Yamaha GTS 1000. A Different Kind of Custom

Upgraded front swingarm, a new single-sided rear swingarm, and lots of character

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Meet the Yamaha GTS1000 Italian Resilience, a custom bike built by Lorenzo Frugaroli of FMW Motorcycles. The model year is 1993 and the Italian bike builder stripped down the GTS to create what looks like a statement of creativity. He still kept the front swingarm design and we have to say it looks rather special.

The Japanese sport-tourer made a name for itself back in its day's thanks to the forkless front suspension designed by James Parker. Due to its characteristics, Frugaroli used the same idea for his Italian Resilience project. The benefits of such a front end system are improved stability of the bike under braking. In other words, it’s an anti-dive suspension.

Frugaroli improved the front swingarm by replacing the original shock with a spring from a Yamaha YZF-R6. On the rear, the dual-sided swingarm was replaced with a single-sided unit from a Honda VFR and added a Buell Cyclone Showa shock.

The wheels are custom made also and were built using the spokes of a Honda NSR and the rims of a VFR.

To improve the bodywork, all fairings were removed to expose the bike’s suspension setup and Frugaroli painted the original c-shaped frame in bright red. He also used a Piaggio Beverly light pod fitted inside a custom shell.

Underneath that design, the bike still has the original GTS 1000cc inline-four engine, only this time the electronic fuel injection (EFI) was replaced by a rack of carburettors taken from a 1987 Yamaha FZR1000. This means the power delivery remained the same – 102hp @9,000 rpm and a maximum torque level of 106 Nm @ 6,500rm.

The fuel tank was removed and replaced with a fairing component to accommodate the new carburettors. A plexiglass window was added to showcase the two carbs while a new fuel tank was mounted into the custom tail unit.

Frugaroli plans to enter the Yamaha GTS1000 Italian Resilience in the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building set to take place in October 2020.