Yamaha’s XSR700 is one gorgeous bike straight out of the box, but that won’t stop moto artists from reinterpreting it however they please.
The talented craftsmen over at Switzerland’s Young Guns Speed Shop live and breathe custom two-wheelers. Each team member has been a dedicated motorcycle enthusiast for as long as they can remember, so these fellows clearly know what they’re doing. A few years ago, the Speed Shop pros were invited to take part in Yamaha’s Yard Built contest.
Sure enough, they gladly accepted. The project began with an ordinary XSR700 from the Japanese manufacturer’s range, which was subjected to an array of intricate surgical interventions to become “8 Dayz,” an alloy-coated predator fit for the Mad Max franchise. Let’s proceed with a quick examination of this menacing brute.
At its core, the donor for this undertaking packs a liquid-cooled 689cc parallel-twin powerplant with a compression ratio of 11.5:1 and sixteen valves. At 9,000 spins per minute, the engine delivers 74 hp, with 50 pound-feet (68 Nm) of torque produced at approximately 6,500 revs. The mill is mated to a six-speed transmission that enables its force to reach a chain final drive.
Young Guns’ moto specialists kicked things off by fabricating an aluminum monocoque structure, merging the fuel tank and tail unit into a single piece. The new outfit is complemented by a pair of snazzy side panels, as well as a rugged front fairing that houses dual LED headlights. In the cockpit, you will spot a fresh handlebar wearing top-shelf hydraulic levers from Magura’s inventory.
The original boots were discarded to make way for laced Borrani alternatives, whose rims have been topped with high-performance Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tires. Lastly, the finishing touches come in the form of Gilles Tooling billet aluminum rear-mounted foot pegs and a state-of-the-art exhaust system developed by Akrapovic. Without a doubt, Young Guns Speed Shop’s 8 Dayz is one flawless display of metalwork.
Sure enough, they gladly accepted. The project began with an ordinary XSR700 from the Japanese manufacturer’s range, which was subjected to an array of intricate surgical interventions to become “8 Dayz,” an alloy-coated predator fit for the Mad Max franchise. Let’s proceed with a quick examination of this menacing brute.
At its core, the donor for this undertaking packs a liquid-cooled 689cc parallel-twin powerplant with a compression ratio of 11.5:1 and sixteen valves. At 9,000 spins per minute, the engine delivers 74 hp, with 50 pound-feet (68 Nm) of torque produced at approximately 6,500 revs. The mill is mated to a six-speed transmission that enables its force to reach a chain final drive.
Young Guns’ moto specialists kicked things off by fabricating an aluminum monocoque structure, merging the fuel tank and tail unit into a single piece. The new outfit is complemented by a pair of snazzy side panels, as well as a rugged front fairing that houses dual LED headlights. In the cockpit, you will spot a fresh handlebar wearing top-shelf hydraulic levers from Magura’s inventory.
The original boots were discarded to make way for laced Borrani alternatives, whose rims have been topped with high-performance Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tires. Lastly, the finishing touches come in the form of Gilles Tooling billet aluminum rear-mounted foot pegs and a state-of-the-art exhaust system developed by Akrapovic. Without a doubt, Young Guns Speed Shop’s 8 Dayz is one flawless display of metalwork.