| Gotta say, for a dealership that's had sports bikes tattooed into its culture for 30 odd years, we 're all a bit excited about the new Yamaha XV950 and XV950R. It's tapping into a scene we've been following for a couple of years now. If you've followed us on Facebook you'll know we've been posting pics of some gorgeous "garage built" creations from Iron & Air, Pipe Burn and Cafe Racer Parma amongst others. The whole Garage built / Yard built / Shed built "Retro Rocks" Scene is ultra cool in the States at the moment and it's fantastic watching it grow over here too. So what's it all about? I clocked it in 2011 and was actually moved to see what the kids were doing with bikes I used to sell in the early Eighties. Not flash bikes either. Things like Honda CB650's, Yamaha SRX600's, Kawasaki GT550's. Cheap as chips stuff. Probably a bit tatty but, at their heart, something that the Japanese have given us forever. Solid, strong, reliable motors. They get 'em for nothing, strip 'em back to basics and then refinish 'em. But not glitzy. Industrial. It's not about form so much as making the function beautiful. Not disguising it in Candies and Pearls but emphasising it in Matt Greys, Blacks and natural metal.Nothing there that doesn't need to be but everything that is there is solid, durable and functional. And the ride is the end game for the function. They're not just for looking at - although they have a radical, unique beauty of their own. They're about riding - Cool and Affordable Riding. At the end of the day it's riding the bike that's the real experience. Not looking at it. "Garage built" epitomises that spirit. And this isn't new. When the kids got hold of Harleys in the '60s, they stripped em back, junked the trinkets, slashed the weight and bought choppers and a whole new culture to the world. In these days of austerity, Garage Built is starting to feel like the start of something similar. Ultra cool. Both the New XV950 and XV950R acknowledge that. What you get is a mega quality basic, solid, rugged cycle that's stripped back to the essence of what you need to ride it - Then you make it your own. Engine is an ultra slim Black n Stainless V Twin, fuel injected and mapped for acceleration & torque. Gases exit thru a classic "tight to the bike", 2:1 exhaust system. Wheels are Retro Cool 12 spokes anchored by top stopping wavy discs. Paint is no frills industrial. White or Black on the standard version. Matt Grey or Camo paint on the "R". The standard bike is £7295 OTR Inc. Tax & Reg Fee The "R" version gets a buck skin seat, ABS brakes and gold piggy back shox for another £300...which seems pretty good value to me. £7595 OTR Inc. Tax & First Reg Fee. And that's where it starts. After that bolt on whatever you need to make it yours. Yamaha will be offering loads apparently. Good on ‘em...but really its the prospect of what the aftermarket guys and the new owners do with ‘em that excites me. Well done Yamaha for bringing the canvas to market. Now let's all throw a bucket of creativity at 'em. Here's a couple of links to save you time getting into the whole scene... Check out America's "Iron & Air" Magazine here... Check out the UK's "Bike Shed" site... Check out the "Cafe Racer Parma" facebook page... |
