Yamaha’s beloved SR400 may have ceased production back in 2021, but it remains a hot favorite amongst custom builders in Japan. First released in 1978, the “easy to use” SR400 was an instant hit. Upon releasing the model Yamaha designer Atsushi Ishiyama credited the XS650 as a major influence on the design. That bike was influenced by British motorcycles of the sixties so the SR inherited timeless classic styling. The bike’s single-cylinder 400cc engine also complied with cheaper JDM small capacity licensing laws. These factors and an affordable price tag made the SR400 an appealing proposition to Japan’s youth. As a result, Yamaha sold them in droves and such was the ongoing success of the SR that it stayed in production for more than 4 decades.
Japan’s youth started the SR custom trend and it wasn’t long before aftermarket brands jumped on the bandwagon. Today there are countless workshops scattered around the country that specialise in SR customization. Amongst them is Candy Motorcycle Laboratory, a 2 man workshop situated 40 minutes east of central Yokohama.
Specializing in all things Yamaha SR, Candy MC Lab offers everything from maintenance to ground-up custom builds. A quick peruse of their portfolio reveals they aren’t limited to any one style and from the look of this bike, they’ll happily tackle whatever SR concept their customers come up with.
For this project Candy MC Lab’s client wanted the ultimate SR cafe racer; a lean, nimble neo-retro motorcycle packed with performance parts and boasting enough visual appeal to turn countless heads.
First and foremost special attention was paid to the SR’s handling. Those familiar with SR400 engineering will note the radically changed rear-end setup of this bike. Rather than the classic twin shock configuration, Candy MC Lab has fitted a single-sided Pro Arm swingarm and its accompanying monoshock from a late-model Ducati Hypermotard. These changes were made possible with the fabrication of a new subframe which in turn has drastically shortened the bike’s proportions. To complement the revised rear-end suspension, the front end has also been swapped out with Showa USD forks. The installation of the forks necessitated the fabrication of a new top clamp which houses a tiny Motogadget digital speedometer.
Due to the fitment of a single-sided swingarm, this SR400 wears a custom rear wheel. To maintain the bike’s classic aesthetic Candy MC Labs opted for a spoked hoop from the Italian manufacturer Borrani that’s laced to a custom hub. The addition the Ducati rear end has gotten improved stopping power thanks to the Hypermotard disc brake. Candy MC Labs has taken the stopping power improvements a step further by swapping the 298mm front disc with a 320mm alternative wearing a Brembo caliper and master cylinder.
For their ultimate SR cafe racer’s styling, Candy MC Labs has dispensed with all of the factory bodywork. In its place, you’ll find an OEM fuel tank from a BMW R100 which has been narrowed and fitted with an alloy Monza-style filler cap and Candy MC Labs roundels. The narrowed tank sits neatly on the rails of the SR chassis and at the rear, it’s met by a suede-covered single seat finished in classic diamond-stitched upholstery.
With the engine now breathing through a velocity stack the airbox and side covers were no longer required. To make use of the available space Candy MC Labs has fabricated an aluminum battery box that keeps all of the unsightly electrics out of view. To further lighten the load all of the factory lighting has also been replaced using LED alternatives. The headlight is a projector-style LED lamp in a traditional bucket while the tail light is a strip integrated into the rear hoop. The turn signals are discrete Motogadget Mo.Blaze pins mounted to the bar ends and subframe.
No cafe racer project is complete without at least a few engine modifications, but this SR has no shortage of them. Topping the list is an increased capacity of 534cc thanks to a new top end and 90mm performance pistons. Internally there’s also a stock Yamaha SR500 crankshaft and ST-1 cams. Externally an FCR 41mm carb provides the fuel to feed the hungrier single and the emissions vent via a custom stainless exhaust that features an underslung muffler to keep noise levels acceptable.
The finished result is a bike that demonstrates just how flexible Yamaha’s beloved thumper is. It’s a crying shame they’ve stopped making them.
