Yamaha Archives | Wind Burned Eyes

Yamaha Teases New Motorcycle for EICMA 2026

Yamaha has marked November 2 on the calendar for a new motorcycle announcement in Milan, one day before EICMA 2026 opens to the public. The company’s teaser calls the event ‘Redefine the Standard’ and offers few details beyond a graphic that resembles an uneven three-spike EKG reading.

Motorcycle.com reports that the message points toward a new three-cylinder model, although Yamaha has not identified the engine, motorcycle, or market. The announcement follows Yamaha’s recent push to expand its CP3-powered lineup, which includes the MT-09, Tracer 9, XSR900, and YZF-R9.

Could Yamaha’s 2027 XSR155 Be the Small Retro Roadster America Has Been Missing?

Yamaha appears ready to bring the XSR155 to the United States for 2027, giving American riders a small retro-styled roadster with the proportions of a full-size motorcycle. The model surfaced in Yamaha Motor Corp. USA vehicle identification data submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The filing also suggests the XSR155 could replace the V-Star 250 as Yamaha’s road-only entry-level motorcycle here. There is no official U.S. price or launch date yet, but the model’s appearance in the 2027 data makes this more than a typical rumor.

Custom Yamaha Tenere 700 by Holy Moly Motorcycles

Portugal-based workshop Holy Moly Motorcycles has returned to its custom-building roots with a stunning retro-inspired creation dubbed the “XT700.”

Designed to explore what a modern Yamaha XT500 might look like if built on today’s hardware, the project uses a Yamaha Ténéré 700 as its donor platform.

It Looks Like Yamaha Will Bring the Retro XSR900 GP to America

American sportbike enthusiasts can finally celebrate: Yamaha is officially bringing the highly anticipated XSR900 GP to the United States as a 2027 model.

Despite being available in European markets since 2024, the retro-inspired machine was long withheld from American shores, to the frustration of local riders. The official confirmation comes via newly published California Air Resources Board (CARB) executive order filings, which explicitly list the model alongside Yamaha’s updated U.S.-bound 890cc inline-triple lineup.

Custom Yamaha SR500 by Phil Leeke

This Yamaha SR500 café racer named “Minty,” built by retired Bentley Motors engineer Phil Leeke.

Rather than cutting up a complete bike, Leeke built the motorcycle from scratch using a standalone 1984 frame and a 1979 single-cylinder engine.

Custom Yamaha RD350 by Lord Drake Kustoms

The Yamaha RD350 “Black Widow Tribute” is a custom motorcycle built by the Malaga, Spain workshop of Lord Drake Kustoms.

Designed for a client using their corporate colors, the project focuses on sharpening the classic, unhinged 1970s two-stroke twin into a lean, aggressive street machine that lands somewhere between a modern streetfighter and a classic GP racer.

Video Analysis: 2026 Yamaha R7 Review

The gents at Cycle World reviewed 2026 Yamaha YZF-R7. While it has been a staple in the “Blue Crew” lineup since 2021, the 2026 model introduces critical refinements to the chassis, engine, and electronics package that address previous criticisms.

In this article we’ll take a look at the Cycle World video and outline the specifics of the review, and then I’ll provide my take on the new R7.

Video Analysis: KTM 990 Duke vs Yamaha MT-09 SP

The fine gents across the pond at Motorcycle News (MCN) recently pit the reigning middleweight champion, the Yamaha MT-09 SP, against the long-awaited challenger, the KTM 990 Duke R.

This video (included below) is a great comparison piece that’s worth a watch. I’ll also provide my own opinion on these two awesome bikes below.

Custom Yamaha RD256 Tribute by Big Dream Motorcycles

The Yamaha “RD256” is a stunning restomod tribute built by Matt of Big Dream Motorcycles, designed to honor the legendary Canadian racer Michelle (Mike) Duff.

The project takes its name and visual inspiration from the Yamaha RD56, the iconic machine Duff rode to Grand Prix victories in the 1960s. Using a 1974 RD250 as the foundation, Matt blended vintage Grand Prix aesthetics with modern performance components to create a “hybritza” that is as capable on the track as it is beautiful to look at.

Yamaha Ténéré 700 Baja Kit by Holy Moly

Francisco Menezes of Holy Moly Motorcycles has introduced the “Baja Kit,” a comprehensive transformation package for the Yamaha Ténéré 700 that captures the rugged, sun-drenched spirit of 1980s desert racing.

Drawing inspiration from the iconic XT and TT models that dominated the Baja dunes, the kit shifts the T7’s modern, Dakar-style aesthetic toward a classic “Desert Sled” silhouette.