Cool bikes built for custom shows do come with a good dose of sadness about them, and that’s because they are one-offs, and the chances of actually riding one or bikes that are similar to them are so thin that they’re not even worth mentioning. Still, if you’re lucky, you will run into motorcycles such as the all-new Yamaha XV950 Racer and get a change to enjoy custom looks without breaking the bank to win an auction.
The new Yamaha XV950 Racer is a machine inspired by Marcus Walz’ El Raton Asesino, a bike he created for the Yard Built competition, so you’re deep into custom territory this time. And if the XV950 name sounds a bit weird to you, let us refresh your memory. Bolt. Star Bolt. All the bells are ringing now, right?
Radical looks and enhanced performance go hand in hand
One of the coolest things about the Bolt is the fact that it has been designed for customization from ground zero. Buyers, modders and builders can make a big number of changes to the XV950 without even firing up the welding machine and cutting a piece of metal. It’s a philosophy similar to that of the BMW R nineT, and is a successful one in the world of custom looks.
The XV950 Racer boasts authentic heritage racing looks enhanced by the timeless rawness of the design and the forward-leaning riding position. The traditional bars have been replaced with café-racer-specific low clip-ons, and the seat cowl received a matching front one. A lot of accessories are available for further personalization, including bar-end low-swung mirrors, billet racks, various air cleaner and side covers, seats choices, a dedicated Akrapovic muffler developed especially for the bike, and many more.
On the tech side the XV950 Racer remains the v-twin we knew, packing a 8942cc displacement and producing 52 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and a peak torque of 79.5 Nm (58.6 lb-ft) at 3,000 revs. The transmission is a 5-speed constant mesh unit, with a belt final drive.
No price was mentioned at the time of writing, but we expect the XV950 Racer to only come for a small premium over the figure on the Bolt R-spec price tag.
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