One-Off Yamaha SR400 Cafe Racer Puts Great Emphasis on Performance Upgrades

To be quite frank, naming the workshops that haven’t customized the trusty Yamaha would make for a much shorter list than all the ones which have. Some will even go so far as to base most of their projects on the SR500 and its smaller siblings, showing just how many clever ways there are to modify these machines. One such firm is Candy Motorcycle Laboratory (CML) over in Ebina, Japan.

It’s a two-man operation dead set on crafting the spiciest custom SR400s you’ll ever encounter, but they regularly experiment with other marques and models, as well. Still, what caught our attention today was one of their startling SR builds and the 51st entry in Candy’s project archive. The client ordered a performance-focused cafe racer with upgraded equipment all-round, and the CML duo spared no expense whatsoever.

With the SR400 delivered to their shop and completely dismantled, the custom sorcery first made its presence felt in the suspension department. Taking the performance side of things very seriously right from the get-go, the guys did away with the OEM forks in favor of upside-down Showa replacements. These are mated to a custom billet aluminum top clamp, which houses a flush-mounted digital dial from Motogadget.

Now, the transformation process clearly started with a bang, but things got even more interesting at the other end. Gone is the SR400’s twin-shock arrangement, making way for a monoshock setup with Ohlins piggyback paraphernalia. This premium shock absorber was transplanted from a Ducati Hypermotard, along with its single-sided swingarm and rear brake. As you can imagine, getting everything to fit on the SR was no plug-and-play affair.

CML came up with a looped custom subframe to suit the updated suspension geometry, making it significantly shorter than stock to achieve tighter proportions out back. The rearmost portion of the tubing is home to an integrated LED taillight, joined by aftermarket turn signals a bit further ahead. A compact license plate bracket can be spotted underneath, and there is a gorgeous handmade saddle placed up top.

It features plentiful padding, white suede upholstery, and diamond pattern stitching, all coming together in seamless fashion thanks to Candy’s proficiency in leatherwork. Rounding out the bike’s rear-end equipment is a bespoke wheel hub laced to a Borrani rim, which is hugged by grippy Dunlop Sportmax GPR-300 rubber. Let’s stay on unsprung territory but turn our attention northward for a minute.

A matching Dunlop tire keeps the front hoop firmly glued to the asphalt, and the braking hardware in that area has also been thoroughly upgraded. There is a high-grade Brembo caliper paired with a floating 320 mm (12.6-inch) disc, offering a great deal of extra stopping power over the factory setup. With the bike’s footwear taken care of, CML’s attention turned to the bodywork.

Right ahead of the stunning seat we’ve mentioned earlier, you’ll spot a heavily reworked BMW R 100 fuel tank. It’s topped with Candy roundels, an aluminum flip-up filler cap, and a shiny layer of black metal flake paint that looks delicious. As there are no fenders to speak of, the only other piece of bodywork used here is an unpainted, under-seat electronics box made from scratch.

The cockpit is home to clip-on handlebars, a premium brake master cylinder from Brembo, and bar-end turn signals. In between all this paraphernalia, there is an aftermarket LED headlight attached to the lower triple clamp via a bespoke bracket. Now, the performance enhancements on this SR400 cafe racer didn’t just consist of fresh suspension and brakes. Its single-cylinder mill was also blessed with a serious overhaul in search of more power.

By changing the engine’s top end and installing new pistons, Candy raised its displacement to a healthier 534cc. These goodies are complemented by higher-spec camshafts and a Yamaha SR500’s crank, while breathing takes place via a 41 mm (1.6-inch) Keihin FCR carb. It’s capped off with a custom velocity stack, and there’s a lot going on with the exhaust pipework, as well.

A handmade stainless-steel setup replaces the stock plumbing, finishing off the powertrain mods with a bang. Some wrinkle grey paint made its way onto the lower engine covers, and the bike’s frame was cloaked in an elegant shade of burgundy. Overall, the color palette on this machine is as striking as it is simple, just like the other cosmetic traits that define it. Add the purposeful performance mods to the equation, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a ride!