The inspiration behind it wasn’t tobacco — it was Wayne Rainey, the three-time 500cc World Champion of the early 1990s.
Rainey never rode a V-Rod, of course. His machine was the legendary Yamaha YZR 500, painted in the iconic red-and-white Marlboro racing colors that defined an era.
This tribute bike was built by Andi Bürger from Speyer, a man who used to focus mainly on customizing Kawasakis. Under his label “Bürger Custom”, he eventually turned to American Big Twins — and this 2012 V-Rod Muscle became his canvas.
Bürger bought the bike in December 2022 and immediately set out to transform it over the winter. The result is a bold and beautifully balanced mix of muscle and motorsport heritage.
At the rear sits a massive 260 mm tire, just barely fitting within the original swingarm. The bike has been lowered, equipped with a dual exhaust system from Kess-Tech featuring an electronic sound management module hidden beneath the tank cover.
A NLC tank cover, Bad Boy Custom tail section, and Night Rod headlight fairing complete the bodywork — all finished in the unmistakable Marlboro racing livery that brings Rainey’s glory days back to life.
Although Bürger is a smoker, this project isn’t about cigarettes. It’s about honoring a racing legend whose determination and style inspired a generation. Wayne Rainey’s career ended after a crash in 1993 that left him paralyzed — a powerful reminder that sometimes, racing itself is more dangerous than smoking.
