Yamaha XJR1300 "Dissident" Celebrates Bike's 20th Anniversary

Doing things the way they’ve historically been done can be a bore sometimes. In terms of motorcycles, Yamaha’s XJR series is one of those standard rides, but the brand knows that a fresh perspective yields compelling results. That’s the thinking behind the Yamaha Yard Built program: first established in 2012, Yard Built allows Yamaha to collaborate with some of the finest aftermarket tune shops around the world – offering new takes on its classics. For the latest release, here we find Yamaha and Porto-based workshop it RoCkS!bikes celebrating 20 years of XJR excellence with the XJR1300 “Dissident.”

With the release intended to elaborate on the existing silhouette without losing its spirit, designers Osvaldo Coutinho and Alexandre Santos made gilded additions to the airflow pipes, four of which flow from the engine through the tail. On top of this, the duo added high-end YZF-R1 forks for a smooth ride, as well as a complex ISR braking system with new cylinders and 340mm dual discs. All this is completed by a handmade leather seat and vintage pearl/gold paint job. Of particular note, it RoCkS!bikes is making all of the additions used publicly available, so interested XJR1300 owners can contact them via Facebook for pricing.