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Yamaha XJR1300 Spends Some Time With Wrenchmonkees, “Skullmonkee” Arises

While their approach might have been slightly restrained, it still manages to look seriously rad.
Skullmonkee 10 photos
Photo: Yamaha
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Although the Danish aftermarket surgeons over at Copenhagen’s Wrenchmonkees make it look easy, being a top dog in the custom motorcycle realm is no walk in the park. It takes skill, some serious dedication, and a good bit of thinking outside the box, and this workshop doesn’t seem to be having any problems with meeting that criteria.

In the past, we featured a few of their most notable exploits, such as an ominous Kawasaki W800 and the Yamaha XSR900 “Monkeebeast,” to name but a couple. Today, we’ll be having a quick look at the “Skullmonkee,” a 2015 XJR1300 subjected to a sinister makeover.

The donor is put in motion thanks to an air-cooled 1,251cc inline-four leviathan, which packs a compression ratio of 9.7:1 and four valves per cylinder head. At optimal rpm, the mechanical spartan will gladly deliver up to 98 hp and 80 pound-feet (108 Nm) of unforgiving torque to a five-speed gearbox. This force is handed over to the rear wheel via a chain final drive, resulting in a top speed of 140 mph (225 kph).

Denmark’s Wrenchmonkees kicked things off by replacing the original saddle with a quilted leather alternative to keep things looking classy. Next, the team installed an array of CNC-machined goodies to emphasize the bike’s sinister aesthetic, including an aluminum triple clamp and bespoke engine covers.

At the front, the Skullmonkee comes equipped with a yellow-tinted headlight, a digital speedometer, an LSL Titan steering damper, and alloy clip-ons that wear Biltwell grips. We can also spot a pair of aftermarket rear-mounted foot pegs and an Ohlins STX 36 monoshock at the opposite end.

The standard exhaust system has been removed in favor of a stainless-steel four-into-two alternative topped with Spark mufflers. The finishing touches come in the form of top-shelf braking components from Beringer’s range. Those include Hypersport brake discs, high-grade calipers, and a state-of-the-art master cylinder.
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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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