Feb 27, 2023
By: TimesofindiaBernhard Naumann (who goes by Blechmann) is an enigmatic builder who leans heavily on his skills with metal. His otherworldly take on the BMW R18 attracted much and well-deserved attention, but today we're featuring this charming Yamaha RD350.
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Just about every piece on this 1985 RD is hand-made—and if it isn’t, it’s been repurposed from somewhere else. Dubbed ‘The Space Traveler,’ the Yamaha was actually built in two phases.
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First, Blechmann added the classic cafe racer fuel tank and tail section, with a one-off oil tank built into the rear bump. (Source: Bikeexif)
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Then his customer brought it back a couple of years later, for Blechmann to add the alloy fairing. (Source: Bikeexif)
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But this RD350 is more than just fancy bodywork—its owner had the motor done by a specialist two-stroke shop, and it features re-jetted carbs and race-spec exhaust.
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So it now puts out 75 horses (over the stock 59), which should feel wild when it hits the power band. Thankfully Blechmann also reinforced the frame, before finishing it in a striking turquoise hue. (Source: Bikeexif)
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There are a million stunning details to pore over here, like the repurposed vintage bicycle speedo. It’s a cracking cafe racer, and proof that Blechmann truly is a master of metal. (Source: Bikeexif)
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“I never use clay. I have a very special approach to get my shapes. I start off very rough with cardboard to get a feeling for the proportions. Then I work on with the final material, the sheet metal.” Bernhard tells Returneofthecaferacers.
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Bernhard’s installed a vintage VDO bicycle speedometer that tops out at an unrealistic 70 kph. Finally, he installed an extended swingarm that helps keep the front wheel planted.
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It was valued at some €14.500 (approximately Rs 12.68 lakh) before Bernhard decided to sell his customer's cafe racer and it’s rather a bespoke bargain not to be missed. (Source: Returnofthecaferacersa)
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