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Custom Yamaha XV920R Aviator Is Sexy Beyond Words, Sports Nickel-Plated Fuel Tank

It’s one of those builds that we don’t really know how to label, but the silhouette does have some bobber vibes.
Yamaha XV920R Aviator 6 photos
Photo: Classified Moto
Yamaha XV920R AviatorYamaha XV920R AviatorYamaha XV920R AviatorYamaha XV920R AviatorYamaha XV920R Aviator
Established in Richmond, Virginia, more than a decade ago, John Ryland’s Classified Moto is the kind of workshop whose projects never fail to impress. You folks seemed to be extremely fond of the Triumph Speed Triple-based venture we presented a little while back, so you’re almost guaranteed to fall in love with the entity displayed above!

In its previous life, this bad boy used to be a stock 1982 variant of Yamaha’s XV920R lineup, and the commission came from an aircraft pilot living in Florida. Appropriately nicknamed the Aviator, Classified’s showstopper carries the heavily-revised fuel chamber of a Benelli Mojave 360, which is adorned with bespoke badges, a flush-mounted filler cap, and brass embellishments.

The hinged seat pan found behind the tank was fabricated in-house, but the upholstery was handled by a regular collaborator named Roy Baird. Underneath the new saddle sits the repurposed Ohlins monoshock of a 2005 Ducati Multistrada 1000DS, which was also kind enough to donate its rear 17-inch wheel and single-sided swingarm.

At the front end, you’ll find 41 mm (1.6-inch) upside-down forks, dual 310 mm (12.2-inch) floating brake discs, and a five-spoke hoop, all originating from a 2012 MY Yamaha YZF-R6. In terms of rubber, the Aviator wears a Metzeler ME 880 Marathon tire up north and Dunlop’s D616 compound down south.

A D.I.D X-ring drive chain links the motorcycle’s air-cooled 920cc V-twin engine to its rear wheel, and the exhaust gases are now channeled through handmade stainless-steel headers and a single reverse megaphone silencer mounted on the right-hand side.

Up in the cockpit area, the Aviator comes equipped with Acewell instrumentation, clip-on handlebars, and a round aftermarket mirror. Following the installation of a lithium-ion battery developed by Shorai, John and his crew proceeded to address the finishing touches. New lighting items were fitted all-round, and the fuel tank has been nickel-plated to achieve an understated yet equally rad aesthetic.
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About the author: Silvian Secara
Silvian Secara profile photo

A bit of an artist himself, Silvian sees two- and four-wheeled machines as a form of art, especially restomods and custom rides. Oh, and if you come across a cafe racer article on our website, it’s most likely his doing.
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