Ever since Yamaha pulled the plug on the YZF-R6, there’s been a gaping hole in its YZF lineup. Yes, we know the R7 did some damage control, but it sits awfully close to the 42-HP R3 and a bit too far from the 200-HP R1. It’s safe to say the bikemaker needs another sport bike, and there are several official filings to confirm a YZF-R9 is well in the works.
Team Blue, however, has been tight-lipped on the matter for a couple of years. This is no short of a patience test for die-hard Yamaha enthusiasts, and one such fan has said enough is enough. Named Seb Hipperson, the ex-racer has taken matters into his own hands and brought the YZF-R9 to reality. It might not come from a Japanese factory, but the bike will certainly leave a lasting impression on you.
The Custom Yamaha R9 Takes Inspiration From Retro Race Bikes
Hipperson is a full-time fabricator by profession, but a custom bikemaker and racer by passion. So he made sure to put all his learnings into this project by whipping up an R9 that’s no short of a full-fledged race bike. Part of the design influence comes from old-school Yamaha race bikes like the TZ250 and the YZR500, while other aspects are inspired by none other than modern-day Moto2 racers.
Since that’s an unheard combination, Seb has handcrafted all the bodywork (fairings, belly pan, fender, tail) from fiberglass. The tank follows the same approach, but with a two-piece construction; a fiberglass air box cover sits up top, followed by an aluminum fuel cell. All this is topped by a scintillating white-red livery, complete with Yamaha’s speed-block graphics on the sides.
What elevates the entire experience is the affable attention to detail. For instance, the tank has a see-through slit for you to check the fuel level, while the air box cover has a muscle-car-like vent on top. The white wheels and rectangular intake at the front are ten on ten in our books too.
The Custom Yamaha R9 Has Loads Of High-Shelf Components
Peak under the bodywork and things only get better, thanks to the high-quality underpinnings. The centerpiece is a custom steel trellis chassis, built by blending a 1996 Yamaha TRX850 cradle along with two other frames. Complementing this is a Ducati 749-borrowed swingarm and a rear shock linkage from Corse Dynamics.
What about suspension? Well, the upside-down forks you see here come from a Ducati Panigale but have upgraded Bitubo internals. Whereas, the monoshock is a custom unit from Mupo Racing in Italy. You should also know the five-spoke wheels come directly from the iconic Aprilia RSV Mille and house Brembo brakes for utmost stopping prowess. The same high-quality treatment trickles down to the ergonomics, as you get low clip-on handlebars, a new triple-tree, and custom rear set pegs. All this while, you sit on a suede leather saddle.
The Custom Yamaha R9 Packs A Punch
Next, let’s talk performance. The custom R9 borrows its powerhouse from an MT-09, just as the factory-built sport bike would. It’s an inline-triple 890cc powerhouse (with a cross-plane crankshaft) that produces 118 horsepower and 68.6 pound-feet in stock trim. Here, however, the output should be considerably more.
That’s because the custom R9 flaunts Lextek headers and an Arrow muffler, along with a flashed ECU. The airbox itself is custom too, so you have more airflow to the mill. We expect the final figure to be around the 125 horsepower mark–a serious number considering there are no electronic rider aids at your mercy. These upgrades also make the R9 illegal for street riding, so Seb has saved weight by limiting the lights to just one (an LED tail lamp).
Can You Buy The Custom Yamaha R9?
Sadly, there’s no news on the matter. From what we know, its maker is currently enjoying the motorcycle himself, using it to hone his skills on track. So we suggest you either get in touch with Sebastian via Instagram or simply wait for the real deal to come to life. Speaking of which, if Yamaha indeed has the R9 ready behind closed doors, we expect it to break cover in November at the 2023 EICMA. If that’s not the case, then you’ll just have to take matters into your own hands. Don’t forget to thank Seb for the blueprint!