Photo: Chilly Racing
Spanish workshop Chilly Racing has been dealing with Dakar bikes preparation for some time now, but it looks like their expertise is starting to "contaminate" other segments. And looking at their most recent Honda VFR750 incarnation, we could not be any happier with the way they worked on it.
What looks like a diehard off-road machine from afar is, in fact, a 1991 Honda VFR750. It may sound strange to have VFR750 and off-road/adventure in the same sentence, but Chilly Racing's Carlos Avendano believes this is an entirely legit thing. Having previously worked on BMW GS and Honda Dominator machines allowed Carlos to properly assess the modding potential of the mauled 1991 VFR750 he had laying around.
The project involved a ton of work to have the bike ready to receive the mandatory adventure add-on that needed to be installed, and Carlos remembers how much plastic and metal bracket welding was involved in the fabrication process. It took Carlos around six weeks of painstaking work to get the job done, but the result is worth the effort.
Some riders will most likely not find the outspokenly hybrid looks of this VFR pleasing, but considering the fact that we're talking about a bike that had one foot in the grave, we'd go for "yay" instead of "nay" any day (nice rhyme, huh?).
There are parts sourced from various other bikes, and the list includes a KTM SX, a Suzuki RM-Z, a Yamaha YZF, and a Honda CR. For example, a 1993 CR250 supplied the Showa USD forks that were shortened to suit the build. Shorter and stronger springs went inside them, as well, to cope with extra weight of the VFR.
Technically, the parts that were used to rebuild the VFR750 are all second hand, salvaged from other machines. The list includes a supermoto CR front rim that uses wire spokes, and should be more enduring when hitting the rocky trails than a cast wheel. Brembo brakes and a Nissin pump were also "stolen" from a KTM.
The oil cooler had to be relocated to get it out of the way of flying rocks, and a new position was also found for the fuel tap. Dual LED headlights now light the way towering above the ample number plate. Also, the instruments have been relocated inside a carbon fiber roadbook case with looks that are quite similar to what Dakar riders use for navigation.
All in all, the "reborn" VFR750 should feel quite thrilling when taken off the road, and its V4 engine revved high will definitely have a vibe of its own.
The project involved a ton of work to have the bike ready to receive the mandatory adventure add-on that needed to be installed, and Carlos remembers how much plastic and metal bracket welding was involved in the fabrication process. It took Carlos around six weeks of painstaking work to get the job done, but the result is worth the effort.
Some riders will most likely not find the outspokenly hybrid looks of this VFR pleasing, but considering the fact that we're talking about a bike that had one foot in the grave, we'd go for "yay" instead of "nay" any day (nice rhyme, huh?).
There are parts sourced from various other bikes, and the list includes a KTM SX, a Suzuki RM-Z, a Yamaha YZF, and a Honda CR. For example, a 1993 CR250 supplied the Showa USD forks that were shortened to suit the build. Shorter and stronger springs went inside them, as well, to cope with extra weight of the VFR.
Technically, the parts that were used to rebuild the VFR750 are all second hand, salvaged from other machines. The list includes a supermoto CR front rim that uses wire spokes, and should be more enduring when hitting the rocky trails than a cast wheel. Brembo brakes and a Nissin pump were also "stolen" from a KTM.
The oil cooler had to be relocated to get it out of the way of flying rocks, and a new position was also found for the fuel tap. Dual LED headlights now light the way towering above the ample number plate. Also, the instruments have been relocated inside a carbon fiber roadbook case with looks that are quite similar to what Dakar riders use for navigation.
All in all, the "reborn" VFR750 should feel quite thrilling when taken off the road, and its V4 engine revved high will definitely have a vibe of its own.
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