Kenny Roberts Tribute: 1300 XJR Street Beast from Tumulte…
If we had to make a list of 21st-century bikes we wish were sold in North America, the Yamaha XJR1300 would be near the top. Introduced in 1998, the XJR was a pure retro muscle bike that harked back to the days of big, burly air-cooled fours with “sit up and beg” riding positions — the kind that required some serious man-handling to put through the corners.
“Compare the XJR1300 to a modern race rep and it’s a bit of a bouncer, it would look more at home on the door of the local nightclub than poncing around down the local lanes! It really is a huge bike, it’s squat and looks brutal, has an enormous in-your-face engine…and weighs in at a massive 230kg dry.” –Motorbikes Today
The 1251cc engine could be traced all the way back to the FJ1100 of the mid-1980s, boasting a stout 105 brake horsepower and 74 foot-pounds of torque in the XJR. With a few mods, more than 120 bhp was easily achievable.
“Over two decades later it’s still making bags of thrust, still runs nice and smoothly and still posts a 0-60 time that’s effortlessly faster than a Porsche Turbo.” –MCN
We’ve featured quite a few XJR1300 cafe racers over the years, but our friend Frédéric Lagarde of Tumulte recently reached out with something we’ve never seen: a flat track-inspired XJR, built in tribute to one of the greatest Yamaha riders of all time.
“Fresh out of the Tumulte workshop, this XJR 1300 pays homage in its own way by sporting a dress in the classic colors of the legendary Yamahas of the 70s ridden by Kenny Roberts. Inspired by the Flat Tracker wave and in particular by the prototype unveiled by Honda under the name of CB1100 TR, this XJR is aggressive, and will not go unnoticed with its yellow color and the Posca [paint marker] decoration in ‘cartoon’ mode.”
Fred was a GT race car engineer for more than a decade before he began customizing motorcycles several years ago, and he reportedly has more than 250 hours into this build. The complete front end comes from a KTM Superduke, with its big inverted fork and radial calipers, which have breathed new life into the XJR, giving it a second youth: more maneuverability, precision, and much more effective braking than the original.
Fred made the rear shell and single-seat base from aluminum, which required about some 60 hours to design, shape, and finish. He also used aluminum for the headlight fairing and side covers, which proudly display the number 1 as a tribute to Kenny Roberts and his triple world crown.
Interestingly, the fork protectors and mudguard were printed via MJF (Multi Jet Fusion) process, which is much more resistant than classic 3D printing but offers more flexibility than aluminum. The front headlight is borrowed from a Husqvarna 701, the rear from a Honda, and for the components (speedometer, indicators) Tumulte trusted Motogadget for their high-quality minimalist parts.
The bike features a Dynojet jet kit and custom exhaust capped with twin LeoVince silencers (baffled) for a “very present but not exaggerated sound.” Fred just finished the bike and got it out on the road for final tuning.
“Brakes are really good with new master cylinder, and radial brake calipers from the KTM too. And this engine is really nice, with plenty of torque — you can just put 5th gear and go anywhere!”
If you’re interested in owning this burly Kenny Roberts XJR1300 TR, it’s going up for sale. Just contact Fred at www.tumulte.bike for details. Below you’ll find our full interview, as well as more photos and a full build sheet. We think King Kenny would be proud!
Yamaha XJR1300 Street Tracker: Builder Interview
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Not really, except it’s a “tribute to Kenny Roberts” 🙂
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
All the aluminium bodyparts (rear body, and lateral panels), took around 80 hours to make them out of aluminium plate! I like also the paint with original style made with Posca [paint markers].
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
Not really, I do almost everything by myself, except the seat, made by Autocouture.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride the complete bike?
For now I haven’t done a lot of mileage. It was mainly for the setup of the carburetors, with a lambda sensor to be more efficient and precise.
But for the first few kilometers, the bike seems to be lighter than the original, and more aggressive on turn in due to the shorter front fork (from KTM Superduke 990).
Brakes are really good with new master cylinder, and radial brake calipers from the KTM too. And this engine is really nice, with plenty of torque — you can just put 5th gear and go anywhere!
Build Sheet / Modification Spec
REVISION
✔ New tires Front Rear Dunlop Sportsmart2
✔ Spark plugs
✔ Engine oil 10w40
✔ Engine oil filter HF401
✔ Oil seals
✔ Fork oil 5w
✔ Collector nuts
✔ Collector studs
✔ Fuel hose
MISCELLANEOUS PREPARATION PARTS
✔ Leovince LV10 silencer (PRO-EX2 reduction)
✔ Leovince Db Killer
✔ 3D printed mudguard
✔ 3D printed fork dust cover
✔ Upholstery
✔ Saddle foam
✔ Mirrors
✔ LSL Superbike handlebars
✔ 28.6 handlebar clamp
✔ PR18 Magura HC1 brake master cylinder
✔ PR15 Magura HC1 clutch master cylinder
✔ Laser cutting of stainless steel radiator plate 1.5mm
✔ 3D printing cache altern
✔ Magura rearview mirror brackets
✔ Exhaust supplies
✔ Exhaust clamps
✔ Dynojet kit
ELECTRICALS
✔ Motogadget Mini speedometer + indicators
✔ Motogadget M lock ignition
✔ LED headlight Husqvarna 701
✔ LED rear light
✔ Motogadget front indicators at the end of the handlebar
✔ Rear indicators
✔ License plate lighting
✔ Mflash indicator unit
✔ Elec supplies, terminals & quality connectors
ADAPTATION FRONT END INVERTED FORK
✔ Complete fork KTM 990 Superduke 2008
✔ Brake calipers KTM 990 Superduke
✔ Front rim KTM 990 Superduke 2008 – complete
✔ Machining steering column
✔ Front + rear avia brake hoses & clutch, caliper screws, banjos with bleeder
PAINTING
✔ Sandblasting & painting various parts & frame
✔ CPY Yam competition yellow, Black RAL 9005, white RAL 9003
LABOR +/-250h
✔ Frame modification
✔ Manufacture of supports (plate, lights, speedometer, various)
✔ Manufacture of aluminum fairings (rear shell, light, covers)
✔ Complete disassembly for painting
✔ 3D design & drawing for machining & 3D printing
✔ Custom half-line exhaust
✔ Handlebar harness & controls
✔ Custom saddle
✔ Painting various parts & bodywork
✔ Reassembly
✔ Tune-up
Follow the Builder
Website: www.tumulte.bike
Instagram: @tumulte.bike
Facebook: @tumulte.bike
Photography: Frédéric Lagarde
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