Yamaha SCR950 By Jeff Palhegyi Designs

The Yard Built programme is ready to take on 2017 in style with another year of stunning custom work lined up. The New Year kicks off by returning to the USA for the second custom build of the all-new Yamaha SCR950 machine.

 Yamaha has enjoyed some amazing collaborations already in America with numerous leading custom builders, including icons such as Greg Hageman of Hageman Cycles, Californian Roland Sands' and his multiple Yard Built creations, including the XSR900 "Faster Sons", and the SCR950 "Chequered Scrambler" from California-based builder Go Takamine of Brat Style.

Known for his legacy of cool custom Yamaha motorcycle creations over the past 20 years, Southern California-based builder Jeff Palhegyi and the team from Jeff Palhegyi Designs have become quite adept at developing conceptual artwork into functioning machines. Starting with a customized Royal Star from the Star Cruiser Line by Yamaha line-up back in 1995, Jeff Palhegyi Designs has envisioned and produced everything from radical Raider cruisers to dirt track Bolts to a "TT" SR400. Over 70 custom motorcycles have been built by the company since their initial collaboration with Yamaha in 1995, and the introduction of the 2017 Yamaha SCR950 made it a natural choice for customization by Jeff Palhegyi Designs.

"The SCR950 is a motorcycle that can serve multiple needs for a rider," commented Yamaha Motor Europe Marketing Coordinator Cristian Barelli. "Whether you want to cruise to the beach or get lost in the mountains, it's a really versatile machine that can deliver totally different riding experiences without losing the fun and true riding spirit that is found in all Yamaha's Sport Heritage machines. We really love Palhegyi's build. He's managed to create a really stunning, tough looking stripped back scrambler machine that loses none of the recognisable character or rideability of the standard SCR950."

It is Palhegyi's diverse conceptual skillset that drives his current projects, based on 29 years of research and development experience with Yamaha Motor Corporation that has included ATV and side-by-side projects in addition to motorcycles. He owns and regularly shows several rare Yamaha vintage motorcycles, including TZ750's and XS dirt track racers. With this passion and heritage in mind, the latest Yard Built project from Jeff Palhegyi Designs drew inspiration from a 1966 YDS3C Big Bear Scrambler.

"After seeing the SCR950 for the first time, I knew that it would be a really cool bike to customize," said Palhegyi. "But there have been a lot of scrambler builds lately, and we wanted to do something really different. It was during the press introduction ride that I saw the Big Bear Scrambler displayed next to the SCR950, and it ultimately became the inspiration for the build."

The finished project clearly pays homage to the Big Bear Scrambler, with features like the inlaid Yamaha logo and rubber knee grips on the fuel tank, two-tone paint and a custom exhaust system with heat shields that harken back to the days of do-it-all motorcycles. Other custom features make this 'Faster Son' truly a motorcycle for modern times. From the Renthal handlebars wrapped in Duane Ballard Custom Leather that matches the seat and front fork tool pouch, to the shortened swingarm suspended by Fox RC1 Podium 14-inch performance rear shocks, contemporary specialty components blend with style from the past.

The shot glass rear taillight lens exemplifies this blending, along with the custom sub-frame and side panels, custom vintage off-road style front and rear fenders, chunky Shinko Adventure Trail tires mounted on Ride Wright 40-spoke aluminum soft lip wheels, custom aluminum headlight bracket and skid plate, steel braided brake lines and a "Faster Sons" custom logoed aluminum cover for the K&N air cleaner.

"I'm really pleased with this build," commented Palhegyi, "and I really want to thank my team for working with me to pull it all together from artistic concept to what you see today."

To see more customs from Jeff Palhegyi Designs, visit: http://www.jpaldesign.com/gallery/.