Big Bore Retro: Motorieep turns the XT600E into a 60-hp monster…
In 1990, Yamaha introduced the XT600E, an electric-start version of their fabled 595cc air-cooled single-cylinder dual-purpose machine. The original XT500 was a legend in its own right, winning the first two runnings of the Paris-Dakar Rally, and the XT600 in its various versions had proven itself a worthy successor.
“The Yamaha XT600E was the last of a long line of 4-valve air-cooled Yamaha singles, starting off with the original, much-loved XT500 of the mid-70s. This is a true trailie: decent off-road and straightforward and un-fussy on… You won’t find a more honest workhorse than the Yamaha XT600E.” –MCN
Of course, there are those of us who are still nostalgic for the air-cooled thumpers of yesteryear, and wonder if such a bike with some modern upgrades would make the perfect motorcycle. We’re please to say that Pierre Kerjean of France’s Motorieep has answered that question with his workshop’s 670XTE series.
Pierre — a former motocross racer — has been building bikes since he was 15. Today he works with his son and a technician out of their shop in Tarn, near Bordeaux in the southwest of France.
“What began with unique custom builds evolved in 2020 into a specialized engineering hub focused on high-precision, small-batch production. The workshop is defined by total technological autonomy. From technical drafting to component manufacturing, every stage is completed in-house. By eliminating all external intermediaries, Motorieep ensures an exacting standard of quality where every detail is controlled.”
Pierre and team have made a name for themselves producing modernized vintage enduro / dual-sport motorcycles. What we would call restomods, but with such exacting standards they truly resemble OEM machines. It’s as if the manufacturers decided to delve back into their factory archives and produce retro-style dual-sports / scramblers with modern upgrades in terms of engine, suspension, brakes, lighting, and more.
In the past, we featured the company’s Yamaha 590TT and Honda XL600R, the latter of which made our Top 10 Scramblers of 2020 and left us hungry for more. Fortunately, the Motorieep team has been hard at work expanding from one-off custom builds to small-batch production.
Today, we’re thrilled to showcase their Yamaha “670XTE” series, based on the XT600E (or 600XTE as it’s often known in France).
“The 670XTE, a flagship of the workshop, raises the bar for technical performance. For this 2026 edition, the original architecture has been upgraded to Motorieep’s latest engineering standards, resulting in a machine that is sharper, lighter, and more exclusive.”
Motorieep says the 670XTE is the result of an intensive one-year development cycle with a “rigorous” focus on power-to-weight optimization. Everything step of production is conducted in-house.
“Every line is dictated by performance; every component selected for its mechanical relevance. From technical blueprints to composite material layup, the entire production is centralized in our Tarn workshop. This total control over the manufacturing process ensures uncompromising creative freedom and an unprecedented standard of precision.”
Nearly every aspect of the bike has been upgraded. Let’s start with the engine, where three different tuning stages are offered:
| Tuning Stage | Power | Carburetor | Compression | Engine Mods | Displacement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 44 hp | Mikuni BSR33 | 8.5:1 (stock piston) | Stock configuration | 595cc |
| Level 2 | 52 hp | Mikuni BSR33 | 10.5:1 (HC piston) | AAC Stage 1 cam | 620cc |
| Level 3 | 60 hp | Mikuni TM34B65 | 11.5:1 (HC piston) | Stage 2 cams, Ti retainers & springs, ported head | 620cc |
The engines are paired with brushed stainless steel “Lambda” exhaust systems, developed in-house and outfitted with CNC-machined aluminum caps.
Up front are conventional 46mm forks for a traditional look, while you’ll find a lightweight Deltabox swingarm with adjustable shock absorbers out back. The bikes roll on Excel wheels, with standard Trail or Supermoto versions available — of course, the suspension is tuned for each.
The bodywork is full carbon and gives the bike the look of an updated XT500. Fully-fueled, the bikes weigh just 324 lbs (147 kg), which is 50 lbs lighter than the standard XT600E and 20 lbs lighter than the original XT500 — that’s light!
All in all, we’re pretty much in love with this concept and its execution. If you opt for the Stage 3 tune, you’re looking at a 60-hp, 325-lb air-cooled thumper that looks straight out of the 1970s…but with modern engineering and performance. That’s one hell of a recipe, and we’re glad workshops like Motorieep exist to make it reality.
Yamaha “XT670E”: Tech File / Specs
These specifications are in French, but it’s pretty easy to tell what’s what even if you don’t read the language.
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