Yamaha XSR155 Scrambler from Garage Esquinita…
The Yamaha XSR series is the company’s family of “neo-retro” motorcycles that combine modern engines and running gear with more classic design language. The XSR700 and XSR900 are the best known models in the range, based on the MT-07 and MT-09 modern nakeds, respectively. In recent years, Yamaha has also rolled out a pair of smaller siblings, the XSR125 and XSR155, for markets where 125cc and 155cc machines are popular. They feature Deltabox frames, 37mm inverted forks, and liquid-cooled 4-valve single cylinder engines.
Our friends at Motor Cycle News have been quite impressed with the XSR125 available in the UK:
“Although much smaller and less powerful than its older siblings, the newbie 125 is a brilliant introduction to motorcycling and would make a decent, on-trend commuter for an experienced rider trundling in an out of the city.“
In the Philippines, the slightly larger XSR155 is the bike of choice, featuring a 19-hp liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine with VVA (Variable Valve Actuation) and fuel injection — the same engine used in the YZF-R15 sport bike, MT-15 naked, and WR155R dual-sport.
Recently, we heard from Jed Patrick Oriña, a young Filipino builder whose passion for two wheels began on a beloved Yamaha Chappy and led him to open his own workshop, Garage Esquinita:
“Esquinita means a small alley, because the walkway to my shop is very narrow and you can only ride one bike entering it. That’s why I named it so.”
Last year, Jed had the honor of being asked by Yamaha Philippines to build a custom XSR155 for the annual Makina Moto Show — one of three builders from around the country that Yamaha asks to participate each year. Yamaha provides the donor for free, and each builder has just one month to transform the bike for the high-profile expo. For Jed, having the right team around made the project possible:
“Luckily I have a group of very talented people who helped me build this bike; they are Karlo and Kenn who spent hours with me thinking and executing the plan, and also special thanks to my wife Angela for financing the cost of the build 😊.”
For this build, Jed and his crew were inspired by the off-road Harley-Davidsons built by our friend Mark Atkins of Rusty Butcher — bikes like the “hooligan enduro” featured below. Jed is an adventure rider himself and wanted to imbue that character into the XSR.
The XSR, however, is much different base, and the bike would emerge as a creation wholly his own. Highlights include a re-angled subframe, spoke wheels, custom aluminum bodywork (side panels, fenders, headlight cowl) and skidplate, full custom exhaust, bespoke seat, and lots of smaller custom-fabbed parts like the ignition cover, battery holder, oil cooler scoop, fork covers, and more.
But there’s much more to this build than steel and aluminum and rubber. Says Jed:
“Before Yamaha turned over the donor bike to us, I almost backed out. My mother had a mild stroke the day of the delivery of the bike. At that point I’d already given up my dream because of my mom’s condition; I couldn’t think normally and also my body didn’t want to work because of what happened. Luckily I have a very supportive family who pushed me to do this project, and my mom also told me to go through with the competition. Also special thanks to my wife for financing the budget of the build, and a very special thanks to my team for helping me throughout the days of blood, sweat, and sleepless nights.
We worked 12-15 hours a day just to make sure everything came out okay. Planning the build was very time consuming; we spent countless hours just thinking, especially since we don’t have a computer for the design. We use rulers, calipers, levels, drawings, and a little eyeballing to get the job done. And then the day of the competition came, and fortunately, we won the Makina Moto Show bike build-off challenge. All the hard work and critical decisions paid off.
Special thanks again to my family, my mom and dad, and my siblings — Ed, Rico, Cathy, Queenie — for taking good care of our mom while I was away. Thanks to my wife, Angel, and to my very talented team: Karlo Alignay and Kenn Castro. Thank you all so much.”
As we said, there’s much more to this bike than nuts and bolts. A story like that gives this bike soul, and we’re grateful to Jed for sharing this story…which he originally too humble to share. It makes this bike all the more special to share.
It would actually be six months before Jed even got to ride the bike, as the Garage Esquinita crew finished the build just before the show, and then it was busy making rounds for Yamaha press events. Says Jed:
“After riding it? It feels very ‘me’ — it rides aggressive, but it’s also smooth and comfortable. It surely turns head when you ride it down the road.”
Below, we talk to Jed himself for more details on the build, and thanks go to Toni Nielo (@theturtlevisual) for the photographs.
XSR155 Scrambler: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
I am Jed Oriña from Laguna, Philippines. My motorcycle fantasies started when I was young. Riding our very first bike, the Yamaha Chappy, was the best experience ever and it has taught me the joy and the thrill of riding a bike — from that very moment, I never stopped riding motorcycles.
Now my love and passion for motorcycles has grown and it is now my source of income as I build custom bikes for my clients. I now own a small shop and named it Garage Esquinita — “esquinita” means a small alley, because the walkway to my shop is very narrow and you can only ride one bike entering it. That’s why I named it so.
• What’s the make and model of the donor bike?
The base bike is a Yamaha XSR155 and we turned it into a scrambler.
• Why was this bike built?
This bike was built because I was chosen by Yamaha Philippines to join their competition and showcase it in a bike expo called Makina Moto Show, held at SMX convention center and organized by Mr. Zach Lucero of Makina. Every year Yamaha PH chooses three bike builders from around the country to compete and build a bike for them in less than a month. For this competition they give you the bike for free but it has to stay with them for 6 months after the competition for promotion, and after that the bike is all yours.
Luckily I have a group of very talented people who helped me build this bike; they are Karlo and Kenn who spent hours with me thinking and executing the plan, and also special thanks to my wife Angela for financing the cost of the build 😊. I’m very thankful to my photographer Toni Nielo for his bad ass shots.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
As for the competition, they said that we can choose whatever bike concept we want. My plan for the bike was to look aggressive, and to make it closer to my own character as an adventure rider –so I chose the scrambler concept. I’m a fan and follower of Rusty Butcher’s work — honestly they influenced me for this build, seeing those Harleys with knobby tires and big head cowls? Damn!
Originally the design of my bike had a big head cowl like that of a rally bike, but our time was very limited so we didn’t execute for the original plan and included a small headcowl instead.
• What custom work was done?
A fully custom built Yamaha XSR155. The first thing we did was to relocate the subframe to a much higher angle. We used the stock subframe tubing and then relocated it to make the seat height even higher to get that scrambler feel.
The stock tank was too big, so the next thing we did was to put a custom tank to make it look simpler and sexier. We also did custom aluminum side panels, front and rear fenders, and also the head cowling.
Some other parts we also fabricated include the ignition cover, the seat, the battery holder, the oil cooler scoop, fork covers, skid plate, custom full system exhaust.
We replaced the mag wheels with custom spoked wheels and wider on/off road tires for an aggressive look.
As you can see, it’s hard to race anything back to the stock bike except for the engine, because we changed a lot of stuff.
• What’s the story behind the nickname “Hella”?
“Hella” because every time you look at the bike, the name Hella stands out due to the headlight cover, so i have decided that Hella is now her name 😅
• Can you tell us the riding experience is like on the finished bike?
Actually I didn’t even have time to test ride the bike after we finished it, as we had no time and brought it straight to the competition. It took six months before I got to ride it after Yamaha released it, and after riding it? It feels very “me” — it rides aggressive, but it’s also smooth and comfortable. It surely turns head when you ride it down the road.
Follow the Builder
Instagram: @jedpatrickorina
Facebook: Garage Esquinita
Photographer: Toni Nielo (@theturtlevisual)
Cool! What a nice little bike. Trail riding on that thing would be fun.
Love everything about this build – it just looks ‘right’ from every angle 😊 In particular, the decision to make a custom fuel tank and those colours just work – it shouts ‘Yamaha’ from a time in my youth, and the legendary Bob ‘Hurricane’ Hannah – that black lightning bolt is perfect!