Yamaha XV950 “Playa del Rey” by Matt Black Custom Designs

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The Yamaha XV950 Playa del Rey turns a familiar bobber recipe into a much more deliberate custom. Built by Matt Black Custom Designs in San Pedro as a Yamaha Yard Built project, it combines a low solo-seat stance with a carefully finished tank, a distinctive front end and enough mechanical detail to keep the XV950 visible beneath the styling.

A bobber shape with a sharper silhouette

Its proportions are immediately recognizable: a compact seat, exposed rear frame and broad tyres give the motorcycle the grounded posture expected of a bobber. The execution is less stripped-back than the usual minimalist build, however. The painted side panels, sculpted tank and extended-looking rear bodywork create a continuous line from the steering head to the tail.

The colour scheme does much of the visual work. Warm metallic brown and cream panels are separated by fine pinstriping, while black wheels and the dark V-twin add contrast underneath. The result has a period-racing flavour without pretending that the Yamaha is an untouched vintage machine.

Details that reward a closer look

Matt Black Custom Designs reportedly made the tank, and its finish is one of the bike’s defining features. The broad central panel carries Yamaha lettering and a decorative illustration, framed by cream insets and lining. A custom fuel filler cap reinforces the hand-finished character rather than disappearing into the paintwork.

The solo saddle is another focal point. Its dark leather surface and visible stitching give the otherwise glossy motorcycle a tactile, crafted element. A small, polished headlight and single-dial speedometer keep the cockpit visually clean; the gauge is mounted prominently above the unusual front fork assembly instead of being buried behind a conventional handlebar arrangement.

Modern hardware under the custom finish

The XV950’s V-twin remains the visual anchor. Cooling fins, covers and the exhaust layout are left sufficiently open to read as working motorcycle hardware, while the surrounding painted brackets and guards add structure around it. The rear suspension uses Öhlins shocks, an upgrade that is as conspicuous in the side view as it is purposeful in the build’s blend of old-school appearance and contemporary components.

That balance is the Playa del Rey’s strongest idea. It does not rely on a bare frame or an overloaded catalogue of accessories. Instead, the build changes the motorcycle’s identity through colour, proportion and a short list of prominent custom parts. The effect is a Yamaha XV950 that still looks usable and mechanically coherent, but carries the visual confidence of a one-off showpiece.

Build notes

• Base: Yamaha XV950
• Builder: Matt Black Custom Designs, San Pedro
• Notable features: reported handmade tank, leather solo saddle, custom filler cap, springer-style front fork, single-dial speedometer and Öhlins rear shocks
• Paint: Ray Hill is credited with the finish and pinstriping

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