If there’s one vibe that invokes nostalgia, it’s the big hair, retro dance moves, and hardcore enduro raids of the 1980s.
Back then, electronics were simpler, face-to-face communication had nothing to do with screens, and rallies took up a bigger chunk of the Bucket List.
As renowned Dakar Rally rider Patsy Quick mentioned to AdventureBikeRider, “Once upon a time, people would literally remortgage their house just to do Dakar. Whereas now it’s a little bit more ‘tick that off the list,’ of things to do in life.”
It is this reminiscence, this sense of je ne sais quoi, that Deus Ex Machina‘s Italian branch (Deus Italia) has injected into their latest custom build – a custom Yamaha Ténéré 700, complete with a liberal sprinkle of iconic desert sand to complete the makeup.
To create a rally bike, a report from RideApart states that Deus Italia had to make sure that the machine wasn’t just to look at; as such, a protective radiator guard, chain guide, bash plate, and handguards were added to the stripped frame, alongside Andreani suspension with 30mm travel and Öhlins rear shock.
Complete the bundle with a custom SC-Project exhaust, Metzeler Karoo Extreme tyres, a paper roadbook holder, and two trip masters, and the bike was finally ready to undergo the bodywork facelift.
This was perhaps the most intriguing part of the build. Deus Italia worked with 3D software courtesy of Camal Studio to create a full fiberglass body kit – fairing, tank cover, seat, rear mudguard, and side panels all included in the caboodle.
Should there be enough interest in this bike to make more, production will simply require the click of a button to repeat the process.
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The custom Yamaha Ténéré 700 was premiered at the Swank Rally in France, where Le Touquet beach race four-time winner Jean-Claude Moussé rode those pretty Metzeler Karoos into the ground by all reports.
For more information on all things rally bikes, check out MBW’s news archives.