Meet the 981, a Jaw-Dropping Yamaha TR1 Built for an Interior Designer

Neuga is the brainchild of three BMX enthusiasts turned motorcycle aficionados – Benedek Eszteri, Dániel Králik, and Róbert Tóháti. The trio is something of a dream team, and each member plays a critical role in making Neuga’s bikes as tasty as those built by the world’s finest. Dubbed the 981, the machine we’re about to inspect took no less than two years to be pieced together.

It started out as a stock Yamaha XV1000 TR1 from the model-year 1981. The project was commissioned by an accomplished interior designer named Peter Szendro, which certainly placed additional pressure on Benedek and his teammates to deliver something outstanding. Peter was happy to let them take their time, though, knowing the importance of some breathing room and thorough planning when it comes to such creative endeavors.

To get the ball rolling, Neuga took everything apart and went on to perform a full inspection of the TR1’s V-twin powerplant. The engine has been refurbished inside out, receiving new camshafts, rings, and gaskets in the process. Its oil pump and timing chains were swapped with fresh alternatives, as well, while the lower engine covers got polished to a mirror finish and look as if they’re brand-new.

Exhaust gases are expelled by way of bespoke stainless-steel pipework, which runs a two-into-one configuration toward a flared silencer. According to Benedek, this handmade exhaust system sounds genuinely wild at higher revs, and we’ll take his word for it without question. With the powertrain-related work out of the way, Neuga’s specialists moved on to the chassis and proceeded to eliminate the XV1000’s front-end equipment.

In its stead, we now find the inverted forks and beefy brakes of a Yamaha R1, all sure to offer a notable improvement in the handling department. Custom triple clamps hold things in place up top, with the upper unit being a particularly nice touch. Our protagonists spared no expense in the unsprung sector, either, ditching the OEM hoops in favor of laced substitutes taken from a Suzuki GSX1000.

The hubs were installed with the aid of CNC-machined spacers, then hooked back up to the rims via stainless-steel spokes. Dual-purpose Pirelli Scorpion tires are present at both ends, chosen mostly for their look rather than off-roading capability. A top-shelf hydraulic disc brake provides ample stopping power out back, while suspension duties in that area are assigned to a Wilbers shock absorber neatly tucked beneath the subframe.

Speaking of which, the rear frame tubing was painstakingly built from scratch and outfitted with LED lighting at its southernmost portion. The whole setup is incredibly neat, and Neuga added a swingarm-mounted license plate bracket to make sure it stays that way. Additionally, the breathtaking saddle placed atop the subframe is a work of art in and of itself, upholstered in both standard and perforated black leather.

Its top section features diamond pattern stitching, but the sides flaunt a handsome ribbed design we can’t get enough of. Although the factory fuel tank is still present a bit further ahead, the guys had it resealed internally and repositioned for a more aggressive, forward-leaning posture. The only other bits of bodywork on the 981 are a couple of tailor-made fenders, both placed nice and close to the tire on custom brackets.

On the electrical side of things, this TR1 benefits from a youthful wiring harness and a Motogadget controller, as well as a 12-cell battery from Antigravity. The aftermarket sorcery continues in the cockpit, where you will now find twin Daytona dials, LED warning lights, and an LSL handlebar. Furthermore, the latter is outfitted with billet aluminum grips, underslung mirrors, and Motogadget bar-end turn signals.

A potent LED headlight is located right in front of the cockpit area, while CNC-milled rider and pillion foot pegs can be spotted low down on the motorcycle’s flanks. The 981’s paintwork is a simple yet undeniably intriguing affair, with black laid over most components in a tasteful mixture of gloss and matte finishes. Teeny pinches of color appear here and there, notably on the gold forks and red spark plugs.

All things considered, we’d say this awe-inspiring XV1000 is an excellent fit for a man like Peter Szendro, whose keen eye for detail can certainly appreciate the work that’s gone into the transformation process. The bright minds at Neuga really outdid themselves in more than one way with this build, and the final result speaks for itself! Something like this is definitely worth waiting two years for, don’t you think?