Takashi Nihira has won awards and taken commissions from major OEMs. But the man behind Tokyo’s Wedge Motorcycle also knows how to tone it down, when the brief calls for it. And whether he’s building an all-out showpiece, or a humble commuter like this tidy Yamaha SR400, his work always shines.
With factory-level finishes and a stance adjustment, this SR400 feels more like a restomod than a full-on custom job. But the magic lies in its subtlety. There’s no one big centerpiece here—instead, Nihira-san has treated the Yamaha to a flurry of well-judged tweaks.
Its low-slung and compact nature is a direct answer to the client’s needs. “The owner of the bike is a woman, and it’s her first bike,” explains Takashi.…