First ride: Velocity-Moto 900LC

Published: 06 September 2018

Elsie reborn: Velocity-Moto gives Yamaha’s XSR900 the look of an icon

MCN's Neeves puts the 900LC through its paces
The Velocity-Moto 900LC
The 900LC is the real modern RD350LC
The authentic front fairing is pure 1980s
There is an authentic paint scheme
This is the closest thing you can get to a modern 350lc
A full Akrapovic pipe provides the ideal soundtrack
A dual clock set-up harks back to the original Elsie
Bikes being prepped in the workshop
The bike features a re-designed tail unit
The original XSR petrol tank remains
A carbon hugger is a nice touch
Original fonts and graphics remain
A 900LC mid-way through production
An aftermarket shock helps the bike steer better than an XSR
A remap helps smooth out the fueling
Velocity-Moto produce the kit for £1552
Neevesy puts the retro-inspired Yamaha through its paces
The 900LC looks exactly like the RD350LC, only taller
Anyone fancy a new Pro-Am series?
The Velocity-Moto 900LC

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Velocity-Moto’s Hag Hughes was a paddock-jacketed hooligan back when the Yamaha RD350LC was king. He rode, raced and modified them and now three decades later, this 900LC is his homage to the iconic two-stroke.

The Yamaha XSR900-based machine is available as a complete face-lifted bike and comes with a choice of LC look-a-like paintjobs. Body kits (£1552) will be available separately in the future for XSR900 owners, as well as suspension, power and carbon upgrades.

MCN MODEL GUIDES

Engine, chassis and even the tank remain standard, but the trackday bike builders have produced a replica YPVS nose cone and LC tail unit, together with seat, grab rail, side panels, clock surround and HID headlight all designed to ape the 80s original.

Hughes explains: “I ended up with too many injuries to ride sportsbikes and wanted something with the excitement of an R1 or Blade. The Yamaha MT-09 grabbed me – it was fun, but I didn’t like the looks. The handling and fuelling was horrendous, too, but I saw the potential to do an LC body kit for it

“I chose the XSR over the MT-09 because it’s closer to where the LC is to start with. It has round headlights, clock and the shape of the tank looks so similar to the LC, I’m amazed Yamaha haven’t made anything of it themselves.

“The trickiest part was to remodel the seat to give it the right look, creating the rear light and number plate mounts and all the bodywork moulds. Very few parts have been cut, so it would be easy to return it to standard.

“I’ve parked it next to an LC and it looks low, spindly and old fashioned, but surprisingly similar. The new bike’s subframe is higher, which is more how you wanted your LC to look.”

Riding this fully modified 900LC feels just like being on an XSR, but a glance down reveals those LC-esque twin clocks (TomTom to the left, standard display right) and a surprisingly effective Powervalve screen.

Revised fuelling map, Ohlins rear shock and cartridge kit brings the best out of the lightweight chassis and the superb three-cylinder motor. It’ll never please the two-stroke purists, but the 900LC has twice the power of the 350, pulls even easier wheelies and would leave it for dead around corners.

It’s easy to forget what you’re riding until you clock yourself in a shop window where the rose-tinted vision looking back at you evokes so many youthful memories…and you can’t help but smile.

For more information, contact: www.velocity-moto.com