Sportbike Drift craze | GP Drifter

A collaborative effort between Gary Dean, Graves head mechanic, and Bill Dixon, a three-time XDL freestyle champion, the 2012 Graves Yamaha drift machine is the first purpose-built stunt bike to boast an amalgam of race technology and alternative stunt design.

The idea for this hybrid was conceived early in 2011. “We wanted to break into a different aspect of the stunt world so we came up with this drift project,” said Shane McCoy of Graves. Since this “grace” project had few sponsors, it was left on the back burner until the close of the race season. Once Graves mechanics and suspension techs were given the go-ahead to start full-time R&D on this dark drifter, they spent three to four months getting everything spec’d and built for the initial test run.

One truly unique component is the fuel tank. A custom molded carbon fiber shell masks a custom fuel cell that has been relocated centrally underneath the sub-frame. This puts weight lower in the chassis and creates a more balanced bike, a design inspired by the factory Yamaha MotoGP bike.

Additionally, the Graves low-mount exhaust system weighs in lighter than stock, one of many modifications made to bring the bike’s weight down to a jaw dropping 396 pounds—29 lbs. lighter than Bill’s stunt-spec Yamaha R6.

The Graves engine is complimented by a factory Yamaha YEC race kit computer that can be manipulated at the handlebars with a series of toggle switches, granting instant access to different fuel maps Bill can readily engage while transitioning from standard stunts into sliding. “We used a Dynojet Power Commander, secondary fuel mod and quickshifter to tune the engine above YEC settings,” explained McCoy. With a 17/46 gear ratio, this engine’s explosive power packs a punch early in the rev range with enough stamina to maintain consistent pull to its 13,700 max RPM.

With the help of Kyle Guglimetti, one of Graves’ suspension techs, Bill D’s suspension was dialed in on a dyno long before he swung a leg over the bike. “Kyle was on point,” said Dixon. “He made it do everything I wanted it to do and it was perfect the first time I rode it.”

Kyle installed front forks with Öhlins cartridges and Graves valving, enabling the same superior handling that comes standard with a factory superbike set-up. The stock Öhlins race shock was also re-valved to compliment Bill’s tenacious riding style.

He even confided that the drift R1 was only the Adam of the freestyle-hybrid machines. “I can’t say what or who, but there will be another bike and it’s going to be epic.” ssb

2012 Yamaha R1