Some builds start with a sketch. Others begin with a parts list, a slab of beer, and a questionable life decision. For Gold Coast’s own Matty McFerran, this one started with a relentless stream of DMs from a mate, Mark, who ‘just wanted a tidy vintage tracker.’ But Matty’s one hell of a busy guy, with three kids under five, three businesses, including the epic Gold Coast Studio, two half-finished bikes in the shed, and precisely zero hours of spare time. The sensible thing would’ve been to send Mark a few classified links. Instead, Matty blurted out, “How about I just build you one?” Five months later, this 50-year-old Yamaha DT125 was born, and what a bloody little beauty she is!
If the name Matty McFerran rings a bell, that’s probably because you’ve seen him high in the air, upside down, hanging off the bars, with his feet casually dangling off the pegs. The former Nitro Circus freestyle motocross rider has, however, traded aerial antics for camera angles, becoming a highly sought-after photographer in the sports and automotive scenes. It turns out, years spent defying gravity translate pretty well into knowing what looks good and how to brilliantly capture it on film.
These days, Matty runs the acclaimed Gold Coast Studio, shooting everything from high-octane action to studio-perfect portraits for big-name clients. That same obsessive attention to detail found in his photography made its way into this DT125. Every part, every line, every finish was considered, not to build a museum piece, but to make something that begged to be ridden.
Mark’s budget was reasonable enough to avoid laughter and just big enough to get Matty into trouble. The deal was sealed with a same-day bank transfer, and before the adrenaline had worn off, Matty realised what he’d done; committed to his first-ever paid build while juggling a schedule that could make a paramedic sweat. But once a rider, always a rider. That itch to create something with two wheels and a motor is hard to ignore.
The DT125 in question was a survivor, but five decades of faithful service meant it was ready for a new lease on life. Roughly 70% of the bike was replaced with fresh parts. The frame was powder-coated in a deep gloss black, the hubs and wheels went full satin black, and the top end of the engine got a freshen-up for reliable thump. For tyres, Dunlop D606 street-legal knobbies offered the best of both worlds; café runs with tough looks, gravel detours without tears.
Then there was the paint. Forget candy reds and skull graphics, Matty went for Pangea Green, the same sophisticated hue found on the new Land Rover Defender. It’s a colour that says, “Yes, I can handle the rough stuff,” but also, “No, I will not be parking in the mud.” Paint duties fell to Justin at Popbang Classics, who laid it down with the kind of precision you don’t often see outside of concours circles. Custom decals give the bike the look that will then transport so many of us back to our youth, when DTs were everywhere on farms across the country.
Style-wise, Matty wasn’t chasing a pure-bred tracker clone. The stance nods politely to flat track heritage but keeps its boots firmly planted in the “practical fun” category. Blacked-out finishes keep it stealthy, while the bodywork is completed with the classic big white fenders, and all of that period-correct lighting, mirrors and controls. Even the seat nails the brief, the original flat bench with a strap is gone, but the black, old-school look is retained for that strong hit of comfort and nostalgia.
Five months after that first message from Mark, the Yamaha rolled out of the shed and into the studio lights. It’s a first paid build that looks nothing like a first attempt, more like the work of someone who’s been doing it for years. Whether Mark keeps this reborn Yamaha looking factory fresh or finds a farm to flog it on, one thing’s for certain; Matty’s got the bike-building bug! And if you’re smart, you’ll start pestering him early before he realises just how deep this rabbit hole goes.
[ Build and photography by Matthew McFerran | Gold Coast Studio ]