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As the owner of Berry Bads Bikes, Kyohei Sugimoto has gained insight into the art of customizing Yamaha’s timeless SR400. With a passion for tinkering, he’s transformed the SR400 into an impressive array of styles, from rugged choppers to sleek bobbers, classic brats to hip cafe racers. With his racing roots, it’s no surprise that cafe culture is where his heart lies, and he’s masterfully applied it to his 2001 Yamaha SR400. At the proprietor’s request, this bespoke bicycle pays homage to the classic designs of Norton’s while incorporating numerous enhancements for improved performance, courtesy of Kyohey-san’s meticulous attention to detail.
The sleek, Avon-inspired cowling commences our sequence of refinements. The vintage-inspired design of the headlamp is unmistakable, with its transparent perspex dome and spherical shape evoking the iconic looks of 1950s British racing bikes. Encased within the cockpit’s sprint, a sleek Pivot tachometer takes center stage, providing an unparalleled level of detail as it tracks the engine’s dynamic revs with precision and ease. The inventory bars have been reconfigured to facilitate fairing integration, now employing Magura clip-ons securely attached to the custom forks.
Kyohei has implemented a twin-disc upgrade on this bike, designed to rectify the SR’s limited stopping power, which was compromised by its drum rear brake. With this modification in place, he adjusted the callipers to align with the wheel’s entry point. With the installation complete, the brand-new, state-of-the-art 2-pot Brembo brakes are now in place, featuring bespoke hardware designed to optimize performance. Forks boasting enhanced internal features are secured by a sturdy Japanese-made high-bridge design. The Yamaha’s spoked wheels feature a harmonious 19-inch front-and-rear configuration. A set of Excel rims adorned with a fashionable and stylish rubber wrap, giving them a sleek and modern appearance.
A sleekly styled aluminum fuel tank, reminiscent of Norton’s iconic design, adorns the motorcycle, featuring a gleaming silver hue accentuated by elegant black pinstripes and a vintage-inspired Monza filler cap situated at the rear. The seat appears as a standardised aftermarket product, carefully tailored to meet specific needs, its rear profile rounded by a distinctive Wassel-inspired cowl. To underscore its nod to the iconic Norton aesthetic, Kyohey has crafted a meticulous oil breather catch can that echoes an vintage oil tank in its intricate design, complete with convincing rivets and antique-style brass components. The sleek, lightweight aluminum trim adorns each entrance and rear fender, while a vintage-inspired brake light perches atop the license plate. To effectively revamp the setup, consider replacing the mid-mounted control systems with rear-units constructed from alloys.
While the visual enhancements to Kyohey’s cafe racer were a notable achievement, his true focus lay with refining its performance capabilities.
As the humble 400cc single-cylinder engine, once content to quietly propel its lightweight frame, has been transformed into a robust 600cc powerhouse. The significant boost in performance is attributed to the incorporation of a Tressel billet cylinder featuring substantial cooling fins and an optimized piston design for enhanced efficiency. Within the motor, a Yoshimura cam is incorporated, alongside an Araki F Machine dry clutch package. As the mighty engine demands nourishment, an FCR 41mm flat-slide carburetor satiated its insatiable appetite, while the exhaust system – comprising a custom-crafted chrome steel header and titanium megaphone silencer – efficiently released the spent gases into the atmosphere. Working temperatures are consistently maintained during testing via a front-mounted oil cooler, with power transmitted to the rear section via an Enuma chain.
The metal swingarm that Yamaha typically employs on this motorcycle has been discontinued. As a replacement, consider an over racing-polished alloy unit that slashes excess weight, thereby extending the motorcycle’s footprint by 1.5 centimeters. The installation of Nitron rear shocks significantly enhances the overall appearance and driving experience by refining the rear aesthetics. Drawing on his extensive experience in competitive cycling, Kyohei has comprehensively revamped the bike’s frame. With the rear trimmed to fit the newly installed tail unit, he reinforced it by gusseting the area and utilizing his custom-made engine mounts to enhance structural integrity.
The crowning jewel of completion for this intense Yamaha cafe racer conversion is the ‘R.I.P.’ Faded and garish lettering on the gasoline tank. The reference is to a track with the same title by Japanese hip-hop duo ID and MXTN. As Kyohey-san provided no justification for the owner’s decision to modify the bike, its addition remains a mystery, much like Yamaha’s abrupt discontinuation of the SR400 series, leaving fans in suspense.
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