Yamaha SR500 By Soyouz Cycles

Based in Toulouse, France, Philippe builds bikes as Soyouz Cycles—an after-hours hobby which he describes as “just a bunch of friends sharing a garage.” And while his build might tick all the wrong boxes for some folks, we dig it for reasons that we can’t explain.

Aiming for a minimal, bobbed vibe, Philippe set about stripping off as much as he could from the frame—in the process cutting-and-looping the tail. He also rebuilt and shortened the forks, and fitted shorter  shocks, dropping the ride height by roughly four inches

The fuel tank’s off a different XS650 model, similar in shape to the SR500 of the time. Philippe ‘aged’ it using a chemical mix. The seat’s custom, upholstered by the girls of the Soyouz Cycles crew.

Follow Soyouz Cycles on Instagram | With special thanks to François from Self Moto Service and the Soyouz Cycles crew.