Written by Martin Hodgson
Good memories are prompted by many things, they intoxicate all the senses and nothing in the motorcycle world brings all five alive like a rampaging 2-stroke screamer. But it all means so much more when the heightening of the senses transports you back in time and the nostalgia leaves you overwhelmed. Sean Skinner of MotoRelic Custom Cycles in Hamilton, Virginia was tasked with achieving just that for his latest client, and when the droplets rolled down their face at the unveil he knew he’d hit the mark. This tear-jerking Yamaha RD400 cafe has it all and nicknamed Ruby she’ll elicit a big satisfied smile when you climb aboard and crack the throttle.

The build was commissioned like any other, but Sean was quick to pick up on the significance of getting the Yamaha just right, ?Ken contacted me to build him an RD400 that would have subtle cues from a bike he remembered from childhood, memories of father and son. He only had a few requests and the rest was mine for the creating.? The old smoker was rolled into the MotoRelic workshop, stripped down to its bare bones and then the frame placed on the lift so Sean could get creative, ?I don’t draw and I don’t photoshop. It’s all in my head and it just flows out as I go.?
With a vision emerging of what he had in mind the RD400 offers up a unique obstacle that would need to be tackled before the rest of the build could commence. The tank for the automatic oiling system utilis...