Motorcycle News - Speed Block style: A Yamaha XZ 550 restomod
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Maarten has a penchant for Yamahas, and particularly the models that are hard to come by in the Netherlands. He mostly goes for a retro sportbike look, and nails the factory feel amazingly well. By the time he’s done, you’re questioning your knowledge of Yamaha’s back catalog.
Also known as the Vision, the XZ 550 was only manufactured for two years. It was powered by a 552 cc, 70-degree V-twin motor, and was the first Yamaha with downdraft carbs. Unfortunately, those carbs also had an annoying off-idle stutter.
Up front are the forks, yokes and clip-ons from an R6. The wheels are off an XS850, measuring 19 inches in front, and 18 inches out back. The rear shocks are from Hyperpro, and the brakes are a combination of modern MT-07 calipers and YZF600 discs.
The front forks needed editing to accommodate the new front wheel, and brackets had to be made up for the brakes. But everything looks like it belongs, and even the front fender looks OEM.
The tank is stock, but Maarten hammered in indents for the clip-ons, and then added a bulge in the belly to maintain a capacity of 17 liters.
Recognize that chunky tail section? It’s been borrowed from a Yamaha TZ, and finished off with a slim seat and a pair of embedded taillights. And if that license plate arrangement looks far too stock, that’s because it is—Maarten grabbed it from an R1, complete with red reflector and turn signals (plus the foot controls).
Picking a livery for the XZ550 was a no-brainer—it’s wrapped in King Kenny’s iconic yellow ‘speed block’ design. The wheels have even been redone in gold to match, and there are fresh finishes on everything from the frame to the engine casings.
Maarten Poodt Instagram | Images by Mark Meisner. Motorcycles via Bike EXIF http://www.bikeexif.com June 21, 2019 at 12:21PM Leave a Reply. |
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