Source: Bike Bound
A Reborn XJR from RV Workshop…
After the introduction of the original Suzuki GSX-R in the mid-1980s, sporting motorcycles began to move quickly toward aluminum frames, monoshocks, liquid-cooled engines, and full fairings — the hallmarks of a replica racer. While those bikes were faster on the track, the motorcycle world began to miss the old air-cooled big-bore fours of yesteryear. Fortunately, the factories were listening…
In 1996, Suzuki introduced the Bandit 1200, and Yamaha soon followed with the XJR1200 — a brutish naked bike that harked back to an older time with a tubular steel cradle frame, twin shocks, braced swingarm, and beefy 1251cc air-cooled DOHC four-cylinder good for 105 brake horsepower and 75 pound-feet of torque. Here was a proper old-school muscle bike for the new millennium.
Over the years, however, XJR riders have looked for more aggressive aesthetics and handling from these aging brutes, and our friend Damien of France’s RV Workshop is only too happy to oblige. While Damien specializes in Triumph repairs and maintenance, he executes full conversions of many different makes, models, and styles. He does seem to have a soft sport for big-bore fours, as the last build of his we featured was a custom Bandit 1200.
Now he’s back with this early Yamaha XJR1200, built for a customer who wanted his XJR to have a more athletic stance, style, and attitude…with some racing influence added in. The biggest custom element would be Damien’s handmade fiberglass tail section, which required countless hours of shaping and sanding to match his vision for the build.
Damien modified the rear subframe to integrate seamlessly with the new tail and a pair of custom brushed aluminum side panels he fabbed up. The end result looks like a factory job, as if Yamaha offered an “S” or “R” version of the XJR with sportier bodywork. (They did offer the SP with upgraded Öhlins suspension, but it had similar ergonomics and bodywork as the base version.)
The upright, “sit up and beg” handlebars were swapped for a set of clip-ons, giving a more aggressive riding posture, and a riserless custom top yoke holds a mounting bracket for the KOSO speedometer, all tucked inside a small front fairing.
The OEM rear shocks were ditched in favor of some high-spec YSS units, and the brake and clutch lines were replaced with aviation-grade line. The big engine now breathes through BMC Racing air filters and a 4-into-1 exhaust with a stubby Leovince silencer that heightens the racing look.
Other highlights include a full LED lighting conversion, precise carb tuning to match the new intake and exhaust, swingarm-mounted number plate mount, and more. Damien says the finished machine, despite its size and weight, handles much more like a modern sport bike, and the aggressive riding position begs you to turn up the wick. We love to see new life breathed into these big-four warhorses — we’re just sad this one isn’t in our stable!
Below is our full interview with Damien about the build, and photography credit goes once again to Les Studios de Broceliande.
Yamaha 1200 XJR Custom: Builder Interview
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
Yamaha 1200 XJR 1997.
• Why was this bike built?
Customer project, motorcycle built and customized at the request of a customer.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
What influenced the construction of this motorcycle is to give it a sporty side, a little racing style with aggressive lines especially on the rear hull, which was made to measure for the XJR 1200.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
Realization of a custom fiberglass rear tail section, modification of the rear chassis to integrate the custom shell, and 4-into-1 exhaust system with Leovince LV 10 silencer with a very short outlet like a recent racing motorcycle.
Installation of a BMC racing air filter, optimization of the carburetors and intake pipes for better acceleration, replacement of the original shock absorbers with YSS for a more racing performance and look.
Brake and clutch hoses replaced with aviation type lines, installation of a fork head with custom mounting bracket, installation of a KOSO speedometer, conversion to full LED lighting, production of custom brushed aluminum side plates, and more…
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
You get a lot of feel and sensation through the handlebars, given the very radical position at the front like a recent sports bike, despite the weight and size of the original bike.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
The realization of the custom fiberglass rear shell, which required a lot of hours in manufacturing and sanding to perfectly match the desired design and the aluminum side plates.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
Thanks to my colleague Jeremy (welder) who did a very big job on the welds, always at the top!!!
And to the photographer LES STUDIOS DE BROCELIANDE for the pictures of the bike.
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Photography: Les Studios de Broceliande | @lesstudiosdebroceliande
