This Custom Yamaha Bolt is Basically a Really Fast Clock

Yamaha has unveiled another custom bike machine as part of its Yard Built series, this time offering a different take on the Bolt.

Known as the XV950 in Europe, this Bolt has been transformed by Amsterdam-based builders Numbnut Motorcycles, who have collaborated with Dutch timepiece makers, TW Steel. The “Son of Time” build bills itself as “a one-off timepiece and unique custom motorcycle.”

That’s right: it’s a clock that also happens to be equipped with a 942cc air-cooled V-twin and can be ridden as a motorcycle.

Numbnuts bike builder Roderick Seibert spent the winter locked in his Amsterdam workshop stripping a Bolt to the bare bones in preparation for the Sport Heritage motorcycle's rebirth as an homage to salt-flat racers.

"I've loved building this bike," he said. "From the start of the stripping process you can get really excited about where we are going to go with this. I really sparked with TW Steel as well, combining our creativity led to some super cool details on the bike. I'm really proud of the finished machine, I believe it stands for old-school cool, mashed up with new ideas, and –– above all –– speed!"

In his quest for straight-line speed, Seibert cut and stretched the frame, losing almost all the standard Yamaha parts, with the exception of the engine. Seibert created a number of one-off Numbnut pieces to define the motorcycle. Bespoke engine covers, air intake, seat and fuel tank give a sense this bike is built for speed while tipping its hat to its spiritual brother, the Son Of Time timepiece.

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Fellow Dutch custom builders Nozem built the exhaust to add the right soundtrack while Dymag were called on to deliver carbon wheels to save weight in the quest for speed. A straight-line racer needs brakes to match performance, so the Son of Time gets an upgrade with Brembo monoblock calipers, Brembo 320mm floating discs and a Brembo RCS19 master brake cylinder. PP adjustable brake and clutch levers and Bitwell Kungfu grips put the rider in control and a Motogadget Pro tachometer tells the engine's story.

Son of Time also gets a major suspension upgrade. Seibert turned to K-Tech, using their fully adjustable front forks and rear shock. Keeping the Son of Time glued to the road are a set of Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tires. A Dynojet Power Commander and Dynojet Quickshifter make the most of delivering the XV950's power and a Baja design LED front light picks out the racing line.