Fashionable journey bikes just like the Yamaha Ténéré 700 seldom get personalized. It’s partly as a result of they’re purpose-built machines, designed to go anyplace—and any modifications exterior of the standard twin sport remit can undermine that usability. Nevertheless it’s additionally as a result of a Ténéré 700 is a extra difficult machine than, say, a classic Yamaha XT500.
So why precisely did Gasoline & Oil Bespoke Bikes determine to customise this explicit Yamaha Ténéré 700? The reply is straightforward: it was wrecked, and it had already served its goal. So why not?
The 2020-model T7 belonged to a good friend, who had purchased it to journey from the Czech Republic, the place Gasoline & Oil is predicated, to New Zealand. “Sadly his route ended prematurely in Iraq, when he had a frontal influence with a automotive, that was overtaking one other automotive, that was overtaking a truck,” explains the workshop’s founder, Matej.
Matej’s good friend managed to get himself and the bike again to Czechia, however his insurance coverage wasn’t taking part in ball. “He determined to promote what was left of the bike, fly over to New Zealand, purchase one other Ténére there, and a minimum of journey throughout the island. We have been left with a smashed machine with out a entrance wheel or forks, a smashed water cooler and some damaged electrical elements, however with a superb body and the engine nonetheless operating.”
“Our intention was clearly to create a basic bike with the nice perks of contemporary elements, which turned out fairly rattling properly. We selected a tougher path, as a result of utilizing previous elements on a brand new bike isn’t that onerous—but it surely’s not that purposeful. We wished to have good suspension, good lightning and good using, however with late-70s seems.”
Offering further inspiration was the 1979-model Yamaha XT500 that was parked within the Gasoline & Oil workshop. Coincidentally, the older XT and newer T7 had nearly the very same mileage on the clock, exhibiting round 36,000 km [22,369 miles].
“I suppose everybody that’s into motorcycling has their favourite period,” says Matej. “Since this wasn’t a buyer mission, however a private factor, we selected the French Nineteen Seventies, when some occasion known as the Paris-Dakar Rally was looking for its place on this planet.”
“For the primary 12 months of this legendary occasion, the French Yamaha vendor Sonauto ready a number of XT500s. The modifications have been removed from at this time’s skilled perspective, and consisted of an even bigger tank, and totally different suspension, exhaust and seat. And a kind of machines, ridden by Cyril Neveu, really made it first to the end line. So our most important motivation was to construct a contemporary tribute to those grandfathers of at this time’s enduro bikes.”
Gasoline & Oil’s first mission was to get the Yamaha Ténére 700 again on its ft, so to talk. Via some deft fabrication work, they managed to hook up a set of lengthened WP Suspension forks from a KTM, with a set of KTM 690 Duke yokes. The entrance hub was re-laced to a 21” D.I.D. rim, with a custom-made axle to connect it to the upgraded forks.
Subsequent, the crew laced up an 18” Excel rim out again, then wrapped each ends in aggressive dual-sport rubber. A TFX shock props up the rear.
Not a lot has modified on the T7’s body, however its bodywork is all new. A hand-crafted aluminum gas tank takes middle stage, styled after the lengthy vary reservoir on the Dakar-spec XT500. A retro-style bench seat sits behind it, lined in a water-resistant artificial materials.
The aspect covers are bespoke aluminum components, the plastic fenders are from Acerbis, and the fork guards are from UFO. The baggage rack is an precise classic half, tailored to suit the T7.
A lot of the fettling that was performed to the body was targeted on the again half of the bike. Gasoline & Oil modified the subframe to mount the seat and rear fender, and added a canopy to cover away the bike’s electronics. Additionally they fabricated a mount for the license plate and rear flip indicators.
A laser-cut radiator cowl performs host to the entrance flip indicators, whereas a beneficiant sump guard protects the bike’s tender bits. Gasoline & Oil additionally put in an upgraded Muller Motosport air field, a Shido Lithium-ion battery, and a Magura hydraulic clutch.
The blokes might have purchased an off-the-shelf headlight nacelle, however they wished a really particular look. So that they 3D-printed their very own unit, equipping it with a pair of lights from LSK. Then they constructed a construction out of laser-cut plates to carry it, the lights, and a few key electrical bits.
A set of Renthal handlebars sits additional again, with a 3D-printed mount that holds the unique dashboard. Different upgrades embrace a Kedo chain guard, heavy responsibility foot pegs and tiny Motogadget LED flip indicators. A Sharon exhaust muffler supplies the soundtrack, fitted to the inventory headers by means of a stainless-steel connector pipe.
Matej and co. opted for a interval right livery to drive the purpose dwelling, wrapping the bike in white and black with a handful of tasteful graphics. “Since we have been those paying for all this enjoyable we have been pressured to remain in funds,” he provides, “however we had assist from Yamaha Czech Republic, who bought as excited as us for this mission.”
Kudos to Gasoline & Oil for turning a busted up journey bike into a real neo-retro rally bike. If there’s a greater use for a crashed Ténére, we don’t know what it’s.
Gasoline & Oil Bespoke Bikes | Fb | Instagram | Pictures by Jakub Frey
