We’re huge fans of the Japanese custom scene. But it’s not just the motorcycles that captivate us: we’re also conscious of how Japanese creativity influences the custom scene around the globe.
Many elements of the universal flat-seated cafe racer genre originate in Japan?whether builders realize it or not. But this tasty Yamaha SR400 takes more than just a few cues. From top to bottom, it’s a deliberate homage to Japanese custom style.

The project started as a collaboration between the small but feisty British apparel brand Two Gun Salute and custom shop Smith and Son Motorcycles. Two Gun Salute brothers Nathan and Sam Burton had long wanted to do a custom build to promote their label, but being a small brand, budgets were always tight. Then Jamie Smith?a self-professed ‘shed builder’ who operates as Smith and Son Motorcycles near Peterborough?reached out to them via Instagram. The guys met up at the Hot Rod Drags at Santa Pod, and hit it off.

?We jumped at the chance, having seen the quality of Jamie?s previous builds,? says Sam.
?I loved Jamie?s goal for the build: a low, super clean, simple looking bobber, influenced by Japanese builders such as Heiwa. A plan was made, and the target was to have the bike ready and on show at the Bike Shed London 2019.?

A 1992-model Yamaha SR400 was sourced directly from Japan, and landed in the UK 13 weeks before the show. So Jamie (who also has a family and a nine-to-five) kicked into high gea...