Motorcycle specifications YamahaXSR 700 Yard Built - Rough Crafts Corsa Scorcher - 2017 Express coffee

The Yard Built program returns to Rough Crafts with Taiwanese tuner Winston Yeh at the helm. In 2015, the"Guerilla Four", his version of the XJR 1300, already showcased an incredible motorcycle. On the strength of this success, Yamaha has renewed its confidence in Rough Crafts, using the XSR 700 as a base, the spearhead of the medium-displacement models in the Sport Heritage range.

As with the entire Yard Built program, Winston was instructed not to cut or weld the frame. He was then given carte blanche to apply his own style to this XSR 700. The result: not one, but two gems. With the help of "rapid transformation kits", the XSR 700 can be transformed in less than an hour into a Café Racer-style city machine, the "Corsa Scorcher", or a Scrambler-style motorcycle, the "Soil Scorpion", visible here ->.

"This is our first 'double customization' from a single machine," comments Cristian Barelli, marketing coordinator for Yamaha Motor Europe."For me, this preparation underlines the versatility of the XSR 700 as an ideal base for customization. Whether you want to create a Café Racer or a Scrambler, both are possible, without losing the authenticity or handling of the original machine."

"The XSR makes an incredible starting base," Winston explains."I love the 700' s tubular frame and its power-to-weight ratio, which I find perfect for a motorcycle. With its new shorter frame and removable rear frame loop, there's no need to cut the frame to create a true custom bike."

"I couldn't decide whether to put clip-on elements instead and make it a Café Racer, or act on the position, for example at handlebar level to get a Tracker. That's when the idea came up: why not offer a kit that would allow customers to choose elements such as wheels, brakes or handlebars themselves, so as to build the bike they want?"

To make the kit as versatile as possible, Winston created a fork tee that could work with the R1 's fork in addition to hubs, brakes and wheels. He then used the same wheel made for the 700 to mount directly on the inverted fork.

To perfect his "one bike, two customizations" concept, he chose the fully electronically adjustable Shark Factory X2E suspension, enabling him to instantly obtain the ideal configuration for riding on both asphalt and dirt.

The Café Racer version is equipped with ultra-light Rotobox carbon fiber wheels and Gilles Tooling clip-on components. The titanium Akrapovi? exhaust system, derived from the R1, adds a sporty touch.

Manufactured by MS Pro, the one-piece carbon fiber "Faster XSR" kit has been designed with a smaller aluminum tank underneath, and can be fitted without further modification.

Nothing has been left to chance on the Café Racer "Corsa Scorcher", and the exhaust system even bears the Rough Crafts badge. The brake calipers and discs, standard on the XSR, combine well with the Beringer package. There's also a Wukawa Industry crown, Gilles Tooling remote controls and MS Pro footrests. MS Pro controls and Rough Crafts grips are also customized. The Rough Crafts touch is also present on the headlamp grille, fuel filler cap and, of course, the carbon fairing. Rough Crafts intake cones are mounted directly on the engine.

The two different paint finishes add the finishing touch, and are the work of Air Runner, a long-standing collaborator of Rough Crafts.

To find out more, visit: www.roughcrafts.com

Information and image credits: manufacturer