As the entire world goes crazy about what color a certain dress is - it’s white and gold, by the way - I found myself sifting through Yamaha’s->ke301 30th anniversary celebration for the VMAX->ke2701, a bike that has redefined a segment of the industry in turn has turned itself into one of the most iconic Yamaha models in history.

We’ve already seen a handful of these celebratory yard builds, but the one commissioned to Cologne-based custom builder Jens von Brauck ranks right up there. See, von Brauck has long been a fan of the VMAX, even crediting the bike as one of the biggest reasons why he became so passionate about motorcycles, all at the tender age of 15.

30 years later, von Brauck’s love for the VMAX has never waned and it manifests itself through this fantastic yard build. His work is so fine it more than validated Yamaha’s decision to enlist him with the task of putting it all together.

Don’t believe me? Well, Yamaha Motor Europe Product Manager Shun Miyazawa said so himself, calling von Brauck’s work as a fitting “homage to the origins of the VMAX, but also hints at the performance of tomorrow.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Kenji Ekuan would've been proud.

Click “continue reading to read more about Jens von Brauck’s Yard Built VMAX Infrared.

Design

There’s a lot that went through the design process of this yard-built bike to successfully marry the styling principles of a cafe racer and a dragster. Doing so needed a vision and that’s exactly what JvB-moto had up its sleeve. You’ll notice that the bike still exudes the aesthetic spirit of the VMAX but certain elements, like the custom-made aluminum fender, provide a fresh take to the overall look of the bike. Just above the fender is a custom carbon fiber headlight unit integrated into the front forks. That’s all JvB-moto right there, just like the Motogadget turn signals that sit just above another custom addition, the carbon wheel covers. The bike also received aftermarket clip-on bars that are straight out of a cafe racer’s looks.

Move to the bike and you’ll see that JvB-moto installed a custom carbon fiber tank cover that is complemented by new air intake scoops created from aluminum units taken from the VMAX of yesteryear. Other design details at the back include a handmade custom carbon tail unit created specifically for the bike by vom Brauk.

Frame

Jvb-moto built its custom bike around a handmade aluminum subframe that it created using parts of the stock unit. Some custom details are also evident in the bike, including an aluminum fuel tank unit that JvB-moto placed under the seat. Despite being a new addition to the equation, the custom fuel tank unit can still carry the same amount of fuel as a standard tank. That’s an important detail because it doesn’t short-change the bike out of any fuel, ensuring that it can still accommodate enough fuel to run great distances.

Drivetrain

One thing you can count on von Brauck is that he knows what he needs to change and what he needs to leave alone. That was evident in this bike because for all the styling changes it received, the mechanicals largely remained the same.

That said, prepare to be get your hair blown off, thanks in large part to the bike’s 1,679cc liquid-cooled V4 engine that can produce up to 200 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque. Seemed like a good idea to keep the engine intact, right?

If there’s anything that von Brauck did to spice the drivetrain a little, it’s by modifying the exhaust system a custom 4-into-1 collector and finished with a Termignoni silencer, providing that extra grunt riders always can’t get enough of.

Pricing

It's unclear how much the bike is going to cost, if it's going up for sale to begin with. But until we hear about updates on that end, I suggest that we just look at the bike and appreciate the style and class JvB-moto put into turning this into a true masterpiece.