This custom Yamaha XV950 has been created by German bike builder Marcus Walz. Apparently the Spanish name is translated by Google as ‘the murderer mouse’, which seems appropriate for a Cafe Racer. It’s one of a number of projects commissioned by Yamaha as part of their Yard Built series, and it’s suitably inspired by Yamaha racing heritage.
It’s a clean racing look which starts at the front with modifications to the stock suspension, including lowering via prototype progressive springs.
The headlight cowl was custom designed and built, along with the front mudguard and the bracket holding it in place. It rolls on prototype hand-cast magnesium wheels from Marvic, which required custom adaptors to be made, but what racer runs on standard wheels? Especially when you can lose weight and look cool at the same time.
Continuing with the cafe racer style, there are LSL clip-on handlebars, with a quick throttle system, custom switchgear, LSL master cylinder and LSL adjustable clutch and brake levers. Oh, and custom bar ends to finish them off.
To keep with the clean and focused spirit of the bike, and to fit nicely into the custom headlight cowl is a Moto Gadget ‘Tiny’ tachometer. After all, what else do you really need when you’re concentrating on riding?
That’s already quite a list of changes, and we’ve only just made it past the front wheel and bars. To finish the front of El Raton Asesino, there are also modified front brake calipers clamped on Wave rotors. The same approach was taken to the rear as well.
One reason for upgrading the brakes is that the ABS system has been ditched to give a cleaner look. The standard battery was also given the elbow, and there is now a custom wiring harness hidden inside the fuel tank and a tiny 400 gram GP style lithium battery hidden in the tail unit. A modern racing solution for a history-inspired racer. At the same time, an adapter kit allowed the ignition switch to also be ditched. Obviously all of this saves plenty of weight as well as helping the bike to look even cooler.
In addition to shedding weight, the XV950 motor was also looked at. Custom cylinder-head plates and engine casings were installed. Plus there’s a custom manifold which goes into the SC-Project exhaust.
Sitting on top of the motor, and hiding the new wiring harness is the hand-shaped fuel tank, which gets a Monza style filler cap to finish it off, along with some more paintwork to remind you who built the bike.
And the rear end is just as special. With a Marvic wheel down below, there are fully-adjustable Ohlins shock absorbers to give the desired performance and keep the rubber fastened to the road. And if you look a little higher, you’ll see the custom rear sub-frame.
The mini LED rear lights are actually integrated into the frame, which is a great touch to simplify the look of the rear end.
And finally we’re admiring the rear seat. Obviously it’s a one-off custom unit, and it’s finished with a hand-stitched leather seat.
Actually, that’s not the end. Proving that this is a bike to be ridden as much as admired, the custom rear sets give you a sportier riding position.
We didn’t even mention the pale blue paint job with pin striping and Yamaha speed blocks.
“My first experience of motorcycles was with Yamaha at the age of 15, I had Kenny Roberts posters on my wall, the yellow YZ500 with the ‘speedblock’ design. My first bike was also an RD80 that I customised to look like Kenny’s so my bike roots begin with Yamaha” said Walz.
Given the look of the bike and the quality of the work, it’s no surprise that Yamaha have taken it as inspiration and a blue print for a new ‘racer’ version of the XV950 which will be available from Yamaha dealers in the very near future.
Often customs are open to personal taste, but aside from a perhaps slight overdose of logos on El Raton Asesino, there’s nothing we don’t approve of. It’s a beautiful mix of modern technology and functionality to give a stripped back look that definitely works.
It’s hard to find an angle where it doesn’t look great and provide plenty of things to admire and talk about.
I doubt we’re alone in thinking we’d be more than happy to have the ‘murderer mouse’ as a pet in our own garage. And the new Yamaha XV950 racer version should bring us a bit closer to that.
And in case you’re curious, here’s the official Yamaha version, the 2015 Yamaha VX950 Racer
Given the different requirements for a manufacturer to meet the various road laws and regulations, there’s still a good resemblance.
Here’s some video of Marcus Walz and El Raton Asesino to give you even more inspiration.
And the advert for the new 2015 Yamaha VX950 Racer…
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