While the ongoing pandemic has meant that many of this year’s custom bike shows have been indefinitely postponed or outright canceled, that didn’t stop Deus from holding its annual Swank Rally during Wheels & Waves earlier this month. Not only that, but the international moto outfit also put together this sweet enduro build to compete in the race.
Based on a 2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700, it comes inspired by Cyril Neveu’s Yamaha XT500 — the first-ever Dakar-winning motorcycle. As such, Deus has dressed the bike to the nines with an aggressive rally kit that includes a radiator protector, a chain guide, as well as a motor guard and toolbox. What’s more, the Ténéré now rides on some retuned suspension, with an Andreani fork offering 30mm of additional travel up front and a top-dollar Ohlins unit keeping things tidy at the rear. And when it comes to the aesthetics, Deus has given the bike a dramatic redesign, ditching the bulky ADV faring and tail in favor of a small flyscreen, a tank cover, and an integrated seat-fender combo. Riding on some Metzeler rubber and thumping through a custom-made titanium exhaust, it even dons some eye-catching yellow and white as a nod to Yamaha’s iconic Speedblock livery. Check it out below.
