Sunshine State Of Thoughts: An SR500 for the Streets of Miami

Sunshine State Of Mind: a custom 1978 Yamaha SR500 by Powder Monkees and Federal Moto.

Federal Moto’s Shaun Brandt is a single of the rising stars of the custom scene, and he’s wowed us with several of his builds already. But when he wanted a bike for himself, he turned elsewhere—to Mike Muller of Chicago’s Powder Monkees.

It is an odd collaboration, but it is worked out beautifully. Shaun’s now got himself a slim, maneuverable SR500 that operates on both tight city streets and cruisy beach boulevards.

Shaun is originally from Canada, but he’s just moved to the sunnier climes of Miami, Florida. “Being capable to ride all year round is a dream come accurate, after coming from a city with a 3- or 4-month protected riding reason,” he says.

The move prompted Shaun to get himself a new set of wheels. And there could be no other option but the Yamaha SR500.

“It was my chariot back home—in stock form—and it is also the perfect machine for the Florida sunshine.”

Shaun identified a 1978 model, from the very first year of production. SR500s are in demand so prices are relatively higher, but mint condition bikes go for about $ 3,000.

Then he produced a call to the Powder Monkees. “Mike and I had been kickin’ tires about a develop for a whilst,” says Shaun. “He was the ideal fit: he’s quickly and effective, and he has a deep respect for the detailed work that goes into customizing motorcycles.”

Shaun and Mike decided to generate a bike that’s fun to ride on quick trips: “My workplace is close to property, and the beach is a ten-minute ride across the bay,” says Shaun.

For inspiration, they looked to Daniel Peter’s famous XR650. (And if you believe the place for these images looks familiar too, that is since Daniel ending up shooting this bike.)

So what are the mods? The largest visual adjustments are the Yamaha TT500 fuel tank and the 1970s headlight, lifted from a Honda TL250.

The mono-shock rear suspension comes from a Triumph Street Triple, and proper above it is a custom seat and the supporting framework.

Hidden away from sight is a shallow electronics tray—drilled for ventilation—holding a Motogadget m-Unit. The cabling is discreetly wired inside the bars making use of Motogadget’s m-Button technique, and there’s a Bates taillight at the back.

The single-cylinder, air-cooled engine has been largely left alone. But for added oomph and smoother throttle response, Mike’s installed a Mikuni VM38MM carb—pre-jetted and supplied as a bolt-on fitment by Dime City Cycles.

He’s also fitted a K&ampN crankcase breather filter, and a discreet head-mounted Motolanna compression release.

The exhaust pipe hugs the engine tight: it’s a header from a TT500, mated to a straightforward 12-inch ‘Shorty Cone’ muffler exiting under the seat.

The tires are Metzeler Karoo 3s—a chunky dual-sport pattern that performs amazingly well on the street, with no any of the squirming you’d associate with knobbies.

Shaun’s treated himself to a set of best-tier cockpit upgrades too. He’s chosen Renthal’s Ultra Low bars fitted with Oury grips, m-Blaze turn signals and basic retro-style switchgear from the Japanese maker Posh.

The paint is fresh and light—a minimalist interpretation of the classic speed block design. It is by Nicolas Lama, a Bolivian-born artist and Powder Monkees collaborator.