Stibnite Stinger: Yamaha MT-07 Powered Scrambler

The Malle Mile Beach Race Winner from Stibnite Moto… 

Some call him the “07 King.” Dan Stone aka Danners of Stibnite Moto has earned a name for himself turning up to Malle Mile events on crazy machines of his own creation, many of them powered by Yamaha’s 689cc CP2 parallel-twin, which powers the MT-07, XSR700, YZF-R7, and Ténéré 700.

Introduced in 2015, the CP2 has been called “the best parallel-twin motorcycle engine ever made.” The motor has roots in the engine of the Paris-Dakar-winning XTZ750 Super Ténéré,, which spawned the TDM series of machines powered by liquid-cooled DOHC twins.

“We can see that MT-07 is a refinement of the TDM concept because its single front-mounted balance shaft, vertically stacked gearbox shafts, and YZR-M1-derived (Yamaha’s MotoGP engine) four-valve head result in a smaller, tighter, and lighter package that can fit into more kinds of bikes.” –Cycle World

According to Cycle World‘s Kevin Cameron, these engines tend to be especially tough and reliable. Their cylinders are cast in one piece with their upper crankcases, and the oil sump and pump are located directly beneath the 270-degree crossplane crank. With the liquid-cooling, they can run compression ratios of 11.5:1 and higher, generating serious torque, and we’ve seen them have success in both flat track and circuit racing.

Dan has not always focused on the CP2 / MT-07 powerplant. In the past, we featured his Yamaha RD350 dirt bike and KTM 625 SMC scrambler — both built for the Malle Mile.

 

The Wasp: Yamaha RD350 Scrambler by Danners Automotive

In recent years, however, he’s been tweaking, tuning, and building custom bikes around Yamaha’s parallel-twin, pushing the envelope of what’s already the company’s most versatile engine. We’ll be bringing you several of these CP2-powered creations in the coming weeks.

Today is the “Stibnite Stinger” — aka the “Beach Bike” — a machine built for the 2023 Malle Mile Beach Race, entirely fabricated around one of Dan’s beloved MT-07 mills — engines he usually picks up from eBay or the breakers.

“I wanted a raw and fun stripped-back bike to race in the unlimited custom class of the Malle Mile — one that looked great and was functional.”

The frame is a one-off tubular steel chassis designed to hold the CP2 engine. However, with lightness one of the intended goals of the build, Dan opted for aluminum when it came to the swingarm, subframe, and bodywork.

The Stinger is rolling on 21″ / 19″ motocross wheels with full knobbies. While Dan hasn’t managed to weigh the bike yet, the Stinger is obviously far lighter than anything else powered by Yamaha’s parallel-twin engine.

“She’s a stripped back raw beast that craves bouncing off of the limiter…a Swiss Army knife of a motorcycle…”

As you might imagine, 75 horsepower in such a lightweight package results in one serious sand ripper:

“It’s an absolute hoon to ride. Picks up and goes like crazy. Loves being bounced off the limiter with the back end hanging out. Mainly raced on sand and grass, you find yourself turning with the back end. A little stomp on the rear brake to get it in and a handful of throttle to get you out.”

The real test of the Stinger was the 2023 Malle Mile Beach Race on the Margate Sands, where Dan came out as the overall winner — congrats, man! And he also finished second overall in the main Malle Mile Festival.

Dan isn’t resting on his laurels, however, and neither is the Stinger. He has plans for taking his two-wheeled Swiss Army knife on streets, ovals, and even…water.

“After four years of attempts (and four custom Beach Race motorcycles…), Dan finally won ‘The Malle Beach Race’ this May. After lifting the trophy on the podium, his first words were… ’I’ve completed my dream, so what’s next?!’ A week later Dan came back with a question, a crazy master plan and a sketch!” –Malle Mile

That’s right, Malle London has secured permission for a single 1/8-mile “Moto-Surf” run for 2024. Says Dan:

“Next year it’s the big number 10 for Malle London, so put it in your diaries to see us skim across the stunning Grimsthorpe Castle lake.”

 

Below, we talk to Dan for more details about the Stibnite Stinger, and credit goes to Moto Dave Photography for the many of the action shots. Stay tuned for more CP2-powered creations to come.

Stibnite Stinger: Builder / Racer Interview

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

The 2023 Stibnite Stinger.

• Why was this bike built?

I built this for the annual Malle Mile Beach Race.

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

I wanted a raw and fun stripped-back bike to race in the unlimited custom class of the Malle Mile — one that looked great and was functional.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

I built a steel main frame for the bike and light weight was the brief. So it has an aluminium swingarm, subframe, and bodywork. A set of 21/19 motocross wheels and a sand tyre.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

The Beach Bike.

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

It’s an absolute hoon to ride. Picks up and goes like crazy. Loves being bounced off the limiter with the back end hanging out. Mainly raced on sand and grass, you find yourself turning with the back end. A little stomp on the rear brake to get it in and a handful of throttle to get you out.

Follow the Builder @stibnite_moto
Follow the Photographer: @moto_dave_photography

More Stibnite Moto / Danners Builds

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