[ad_1]
Rumors of a new Yamaha R9 have been percolating for some time, however there’s been no official phrase from the Japanese marque… but. The speculation is that Yamaha is planning to transplant the magnificent 889 cc tripe-cylinder engine from the favored MT-09 right into a sportbike—as they did with the YZF-R7. However some Yamaha devotees are rising impatient.
Seb Hipperson is so bored with ready for the manufacturing unit Yamaha R9, that he’s actually taken issues into his personal fingers and constructed his personal R9 prototype. We hope Yamaha’s designers are taking notes as a result of it’s wonderful.
Based mostly in London, Seb is a full-time fabricator focusing primarily on furnishings, however usually dabbling in different pursuits. He’s additionally a bike fanatic, customizer, and racer—therefore the burning need to see the R9 idea come to life.
“I’m fairly certain I’m not the one one who has grow to be impatient whereas ready for Yamaha to place its beautiful ‘cross-plane’ triple right into a chassis and physique suited to the monitor,” he tells us. “The imaginative and prescient I had in my thoughts was influenced and impressed by the Yamaha GP two-strokes of the 90s, just like the TZ250 and YZR500, blended up with the design of the present Moto2 race bikes.”
The undertaking kicked off with a low-mileage Yamaha MT-09 donor bike, which was then unceremoniously stripped all the way down to absolutely the fundamentals. Seb then set to work constructing a bespoke body to deal with the MT-09 mill. Utilizing the cradle from a Yamaha TRX850 as a cornerstone, he TIG-welded collectively a chic trellis metal body to assemble his R9 round.
Technically, Seb welded three frames collectively, as a result of it took just a little trial and error to attain the best geometry and aesthetics. The swingarm is from a Ducati 749, the rear shock linkage comes from Corse Dynamics, and the shock itself is a custom-built unit from Mupo Race Suspension in Italy.
Seb grafted a set of Ducati Panigale forks on on the entrance, however not earlier than he upgraded them with Bitubo internals. 5-spoke alloy wheels from an Aprilia RSV Mille went on subsequent, together with Brembo brake calipers at each ends.
With the rolling chassis in place, Seb turned his consideration to the bodywork. The MT-07 options plastic panels over a hidden gasoline reservoir and some different key parts, however none of that was going to work for what Seb had in thoughts. So he lined the chassis in foam blocks and began shaping his R9.
As soon as the components had been shaped, Seb used the froth to create fiberglass molds. The entrance fender, fairing, stomach pan, and tail unit had been all formed by hand out of fiberglass. The tank is a two-piece affair; a fiberglass airbox sits up entrance, with an aluminum gasoline reservoir on the again, full with a built-in sight glass.
The bike’s silhouette is flawless, and it’s simple to neglect that you simply’re taking a look at a one-off particular quite than a retro manufacturing unit superbike. Rigorously thought of particulars abound, just like the muscle car-inspired vent on high of the airbox. It’s not simply there for present both—it directs air to the airbox, as does the vent on the entrance of the fairing.
With over 110 hp on faucet and a throttle response second to none, the MT-09 is as full of life as they arrive. However Seb nonetheless added a few non-invasive mods to ensure it runs robust and easy. For starters, the ECU was flashed on a dyno to squeeze the utmost efficiency out of the {custom} airbox and exhaust system.
The exhaust itself consists of Lextek headers and an Arrow muffler, with a custom-made pipe connecting them. Different track-specific mods embody a thumb lever for the rear brake, a protector for the entrance brake lever, and crash bobbins. Clip-ons, aftermarket levers, and a GPS-based speedo spherical out the spec sheet.
Seb’s Yamaha R9 can be spectacular sufficient sporting nothing however a coat of primer, however he’s wrapped it in a livery that pushes it into the stratosphere. It’s arduous to argue with Yamaha’s iconic pink, white, and black ‘speedblock’ design, and the uncooked aluminum tank offers the construct a manufacturing unit prototype vibe.
Seb didn’t simply construct this to look good although. He’s already spent a season shaking it down on the monitor, and he plans to take it racing. That’s why the one mild on your entire bike, is a small track-approved LED taillight.
If an official Yamaha R9 is coming, it’s more likely to be introduced at EICMA later this yr. However so far as we’re involved Yamaha ought to simply make Seb a proposal on his design, add lights to it, and put it into manufacturing.
Seb Hipperson Instagram | Pictures by Sam Napper
[ad_2]