Yamaha XJR 1300 Yard Built -Eau rouge- by Deus 2014 — Specifications

Do you remember the feeling of discovering a forgotten prototype at the back of a race garage? That's exactly the effect produced by this XJR 1300 revisited by the artisans of Deus Ex Machina. They took the large 1251 cm3 inline four, this old-school engine that delivers 98 rough horsepower and 109 Nm of torque, to create a free and wild interpretation of 1970s endurance café racers. Yamaha’s Yard Built signature marks here a unique piece, much more than a simple custom.

The eye is immediately drawn to this semi-fairing that encompasses a single headlight, vintage cyclops style, and this metallic grey paint that proclaims its racing origins. The hand-cut single seat, the redesigned tank, all evoke a machine ready to melt into the fog of Spa-Francorchamps, from which it borrows its name: Eau Rouge. But it is upon approaching that the goldsmith's work is revealed. The five-spoke magnesium Marvic rims, the Discacciati calipers, and especially this Öhlins fork, badged but not inverted to remain faithful to the retro spirit. A bold aesthetic choice that could annoy purists of pure performance.

The minimalist dashboard, with its single analog tachometer pierced by a small digital window, reinforces this impression of a focused machine. And then there’s that sound. From the moment it’s started, the four-cylinder liberated by its titanium 4-in-1 exhaust erupts a hoarse, guttural voice, far from the refined purr of the base model. It's a motorcycle that speaks to the gut before even moving.

Who is it for? Certainly not a novice. It is an object of passion, a mechanical sculpture that dialogues with the history of racing. It will not rival a modern Speed Triple in agility, its twin-spar frame and weight remain those of a large roadster, but it offers something intangible: raw character. The Öhlins rear suspension promises a significant gain in road holding, but the essential is elsewhere. This machine is a declaration, a vibrant and slightly crazy homage to an era when motorcycles had a soul and scars. It will probably only be a show star, but what a show!