It was 1995 and Ducati's 916 was the bike everyone wanted in their garage thanks to drop dead gorgeous styling, outrageous performance and proven race success in World Superbike. None of the Japanese manufacturers had a V-twin ready to capitalize on this newfound interest in twin cylinder sportbikes (the Honda VTR1000 Super Hawk was two years away) but Yamaha had something else it could bring to the party-the parallel twin TRX850.
Built as an option for riders who wanted the V-twin throb (it had a 270-degree crank which emulated the feel and sound of a V, and Yamaha even made the motor look like one) but without the V-twin servicing cost. The TRX promised much, but in reality delivered little. It had the handling, but not the power or build quality. It was only some years later that the TRX became something of a cult classic - a bike that responds well to tuning and is easy to work on. Now wouldn't it be great if Yamaha took a second shot at giving us the ultimate parallel twin?
Engine
With 849cc, the original TRX boasted just 80 HP, most of it delivered in a slightly lethargic manner through its five-speed gearbox. Except all it really needs is a lightweight race exhaust (we've gone for a 2-2 system, with the lower pipe curling underneath the motor to get the required length) to release both noise and power. With an 878cc big bore kit and high compression pistons we get an extra 25 HP. While tuned track bikes commonly sport flatslide carbs or a jet kit, fuel injection would be the order of the day in our bike and we haven't even included the ram-air system yet. Let's say 120 HP in total, shall we? Now we're talking.
Chassis
There was little wrong with the Ducati-style trellis frame on the first TRX, so we've used it again. What could easily be improved is the suspension, and Yamaha's own 2009 R6 provides what the original bike lacked, though we'll happily swap the rear shock for an Öhlins unit. We'll take the R6 radial brakes as well, thanks. To cope with the extra power, a heavily modified and braced KTM RC8 swingarm sits at the back.
Bodywork
While the TRX850 wasn't ugly, its Plain Jane looks weren't going to turn heads. Our R6-derived front cowl cuts through the air like a missile while simultaneously offering good upper body weather protection. The bellypan hides the catalyzer, while the vents in the tail unit draw hot air away from the bike to make life easier for the rare passenger. The fuel tank is a leftover FZ6 item that we found in a junkyard, and the side panels are Kawasaki items.