Five years ago, if we were asked to describe the stereotypical café racer it would probably be a Honda CB. Today, the mental picture is more likely to be a Yamaha Virago.
For the last twenty years of the 20th century, the XV series was a somewhat nondescript V-twin cruiser. But it?s now the platform of choice for many builders in the USA and Europe?popularized by groundbreaking customs from builders like Classified Moto and Greg Hageman.

The creator of this sleek Yamaha is 27-year-old Daan Borsje of Moto Adonis. Typical of the younger builders coming through, he?s based in Roosendaal?a small medieval city in Holland?and has been working on custom cars and bikes for half his life.
Daan is now a full-time bike builder, after falling in love with the café racer scene four years ago during a trip to Australia and New Zealand. These days the custom scene in Benelux is just as strong as Down Under, and the Moto Adonis business is expanding.
?I now have an employee, and we work hard to deliver as many dream bikes as possible,? Daan tells us. ?It?s a growing process, but this XV750 is the best one so far.?
It?s a damn good example of a modern custom, with a style closer to the modern aesthetic of Classified Moto than the vintage flavorings of Hageman. With its stubby seat and lean-forward stance, there?s a definite air of streetfighter to this machine.

The owner is Fabrice, described by Daan as ?A hard working man from Belgium.?
?He came to Moto Adonis because we built...