact them here to make the first step: www.itrocksbikes.com