Michael Satterfield
The Velomacchi and Yamaha Motors collab concept bike, the Rural Racer XSR700, was recently displayed at the Handbuilt Show in Austin, TX. The custom XSR700 designed and built by Velomacchi in collaboration with Yamaha Motors, DJI Drones, Yoshimura, Champion, and Race Tech will showcase state-of-the-art technology and performance with a flavor of vintage American garage-grown heritage.
Every feature of the Rural Racer XSR700 is fully customized
including front and rear Race Tech suspension, Yoshimura exhaust, and DJI drone technology.
Inspired by the riding environment in the pacific Northwest, the Rural Racer Project celebrates backroad adventure, rural exploration, and speed. The bike is built around Yamaha’s legendary 689cc cross plane parallel twin engine, renowned for smooth and consistent power delivery, powerful torque and hard acceleration. The Rural Racer XSR700 features a specialized Yoshimura R&D exhaust with a newly designed catalytic converter that’s more powerful, lighter weight, and environmentally compliant in all 50-states.
Kevin Murray, Founder of Velomacchi, designed the bike for aggressive backcountry riding in variable weather and demanding terrain. Set in the small town of Hood River, OR, Velomacchi is surrounded by rugged fire roads and imposing hills that make up the Pacific Northwest. Of the overall design purpose, Murray says, “The XSR700 is an excellent platform for Northwest roads. The ease in which we could upgrade suspension, bolt on performance accessories, and modify the subframe to carry specific loads, made it incredibly versatile so we can “tune” the bike to meet the specific riding style, environment, and cargo of the rider.”
Integrating modern technology in unique ways is a hallmark of the Rural Racer Program. The bike features drone technology from DJI that includes a drone mount on the fuel tank for rapid overhead deployment. The purpose of the drone is to help in scouting camping spots, analyzing riding stance, and locating riding buddies.
The DJI Mavic Pro has a compact airframe, carries a 4K HD video camera, weighs in at 1.62 pounds, has an 8-mile range, and a max speed of 40 MPH. The modified rear subframe combines the fender, tail light, turn signals, and license plate holder into one detachable unit for additional carry space when an extra fuel cel, tool roll, and duffle are necessary. Aftermarket suspension leader, Race Tech, hand built the G3-S rear shock and front fork to accommodate aggressive backcountry riding and allow infinite flexibility to tune the ride by weight and environment.
Shun Miyazawa, Yamaha Motorcycle Project Manager and Rural Racer Project collaborator commented, “Kevin and I have been talking about a heritage-inspired modernized rural race bike for years; our two brands share a lot of common values and we have both born witness to how this industry is changing. The Rural Racer XSR700 keeps the heritage-inspired vibe people love, while also delivering 21st century technology and unrivaled performance.”
The Rural Racer XSR700 debuted in February as a “work-in-progress” at One Moto Show in Portland, Oregon, and was unveiled in its grand completion Friday at the Handbuilt Show in Austin, TX.
