Mark Bliss is a multi-talented individual, but his true passion lies in the world of cycling. As a natural extension of his upbringing, he found himself observing the habits of his parents, who were both avid cyclists, making it almost inevitable that he would follow in their tire tracks. While the others merely needed a means of transportation, Mark’s desire to compete drove him to seek out a mode of travel that would enable him to push himself to his limits. With the help of a close acquaintance and the guidance of the Publication-Based Racing Association in New South Wales, Australia, he finally achieved his lifelong aspiration – and became thoroughly enthralled.
Crafting one-of-a-kind cafe racers was an absolute passion project for Mark. After years of experience with his racing bikes, he built his inaugural café racer in 2010. Immediately following this milestone, he organized his inaugural custom bike workshop.
Together with his entrepreneurial partner, they successfully completed seven cafe racer projects before their business premises were suddenly seized from beneath them? Professional developers negotiated with the owner of the property to purchase the site and prepare it for a fresh construction project. Without any other options available, Mark and his colleague were left with no choice but to shut down the store. Before packing away their gear, Mark still had time to complete a different project that was close to his heart: his meticulously crafted XV750 Yamaha cafe racer, a labor of love that would soon be ready for the open road.
“The XV’s underslung engine gives it a uniquely distinctive appearance that makes the powertrain the true showstopper,” claims Mark. I appreciate the monoshock rear suspension because it gives the bike a sleek and streamlined appearance. I aimed to design a sleek, lightweight road bike featuring top-notch power transmission and braking systems for a thrilling ride across the countryside.
With a clear vision, Mark aimed to craft a neo-retro cafe racer that capitalized on the XV’s most striking design elements. Rethinking its approach, the goal was to rid Yamaha’s designs of the last vestiges of their perceived “Harley wannabe” aesthetic and dynamic characteristics.
With the bike disassembled, Mark meticulously cleaned its exposed components, removing any unnecessary brackets to ensure a smooth refurbishment process. While some might opt for a straightforward aftermarket seat modification on their XV cafe racers, Mark took a unique approach. To emphasize the sleek design of the mono-shock suspension, he deliberately kept the rear area uncluttered. To create this innovative piece, the engineer collaborated with his trusted fabricator, Jakub Vetesnik, to design a custom-built subframe from scratch.
With the help of the bespoke subframe, Mark developed a novel trellis-style swingarm to replace the XV’s utilitarian box-shaped component. While the brand-new setup undoubtedly makes its presence felt on the Yamaha, subtly incorporating a hint of Ducati flair into this unique XV concoction. As a final measure to ensure the tail remained clear, Mark repositioned the license plate and rear bumper lights onto a hugger-style bracket positioned discreetly behind the wheels. He next directed his attention to the finishing touches on the entrance.
To refine the bike’s posture, upgrade the entryway flourish, and enhance its handling, a comprehensive overhaul of the XV forks was necessary.
“The forks were surprisingly sourced from a GSX1100 motorcycle,” Mark explains. The new Excel rims were paired with hubs sourced from a Yamaha XV550, boasting a distinctive spoke design. The rear features a bespoke installation of Harley-Davidson’s entrance hub, secured by stainless steel custom-made spokes.
A custom-made CNC yoke, designed and milled by Mark himself, securely holds the Suzuki forks in position. While the rear shock remains its traditional self, it has undergone a revitalizing refurbishment.
As Mark recounts, he was left with a blank slate – just the fundamental components: body, engine, and wheels – which he skillfully shaped into the tank, bikini fairing, and seat by working with polystyrene. “The most daunting aspect of this venture was the decision to integrate the tank and seat into a single, unified component.”
As soon as Mark finalized the design’s form and proportions, he reimaged his original polystyrene model in steel. The monocoque-type seat and tank unit, crafted from aluminum by Jakub through a meticulous process of hand-forming. To complete the custom build, Jakub meticulously crafted a bikini fairing, entrance fender, and engine bellypan to meet Marks’ precise specifications.
In alignment with the bikes, a clear plan unfolds as Mark discreetly stores all the scattered parts out of view. A sleek, Motogadget m-Unit Blue lies discreetly concealed beneath the customised leather-based saddle crafted by skilled upholsterer Petr Josefus. Located beneath the tank is the brake master cylinder, while the battery resides in the bellypan at the front of the engine. Mark has also chosen discreet LED flip alerts; but it’s the sleek cockpit that truly elevates the bike’s streamlined appearance.
Fitted discreetly beneath the sleek alloy cowl, a Motogadget Chrono Basic dial claims its pride of place. The clip-on handlebars are fitted with Motogadget’s m-Switches at the brushed end. No wires in sight? A sleek, modern setup awaits: sleek frames embracing each bar’s summit, their understated curves mirroring perfection. The event’s finishing touches were capped off with a subtle yet polished conclusion that refrained from using any paint.
Initially, we had a paint scheme in mind; however, as the build took shape, I grew fond of the unvarnished look emerging in our workshop and decided to keep it raw. The floor was meticulously sanded to a matte finish, resulting in a surprising level of durability that exceeded expectations.
When Mark purchased his Yamaha XV750, he acquired a bike that had previously been involved in an accident and had accumulated approximately 5,000 kilometers on its odometer. Although this didn’t deter him, he still felt a strong desire to refine the plan somehow. Despite remaining unchanged internally, the modifications to the exhaust and fueling systems have successfully unlocked additional power from the engine.
When he arrived at constructing a brand-new exhaust, Mark’s unorthodox approach proved surprisingly effective. The makeshift piping system employed vacuum cleaner hoses as a substitute. He notes that this enabled them to pinpoint hidden problems and verify that they functioned properly despite the imperfections. The muffler is situated between the engine and the rear wheel. The muffler and headers, crafted by the renowned Tenax designer Petr Kulhanek, typically exude a sleek appearance and pleasing sonic quality.
As soon as the exhaust was installed, Mark employed a Dyno Jet equipment and conducted a dyno test to fine-tune the fueling.
While I’m keen on the weight, I’d imagine there are some kilograms missing here? The installation of 17-inch wheels at both the rear and front significantly alters the bike’s rideability to some extent. A driving enthusiast’s delight: it handles thrillingly in corners and shows no hesitation on straightaways either.
As the crowning jewel of his workshop, this Yamaha cafe racer embodies Mark’s creative zenith, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see more innovative projects emerge under his skilled hands in the future? We anticipate that the wait won’t be excessively long.
