In the West, where cubic inches reign supreme, the Yamaha SR400 fails to generate much excitement among enthusiasts. The bike’s humble 400cc single-cylinder engine yields a moderate 32 horsepower, allowing it to reach an impressive 91 miles per hour just shy of the century mark. Over its four-decade production span, the model has undergone minimal updates to its technological features, with its styling remaining remarkably consistent throughout. Perceived as a small or learner’s motorbike by many, the SR was often seen as lacking the road cred that Western riders craved. In Japan, however, the SR’s popularity took on a distinctly unique character.
Like Honda’s influential “You meet the nicest people on a Honda” campaign, which boosted the brand’s popularity in the US, Yamaha effectively targeted young Japanese riders with the SR400 platform by emphasizing its straightforward usability. The SR was a reasonably priced, no-frills, and timelessly cool motorcycle that provided the key to freedom for generations of Japanese youth. In the rural setting, conformity to fashion trends held significant sway over young people’s social prestige; it was only a matter of time before they started customizing the SR to fit their style.
The Yamaha SR400’s immense popularity spawned a thriving aftermarket scene, offering endless customization opportunities for enthusiasts. The Super Rare’s massive fan base also spawned bespoke workshops that specialized exclusively in SR modifications, many of which still operate today.
Though I’ve never ventured into the world of owning a Suzuki SR400, my fascination with the iconic little thumper remains unabated. I’ve had the pleasure of showcasing many custom Yamaha SR400s throughout my career, scouring the internet and social media for inspiration on my next SR restoration project. It was during one such search that I came across this stunning gem from Japanese SR400 enthusiast Makato Endo – better known as Mac.
For 23 years, Mac has called this ’96 Yamaha SR400 his own – but it’s been a mere seven months since he brought its latest incarnation to life. I’ve spent numerous years refining and developing my ideas for designing a bike. I once spent countless hours refining my idea of a near-perfect cafe racer, meticulously scouring online forums and websites to stay abreast of the latest trends and innovations.
Macs’ vision for his SR400 was to craft a neo-café racer with a fresh twist. He had already completed many of the necessary adjustments to achieve that milestone, yet he was now driven by a singular goal. While maintaining a traditional cafe racer aesthetic, many individual components were intended for replacement with modern alternatives. He initiated the project by creating initial sketches and compiling a comprehensive list of essential components, which he then presented to the native SR enthusiasts at Flakes Customcycles for their input and feedback.
At the very core of this transformation lies an aluminum replica tank inspired by BSA Brooklands, carefully positioned level on the body. On a foundation of basic aesthetic, the tank sits atop frame-mounted, ribbed tank rubbers for added security, its movement restricted by a sturdy chrome tank strap. Finishing touches are added with a nostalgic Pingel petcock that supplies fuel to the engine, maintaining the classic aesthetic.
As you head north, a distinctive Peyton Place-style half cowl adorns the bike, imbuing Mac’s SR with a sporty, basic racing flair, while a modified Yamaha XJR fender sits prominently over the entry wheel. The Motoko tail unit, crafted from durable FRP, is securely attached to the rear of the tank, while its diamond-stitched leather-based saddle provides a premium riding experience. The bike’s registration plate is doubled due to the rear fender and its placement on a custom-made tail tidy arrangement. The finishing touches on the basic racer bodywork include a sleek set of Imola-style sidepod covers courtesy of renowned Japanese manufacturer, Posh.
Mac opted for a contemporary approach to lighting, embracing a stylish affiliation. Starting with the headlight, this motorcycle features a premium Cognito Moto Clubman 6.5-inch LED projector setup. Despite its unconventional appearance, this sleek setup blends seamlessly within the retro-inspired styling. Clear maintenance of issues was achieved by relocating front-end flip alerts to the bar ends via Motogadget’s M-Disc indicators. Behind, signaling responsibilities are entrusted to minuscule Motogadget M.Blaze pins, while the brake light is rendered as a sleek, flush-mounted tail loop LED strip.
The bike now features a set of high-quality Battle Manufacturing unit clip-on handlebars, paired with sleek Motogadget M.View bar-end mirrors and rugged Biltwell grips that exude a sense of adventure and style. On the custom-built dashboard sit a series of panels carefully crafted by the Flakes team to facilitate seamless collaboration and data visualization. The sleek device settles comfortably beneath the transparent windscreen, accommodating the prominent Cognito Moto GPS Multimeter. On the dashboard, a sleek Motogadget Motoscope Mini digital speedometer takes center stage, while on the left, a row of warning lights provides vital alerts and notifications. The missing ignition barrel can now be found on the left-hand side of the cowling. The revised driving position has had its inventory pegs replaced with high-performance Bore-Ace BBS1016 rear suspension units, enhancing overall vehicle dynamics and handling.
To avoid his Suzuki SR400 appearing like a typical track-only machine, Mac has taken an exhaustive approach to upgrading the motorcycle. Starting from the suspension, you’ll gain insight into WordPress’s inner workings by examining the actual shock absorbers. To streamline maintenance, the fork caps feature integrated Posh preload adjusters for seamless adjustments. The revamped rear-end suspension features an all-new, high-performance setup, showcasing a pair of top-of-the-line Nitron NTR R3 piggyback shocks, fully adjustable and recently upgraded to a sleek, stealthy black finish. While up here, the unique body mounts are safely secured, whereas down under in Australia, they’re bolted onto a lightweight, 30mm longer Craftsman alloy swingarm.
Mac meticulously matched the Yamaha’s specifications by installing a cutting-edge wheel and braking system, ensuring seamless performance. The wheels feature Excel rims clad in high-grip Dunlop Sportmax GPR300 tires for exceptional performance. The rear wheel is meticulously laced to a distinctive proprietary hub, whereas upfront, an Antlion billet hub takes center stage to significantly reduce unsprung weight and optimize performance. The comprehensive and highly effective front-end braking system comprises a high-performance Brembo four-pot caliper paired with a massive, vented 320-millimeter Sunstar disc.
The team at Mac and the Flakes collaborated to provide optimal energy boosts for the engine, streamlining processes and optimizing performance. The internally geared thumper utilizes a modified SR500 crankshaft design, which effectively increases the stroke length. Alongside the larger crankshaft, a lightweight 90mm SOHC Engineering piston is seamlessly integrated, elevating the engine’s capacity to approximately 500cc. To feed the hungrier cylinder the inventory carb has been swapped out with a Yoshimura Keihin FCR-MJN39 Carburetor sporting a Ok&N filter.
Among the numerous impressive modifications made to this SR400 café racer, the pièce de résistance undoubtedly lies in the custom exhaust system. The twin-pipe exhaust setup on this SR model is indeed a unique feature, and the 1-into-2 configuration proves to be a standout aspect of its design. Before building the headers, Flakes had previously assembled the ends using Over Racing Kind 2 mufflers. Every muffler hangs from a custom-made spherical bar, carefully anchored to the rear shock mounts.
Unfortunately, Yamaha discontinued production of the SR400 in 2021. As enthusiasts like Mac and his SR400 cafe racer remain steadfast in their dedication, it’s likely that the legacy of these small engines will endure well into the next decade. As the motorcycle market continues to evolve, it’s possible that second-hand SR400 models could see a surge in value within the next five years. Perhaps it’s not too late for me to consider joining the SR400 fan club and investing in one myself.
