Toyota makes a motorcycle, kinda
Created to expand Toyota's presence in action sports circles (they want people with bikes to buy Tundra pickups to haul them), this one-off Toyota motocross bike is essentially an exercise in pushing the limits of logo inclusion. Unveiled at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show last week in Vegas, the JGR/Toyota Motocross Bike Concept manages to machine or engineer a Toyota logo into virtually every surface. Just check out the brake discs. Based on a 2009 Yamaha YZ450F, the bike's gone through an extensive lightening process, with the frame hollowed out and cross braced, has had its body panels replaced with carbon fiber and uses titanium components throughout the bolt-on spec. While we'd always sort of imagined a Toyota motorcycle would be something imminently practical and more than a little beige, this is still a pretty cool custom motocrosser. Click through for complete specs.
The
Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross/Toyota (JGRMX/Toyota) Concept Bike is a
special one-of-a-kind project built specifically for the 2009 SEMA
show. The JGRMX/Toyota motocross partnership, in conjunction with the
Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota NASCAR group teamed up to make the special bike
a reality. The group logged more than 100 man hours on the project, and
received modifications and accessories provided by 17 contributors to
create a truly unique machine. The JGRMX/Toyota Concept Bike
illustrates how far customizing can be taken, when combining a creative
style concept with the latest in MX hardware, and some dedicated and
talented technicians.
The project started out using a 2009 Yamaha YZ450F as the base
platform to work from. The group utilized a specially lightened and
polished frame, and installed carbon fiber body panels, and a custom
fuel tank. Titanium and other exotic metals were used, where
appropriate, to further reduce weight and provide an exotic appearance.
Cycra Racing supplied the front and rear fenders, and the front
number plate. Lightspeed Performance Products pitched in with a carbon
fiber chain guide, rear brake caliper cover, and fork guards to follow
the carbon fiber body design theme. N-Style contributed the seat cover
and exterior graphics.
The YZ450F engine was treated to a reversed location valve train
from Xceldyne. Reversing the intake and exhaust valves on the cylinder
optimized the bikes balance point. Further induction modifications
included a fan-driven forced air intake system with fuel injection. A
Carillo rod coupled with a piston and rings were installed to
complement the top end work. Conventional radiators were dismissed in
favor of a custom aluminum extrusion cooling system. The use of a
special air driven starting system with an air tank integrated into the
frame was another departure from tradition.
Final engine additions included Filtron air and oil filters, an
FMF Racing exhaust system tipped with a light-weight carbon fiber
muffler, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions brake and oil lines, a
custom Toyota logo clutch cover, and clutch internal parts (basket,
plates and springs) from Hinson Clutch Components.
The group fabricated a specially made swing arm with the Toyota
logo machined into it. The rear shock included a custom reservoir mount
location to move it further away from the heat coming off of the
exhaust system. Clutch and front brake actuation were accomplished
using levers by ARC Levers, and Motion Pro cables. Hammerhead Designs
provided the shift lever and rear brake lever. The brake rotors were
custom pieces with the Toyota logo engraved into them. Wheels from
Spinergy Wheels utilizing Fiber Spoke Technology completed the chassis
modifications. Sprockets, bars, and grips from Renthal finished the
operational modifications.
An on board data acquisition system from
Pi Research was the final touch to the project. This system was set up
to provide real time information on functions such as suspension
travel, engine temperature, and vehicle speed.
JGR/Toyota Motocross Bike Concept Features
Partners/Contributors
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.
Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross Group
Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Group
Yamaha Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.
Joe Gibbs Racing Motocross Group
Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Group
Yamaha Motor Corporation
Modifications and Accessories
Cycra Racing
Front number plate
Front and rear fenders
Hinson Clutch Components
Clutch cover, basket, plates, and springs
ARC Levers
Front brake and clutch levers
Hammerhead Designs
Rear brake, and shift levers
Motion Pro
Cables
Pi Research
On board data acquisition system
Lightspeed Performance Products
Chain guide
Rear brake caliper cover and front fork covers
Renthal
Handlebars and grips
Sprockets
Spinergy Wheels
Wheels
FMF Racing
Exhaust system
N-Style
Seat cover and graphics
Carillo
Connecting rod
Brown & Miller Racing Solutions
Brake and oil lines
Xceldyne
Valve train
Filtron
Air and oil filters
Cycra Racing
Front number plate
Front and rear fenders
Hinson Clutch Components
Clutch cover, basket, plates, and springs
ARC Levers
Front brake and clutch levers
Hammerhead Designs
Rear brake, and shift levers
Motion Pro
Cables
Pi Research
On board data acquisition system
Lightspeed Performance Products
Chain guide
Rear brake caliper cover and front fork covers
Renthal
Handlebars and grips
Sprockets
Spinergy Wheels
Wheels
FMF Racing
Exhaust system
N-Style
Seat cover and graphics
Carillo
Connecting rod
Brown & Miller Racing Solutions
Brake and oil lines
Xceldyne
Valve train
Filtron
Air and oil filters
Wes Siler. November 08, 2009 — Permalink
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So how much it run? $20,000?
So it's got old-school flat head ford hot-rodder tricks in the head? Weird. If you take a close look at one of those heads, they spent a whole lot of time on the intake and exhaust ports to make the 5 valve setup work. Reversing them makes me think of southpark (no, not the Harley episode) when cartman shoved food up his ass and crapped out his mouth. For a second, this new way of eating was thought to be superior just because it was possible. While I'm sure this thing runs, I doubt that it runs any better than it would if it weren't breathing backasswards. Painted swingarm? Carbon Bodywork? Aluminum tank? Toyota logo rotors? And a Pi setup that almost certainly isn't wired to pick up suspension travel? What happens when somebody takes this thing around a track, realizes that the suspension is stock, the carbon cracks when it touches the dirt, the aluminum tank is heavier, the swingarm looks thrashed, and the motor acts weird?
How much longer do we have to wait before all the blingy bullshit goes away?
Now that is marketing, Toyota is no dummy.
@Core, can you spell one-of-a-kind project?
@ElectraGlideInBlue
Touche
This time I actually registered what I read in the article. I see that its a one off production.
@Sean
Yamaha reversed the cylinder head for 2010...so they probably swapped a '10 head onto the '09 bike.
also, they went to 4 valves a few years ago...
but an air driven starting system ??
custom aluminum extrusion cooling system??
I could use more pictures of these....
Gotta watch out for the floormats! They will kill you.
2010 is the first year for 4 valve YZ450F.
But, yeah, it looks like they spent a whole lot of cash to build a 2010 replica.
Dig the red spokes.