For nine years now, Yamaha’s ‘Yard Built’ program has set the benchmark for manufacturer-sponsored custom projects. We’ve covered it right from the beginning, since the reveal of the Wrenchmonkees’ MonkeeFist XJR1300. There must be some 50 or more builds since, but it wasn’t until the XSR155 was released that Yamaha opened up the program to Asia.
The newest XSR is obviously smaller and more affordable than its bigger brothers, which helps mass-market sales in Asia. Launched at the tail end of 2019, the XSR155 is based on the MT-15—which means it has a rev-happy 155cc liquid-cooled SOHC four-valve engine. The rest of the spec sheet is pretty good—it includes USD forks, a slipper clutch and six-speed ‘box, LED lighting and digital instrumentation.…