The mighty Yamaha SR400 is making its last stand. While you can still buy a brand new SR in some countries for now, stricter emissions laws have signaled the end for the air-cooled single.
Don’t fret though?they’re notoriously reliable little thumpers, so we’re bound to see them on the road for years to come. Especially with killer SR-based cafe racers like this keeping the dream alive.

This one’s a collaboration between Portuguese builders Nuno Capêlo and Ricardo Santos. Nuno’s an architect-turned-motorcycle designer; he worked for the likes of it roCkS!bikes and Ton-Up Garage before launching Capêlo’s Garage last year. Ricardo used to be a chef, but after a few years working with Ton Up Garage, he decided to focus solely on his own projects at Elemental Rides. The stars aligned last year, when the two traveled to The Bike Shed London show to exhibit their latest work. Round about the same time, Yamaha Portugal announced a contest inviting builders to submit designs, with winners getting the chance to customize a brand new SR400.

Being good friends, the two decided to pool their resources and design a neo-retro cafe racer that would combine their strengths; Ricardo’s engineering prowess, and Nuno’s architectural flair. But by the time they’d submitted their entry, the contest had been cancelled.
Yamaha Portugal loved their design so much though, that they decided to back them; so the guys had a brand new Yama...