Unlike Laguna Seca, Indianapolis Motor Speedway is centrally located and more easily accessible for riders from around the country. Each year thousands of bikes converge downtown on Meridian Street and celebrate a MotoGP weekend of motorcycling insanity. By night, the sounds of wilds hogs to stretched sportbikes bounce off the brick buildings but during the day the track is where it’s at. Here is where the final round of the 2012 SSB Yamaha Custom Showdown was held. Riders of all demographics cruised through a tent filled with custom-built Yamahas that ranged in date from the early 1970’s up to the modern day. Two-stroke, track-only, fat-tire and everyday performance rides parked in the tent, ready for voter’s approval. Each build spurred a different conversation about what it took to transform a stock bike into a one-off creation.

Hot off pit lane, even track...

Hot off pit lane, even track staff came and voted.

Can you feel the love?

Builders gathered around the...

Builders gathered around the SSB contest R6.
Our contest R6 made the journey to Indy as well and gave passers-through further reason to pick up a ballot and pencil in their favorite within each category. Come Sunday, after the ballot boxes were emptied and the votes were tallied, the second and final round of winners made their way to the stage for an award and novelty-sized check. Familiar faces in both the pro and amateur series smiled for the camera and went home with the accolades of all involved. The Pro Builder of the Year award and recipient of a brand new R1 went to Sesto Custom Cycles after receiving the most total votes in both rounds—we hear Sesto plans on ditching the forks for a setup similar to the early 1990’s Yamaha Morpho.

First Place: Gator Customs'...

First Place: Gator Customs' 2006 R6

Second Place: MSP Performance's...

Second Place: MSP Performance's 2011 R1

Third Place: Sesto Custom...

Third Place: Sesto Custom Cycles' 2010 R6

Best R1: Myren Reynolds' 2007...

Best R1: Myren Reynolds' 2007 R1

Best R6: Carlos Velez's 2010...

Best R6: Carlos Velez's 2010 R6

Best Open Class: Edward Brownlee's...

Best Open Class: Edward Brownlee's 1973 RD350