Photo: Wedge Motorcycle via Pipeburn
The talented Takashi Nihira of Wedge Motorcycle needs no introduction whatsoever, being one of the finest custom bike builders that Japan has to offer. His work has been the subject of our discussion countless times already, and we’ll continue bringing it up whenever the opportunity presents itself. That being said, let’s go right ahead and see what Takashi’s latest creation is all about.
It is a Yamaha SR400 from the model-year 2005, gracefully modified in the image of a street tracker and dripping with retro charm. Master Nihira’s signature style can be admired here in all its glory, and the customization process began with some frame surgery once the initial teardown had been performed. After deleting the original subframe, Takashi proceeded to build a looped custom replacement from scratch.
He then placed a handmade seat pan on the new tubing, topping it off with generous padding and black leather upholstery. The saddle is flanked by a rectangular number board on the right, and a fresh aluminum fender is also attached to the subframe. Atop this mudguard lies an LED taillight and one of the cleanest license plate holders in existence.
Making our way northward, we come across a boxy alloy fuel tank fashioned in-house, holding on to custom mounts and topped with a shiny filler cap. The SR400’s front end oozes tracker vibes thanks to a second, flat number board, also shaped from aluminum like the other bodywork components. It features a circular cut-out filled with a small LED headlight, which is just large enough to keep things street-legal.
There is no front fender to speak of, but Takashi did install a bespoke fork brace close to the tire. That brings us down to the unsprung sector, now home to a pair of aftermarket hoops enveloped in dual-purpose rubber from Dunlop. Additional front-end stopping power is made possible by a new Brembo caliper, and the forks have been rebuilt just for good measure.
You’ll find adjustable YSS shock absorbers fitted at the back, while the motorcycle’s cockpit area is devoid of any unessential bits. On the powertrain side of things, the single-cylinder mill got treated to a complete overhaul inside out, then it experienced some tasty intake and exhaust mods. Inhaling will henceforth take place via a Keihin carb capped off with a K&N air filter.
The mastermind at Wedge fitted a custom-made exhaust on the other end of the combustion cycle, topping it with a SuperTrapp muffler for a pleasing soundtrack. Finally, the bike’s color scheme is unapologetically monochrome, with the tank and rear fender enveloped in a dark, blueish shade of grey. The front and side plates bear the number three in black over a white background, while the frame has been finished in matte-silver.
He then placed a handmade seat pan on the new tubing, topping it off with generous padding and black leather upholstery. The saddle is flanked by a rectangular number board on the right, and a fresh aluminum fender is also attached to the subframe. Atop this mudguard lies an LED taillight and one of the cleanest license plate holders in existence.
Making our way northward, we come across a boxy alloy fuel tank fashioned in-house, holding on to custom mounts and topped with a shiny filler cap. The SR400’s front end oozes tracker vibes thanks to a second, flat number board, also shaped from aluminum like the other bodywork components. It features a circular cut-out filled with a small LED headlight, which is just large enough to keep things street-legal.
There is no front fender to speak of, but Takashi did install a bespoke fork brace close to the tire. That brings us down to the unsprung sector, now home to a pair of aftermarket hoops enveloped in dual-purpose rubber from Dunlop. Additional front-end stopping power is made possible by a new Brembo caliper, and the forks have been rebuilt just for good measure.
You’ll find adjustable YSS shock absorbers fitted at the back, while the motorcycle’s cockpit area is devoid of any unessential bits. On the powertrain side of things, the single-cylinder mill got treated to a complete overhaul inside out, then it experienced some tasty intake and exhaust mods. Inhaling will henceforth take place via a Keihin carb capped off with a K&N air filter.
The mastermind at Wedge fitted a custom-made exhaust on the other end of the combustion cycle, topping it with a SuperTrapp muffler for a pleasing soundtrack. Finally, the bike’s color scheme is unapologetically monochrome, with the tank and rear fender enveloped in a dark, blueish shade of grey. The front and side plates bear the number three in black over a white background, while the frame has been finished in matte-silver.
Google News