„Sunmaster 14“ - “Don’t call me Café Racer!” / Omega Racer


 
Don’t call me Café Racer!”

If this Yamaha SR400 could talk, that’s what she would say.


Markus Pintzinger, the leading force behind Omega Racer, has been working on his creation for over one and a half years, designing the bike and rebuilding it from the ground up. Being a Yamaha SR parts distributor, he knew where to get the best parts for his project around Thailand, where he’s been living for the past 10 years.
He calls her “Sunmaster 14”. “I was reading an Isaac Asimov sci-fi novel a few years back when I stumbled across this name of a character in the book. I instantly loved the name and made a mental note to use it for one of my future projects. It has both a majestic and ethereal ring to it and I think it matches the essence of the bike very well”, says Markus.





“People are quick to label everything out of the ordinary as café racers these days, but my bike is definitely not one. My inspiration comes from the racing bikes of the 60’s and 70’s, where every part had the specific objective to make the bike go faster. My goal was to create a bike with simple, timeless lines and with a clear racing purpose.”
The first thing you notice are the sensual curves of the one-off custom made aluminium fairing, made by the same supplier who also crafted the brushed aluminium tank and the seat cowl. The leather seat was made by the guys at The Sports, one of Thailand’s best customizers. The tank strap, the plexiglass fender under the seat and the tank badge on the other hand, are Markus’ own work.




The frame has been powder coated….3 times! “The first shop I’ve sent the frame to, managed to do an awful job, twice! It was only when I found Cog’n’Roll, a powder coating shop in Bangkok, that it turned out the way I had envisioned it. I think this satin dark bronze color looks great and matches the dark brown leather parts on the bike.”
The engine was stripped down, cleaned and rebuilt and while the internals haven’t been touched, lots of goodies have been added on the outside. It now inhales through an open Keihin FCR39 carburetor and exhales through a powerful sounding megaphone muffler. Several engine add-ons like an oil cooler and bigger sized cooling fins ensure the proper cooling in Thailand’s hot weather.
“A special mention should go to Nose at Paknam 2 Wheels, the only guy I trust to work on my SR. He got me out of an electrical nightmare and I’m forever grateful for that.”
Sunmaster 14 doesn’t just look good, it runs on quality parts as a racing bike should: Akront rims, Ohlins rear shocks and WP progressive springs at the front, as well as a lightweight aluminium swingarm.
Photography was done by the very talented FAT Pictures crew.






More about the bike:
I got this 1998 Yamaha SR400 in 2011, nearly stock. I slowly modified it into a tracker first. As it stands now, there’s very little left of its original condition. This is my first custom job from the ground up. It has been a challenge at times and a great learning experience. I must say, I’m very happy with the final result.

About me:

My name is Markus Pintzinger and I’m the owner of Omega Racer, a web shop specialized in custom parts for the Yamaha SR, Kawasaki W650 and Triumph. I mainly offer custom seats, handmade aluminium tanks, seat cowls and fairings, as well as Elders Helmets.

In a nutshell, the story goes like this… In 2011 I got my SR and I fell in love with its simple mechanics, the classic look and the beautiful thumping sound of the big single. And let’s not forget the unlimited choices you have when modifying it, especially in Thailand where the SR is extremely popular. I was so passionate about it, that I started a blog, talking about the SR and riding in Thailand in general. Soon, people started asking me to find parts for their SR. A friend then suggested I should open a shop online, and that’s what happened.
The shop has been very successful right from the start. So much so, that I was able to quit my day job after just 2 years and dedicate myself 100% to it.
All the energy and passion I invested in my SR has been rewarded thousand fold. Being able to do what I love and having the freedom of being my own boss is just priceless. I feel truly blessed.



















“NON CHIAMATEMI CAFÉ RACER!”


Se questa Yamaha SR400 potesse parlare, direbbe proprio cosi. Oggigiorno qualunque special, che sia tracker, scrambler o bobber, viene chiamata cosi, purtroppo. Questa SR400 invece e’ stata ideata e costruita prendendo come ispirazione le moto da competizione degli anni 60/70, che avevano come unico obiettivo l’essere piu’ leggere e conseguentemente piu’ veloci delle loro avversarie.
Il suo fortunato proprietario si chiama Markus Pintzinger, la forza motrice dietro Omega Racer, uno shop online specializzato in parti per le Kawasaki W650, Triumph e ovviamente le SR. Da 10 anni vive in Thailandia, dove le SR hanno un gran seguito e l’ambiente delle special e’ molto attivo e diversificato, grazie anche alle forze dell’ordine che sono un po’…come dire…meno severe.
Questa e’ la sua prima creazione e ci ha messo quasi un anno e mezzo per finirla. Si chiama Sunmaster 14, nome preso da un romanzo di Isaac Asimov perche’ “suonava bene e si addice alla moto”. Avendo a disposizione tra i migliori produttori di parti che la Thailandia puo’ offrire, Markus si e’ dato da fare per realizzare la moto dei suoi sogni. E non ha badato a spese nel farlo. Il serbatoio, la sella e la carena in aluminio sono pezzi unici fatti a mano seguendo le sue indicazioni. Il rivestimento in pelle della sella e’ stata realizzata da The Sports, probabilmente il miglior customizzatore in Thailandia. Un carburatore maggiorato Keihin FCR39 da la giusta spinta, mentre sospensioni progressive WM anteriori e Ohlins posteriori, nonche’ cerchioni Akront e un forcellone in aluminio, fanno di questa SR un mezzo dalla ciclistica sopraffina. La cinghia e lo stemma sul serbatoio e il parafango posteriore in plexiglass sono opera dello stesso Markus.
Se questa SR potesse parlare probabilmente direbbe “Dai, basta chiacchere e andiamo a farci un giro!”

Commenti

  1. Gorgeous looking bike, thanks for the share!

    RispondiElimina
  2. Complimenti caro Markus, un ottimo progetto! stay tuned on this creative mind with ten able fingers, folks!

    RispondiElimina

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