Wreck to Racetrack: Yamaha Fazer 600 Café Racer

El Cancro Motors resurrects an FZS600… 

Introduced in 1998, the Yamaha Fazer 600 (FZS600) would become one of the most popular, most capable middleweight all-rounders ever produced. The bike sported a 599cc 16-valve inline four from the YZF600 Thundercat, making just under 100 bhp in stock tune, and the flexible powerband, upright ergonomics, and low maintenance made the Fazer a great choice as a sporty daily commuter.

In 2020, the boffs at MCN went so far as to say the Fazer would stack up well against the contemporary crop of middleweight contenders:

“If the Yamaha Fazer 600 launched tomorrow it would still probably sell, it’s that good a motorcycle.” –MCN

Enter our friend Armand “El Cancro” Guéant of France’s El Cancro Motors, whose Honda NX650 supermoto we featured earlier this year. El Cancro is a big fan of the Fazer 600 — he’s owned several — and he wanted to bring this ’98 model back to life, as the donor was a wreck, too far gone to be returned to stock trim:

“It’s a bit like the state of mind of my workshop. Save motorcycles and give them a second chance.”

He wanted to build a reliable, low maintenance café racer that wouldn’t break the bank:

I wanted to make a Café Racer that met several criteria:

• Reliability
• Low maintenance.
• Cheap.
• Improve the suspension.
• Make her beautiful.

Believe it or not, he built the bike in just 15 days for an event hosted by the French motorsport design brand Watata, earning this Fazer café racer the nickname “MD15.”

The suspension was one of the stock bike’s drawbacks, so El Cancro installed an R1 fork up front and R6 shock absorber in the rear, tightening up the handling tremendously.

He welded in a new rear loop with integrated LED, and designed a 3D battery tray that can be bought from Concept Moto. The good folks at NMB Design upholstered the saddle, and El Cancro is running rearset controls, a motogadget speedo on a Concept Moto support, K&N filters, stainless exhaust, and sticky Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa rubber, making this Fazer a treat on the track:

“The sensations are truly incredible. The machine makes 98hp; it brakes and reacts well in the curves. Here’s a Cafe Racer that ticks all the boxes.

The noise of the four cylinders will always resonate with me — I can recognize the sound of a Fazer anytime.”

It sure is nice to see a custom build that regularly makes it to the racetrack. Below, we talk to Andre for the full story on the build!

Yamaha Fazer Café Racer: Builder Interview

• Why was this bike built?

This motorcycle is one of my first creations. I also wanted to bring this bike back to life — it was not economically repairable or not worth it!

It’s a bit like the state of mind of my workshop. Save motorcycles and give them a second chance.

• What’s the make, model, and year of the bike?

It’s a Yamaha 600FZS 1998, or 600 Fazer. Surely one of the best-selling motorcycles in France!

• Why was this bike built?

I love this bike, I’ve had several and I know it well. I had to improve this Fazer! And give it a Café Racer look!

I wanted to make a Cafe Racer that meets several criteria:

• Reliability
• Low maintenance.
• Cheap.
• Improve the suspension.
• Make her beautiful.

Like most of my motorcycles, I made it for myself. It gives me free rein to my imagination.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

For inspiration I was looking for a modern retro Café Racer. This Fazer is quite challenging, the shape of the tank is complicated — it was not easy to perceive his line. I could see a lot of achievement at Duke Motorcycles, which it inspired me.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

In terms of implementation, I started by installing an R1 fork and an R6 shock absorber to improve the handling (big negative point of the series).

Once placed on the ground I was able to give the shape and the right inclination to the rear loop, well inclined but not too much, for an aggressive shape on the front.

We made a 3D battery tray that anyone can buy here: www.conceptmoto.com/shop/Support-Batterie-YT12B-p342312746

This piece has been very successful for two years, you can find a tutorial on my youtube channel for installation: youtu.be/ConmyLVLHHw

 

The rear buckle has an integrated LED, and the saddle was made by the team
at NMB Design. A personal painting was done on the tank with a decoration in honor of Kenny Roberts.

I installed rear controls and a stainless steel collector.

The motorcycle is equipped with a motogadget speedometer integrated via a Concept Moto 3D support. A K&N air filter and two Supercorsas later, here I am on the circuit!

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride?

The sensations are truly incredible. The machine makes 98hp; it brakes and reacts well in the curves. Here’s a Cafe Racer that ticks all the boxes.

The noise of the four cylinders will always resonate with me — I can recognize the sound of a Fazer anytime.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

We nicknamed the Fazer “MD15.” Less than 15 days (compared to the French film TAXI, MD10 painting less than 10min) — indeed this bike was built in less than 15 days for a Watata event!

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

I think the pride of this bike is its rebirth. When I got it, it was in a bad state — it was a wreck!
Today when I see her I am happy.

 

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Youtube: El Cancro Motors