The Yamaha SR500 is having fun with a resurgence in reputation proper now, however we’re not shocked. Few bikes can match the SR’s enduring enchantment; its timeless design, buzzy motor, and impartial geometry make it straightforward to get together with. No marvel the earlier proprietor of this Yamaha SR500 insisted on a closing spin across the block earlier than he parted with it.
“You possibly can see the emotion throughout his final experience,” says Paweł Guzik, who acquired the SR500 to show it right into a good-looking road tracker. Paweł’s title has graced our pages earlier than—he’s one-third of Ventus Storage, a customized workshop in Kraków, Poland. However for the final three years, he’s additionally been working a solo aspect mission below the moniker Airow Customized Bikes.
Paweł’s objective was to construct a classically-styled flat tracker with supermoto underpinnings. His consumer, a gentleman from Austria, really wished to purchase a Suzuki GN400 that Ventus had beforehand personalized, however wanted a little bit extra poke than the 400 may supply. He’s additionally used to using supermotos—so 17” wheels and upgraded suspension have been necessary.
Paweł began by stripping the 1980-model Yamaha SR500 all the way down to its nuts and bolts. A inventory SR500 solely ekes out about 5 horses greater than a inventory GN400, so his first job was to bore the Yamaha’s single-cylinder mill out to 540 cc.
The rebuild included a solid piston and efficiency connecting rod from CP Carillo, an upgraded camshaft from Świątek, and efficiency valve springs. The crankshaft was lightened and balanced too, and the entire engine was hydro-blasted and Cerakoted earlier than being reassembled with stainless-steel fasteners. A Mikuni TM36 carb with a RamAir filter helps it breathe simpler.
The following part concerned updating the SR’s wheels and suspension. Paweł went deep right here, changing each OEM half with one thing newer and higher suited to the consumer’s wants. A set of KTM 690 Duke triples and forks do responsibility up entrance, with YSS shocks and an aluminum swingarm from Kedo fitted on the again.
The wheels use Yamaha WR hubs, 17” rims, contemporary stainless-steel spokes, and Metzeler Roadtec tires that prioritize pace over model. Upgrading the brakes proved to be a tougher job. Paweł began on the again, by mounting a Ducati caliper on a customized CNC-machined bracket and mating it to a Nissin grasp cylinder lifted from a Suzuki.
For the reason that SR500 initially had a drum brake out again, there was no present attachment level for the grasp cylinder. So Paweł created one, taking care to line it up neatly with the rear body triangle. The entrance brake makes use of the KTM’s Brembo caliper with an EBC disc from a Yamaha XT660.
Shifting his consideration to the bodywork, Paweł sourced a late-model Yamaha RD250 gasoline tank to exchange the OEM unit. The SR500 carries its gasoline within the body, so the RD250 tank wanted an all-new tunnel to suit. Whereas he was at it, Paweł made area for the ignition and a Lithium-ion battery below the tank too.
The fiberglass tail part mimics basic flat monitor designs, however it’s really a one-off. It’s topped off with an elegant suede leather-based saddle. Paweł additionally fabricated the stubby entrance fender and the Triumph Thruxton-inspired exhaust.
There’s extra of his handiwork within the cockpit, the place CNC-machined elements maintain gadgets just like the Bates-style headlight and Motogadget speedo. The Yamaha additionally wears new bars and grips, with simplified switches, and Magura brake and clutch levers. Look intently, and also you’ll discover that the bike’s clutch has been upgraded to a hydraulic setup too.
For the reason that SR500 needed to be road authorized, Paweł additionally made provision for a shiny LED taillight, LED flip indicators, and a license plate mount. “It meets the strict necessities of the TÜV certification,” he confirms. “Briefly, this meant consultations on vital factors with the TÜV inspector, and sending images after finishing essential phases of the construct.”
Inspiration for the Yamaha’s elegant livery got here from the customized Porsches of Singer Car Design. Tasteful pinstripes dance alongside the white bodywork, complemented by a slew of gray Cerakote finishes. If there’s a greater coloration scheme for this specific road tracker, we will’t image it.
The bike’s minimalist aesthetic additionally belies the quantity of labor, and drama, that it took to construct it. Paweł spent 1,700 hours on the mission, and quite a bit transpired between the acquisition of the donor bike and now—together with a world pandemic. In consequence, the bike is now on the market.
Are you as tempted as we’re?
Airow Customized Bikes | Photographs by Kacper Miętka and Jan Wodniak
