Education on a Budget: $300 Yamaha R1

"Peter Monshizadeh" (practicalenthusiast)
07/31/2015 at 08:35 • Filed to: Budget Bike, $300 Motorcycle, Modern Classic, Superbike, Sport Bike, Sportsbike, Lanesplitter, Yamaha, R1, YZF-R1, Bike Rebuild

Two-wheeled race replicas stir emotions of speed, danger, and adrenaline. Even non motorcycle-savvy individuals view them as always game for racing shenanigans...

“Hey bro!”

I couldn’t tell if that remark was directed at me or just something this guy normally screams out his window.

“How fast does that crotch rocket go?!”

Pulling up to the stop light, I was surprised by such a candid remark from such a well-versed member of the motoring community. If you’ve ever ridden a sport bike chances are you have experienced a similar public announcement.

“Fast enough,” I replied.

I was mid-analysis of the thought provoking conversation I had just participated in that the next event caught me off guard.

The light turned green and like a majestic whale jutting out of the ocean to catch a breath of fresh air, the inquisitive Dodge Caravan shot off through the intersection leaving the slightest evidence of a one-wheel-wonder in its wake.

I slipped the R1’s transmission into first gear, fed in a light helping of throttle and clutch, and casually left the starting line. With a bike like a Yamaha R1, there is nothing to prove. There are no scores to settle. It’s a lesson that riders who makes it through their first few seasons of high-performance motorcycle ownership come to learn. Sure, there are times when the urge to open up the petroleum floodgates comes on hot and heavy, but experience teaches us there is a when and where for such impulses.

The best form of learning comes through experience. While not always free, experience is a vital part of becoming more confident in one’s own decisions and abilities. Sometimes, building that experience comes in the form of adopting a neglected two-wheeled machine and hanging your wallet out to dry. What do you have to lose? It’s only your hard-earned money, right?

This series of posts was assembled to share the feelings – the highs and lows – that can be experienced when resurrecting such a machine. Taking on a learning experience such as this, in its most basic form, is a four step process:

The Acquisition

The Tear Down

The Reassembly

The Giver of Life

1) The Acquisition

This is an exciting !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! I have made the decision to forfeit my social life for the next 2 months in a pursuit of mechanical rebirth. Overwhelming feelings of happiness and glee begin to take hold.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

2) The Tear Down

A sobering !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! takes the forefront. Two days in and I realize I have no idea what I am doing. I begin to question my previous ambition. Eventually a defining moment occurs: I don’t care what happens and I dive in wallet first.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

3) The Reassembly

At this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! the money is spent and the learning is at its peak. The excitement surrounding the project returns and things begin to take shape. I start throwing all of my doubts out the window and begin to feel confident that I can handle anything that comes my way.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

4) The Giver of Life

Everything is assembled. The crankcase is filled with 10W-40 and the tank is brimmed with 91 octane. I hit the starter button and…

Crank. Crank. Crank. Nothing.

Queue the all-too-familiar panic mode. I thought I had done everything to ensure it would start! Why wouldn’t the darn thing light? So commenced an hour-long hunt for a nonexistent problem. It didn’t occur to me that it takes a number of fuel pump cycles to prime all four of the carburetor float bowls. Turn the key on for 10 seconds, then off. Do that 10 times and you are good to go.

On the 10 th attempted start, the engine sprang into life. At the time I marked this up as a blessing from some magical mechanical wizard. All of a sudden, the whole rebuild process became justified. After an 8 year coma this bike now had a beating heart. Electricity ran through its copper veins, oil sloshed in the crankcase and gasoline turned into a plume of exhaust. It was alive!

A little carburetor synching later…

…and it was time for this R1’s maiden voyage.

Usually when buying a vehicle, you try it before you buy it. This was a strange situation because I had never so much as sat on this bike before. No one had ridden this bike for many years. When I threw a leg over it and knocked it into gear for the first time it was a surreal experience. A bike that was once a bare frame in which I had thrown into the back of the 4Runner was now a sturdy and eager motorcycle. What a transformation.

Getting a feel for the clutch engagement and throttle response, I made my way out into the street. The brand new tires sucked up sand from the road and slapped it up against the fairings. I slowly crept along, getting a sense for all of the sounds and vibrations of the bike. Nothing felt out of the ordinary – it was all very well mannered. The brakes felt strong and the clutch was secure. Everything worked from the turn signals to the trip odometer. I hadn’t left first gear yet.

Turning out onto the main road I gave the 998cc engine a little more gas. You wouldn’t guess this thing has carburetors because the engine responds to throttle inputs with lightning speed. The time had come to shift gears and up next was second. Clutch in, left foot up, mechanical clunk , clutch out. Phew!

The transmission shifted seamlessly and all was right in the world. It felt like a new bike going up and down through the gears. Have I mentioned it’s fast? Yeah, it’s fast – stupid fast. Riding around town I could feel the weight of the steering stabilizer resisting steering input. The front end gets quite light with even half throttle inputs in the lowest gears so the stiff damper was comforting insurance. The Arata exhaust made a rich baritone howl when opened up but was not overly loud or annoying. The riding position was surprisingly comfortable for such a track focused motorcycle.

I pulled the bike back into the driveway and shut her down. A great feeling of pride overcame me as got out of the saddle. The project was finished; the budget superbike was complete at last.

I happened upon this project simply by chance. A random text on an unassuming Sunday morning took me on a 2 month adventure of mechanical resurrection. It took a degree of ambition to act upon it, but more importantly it took the endless desire to learn. I paid for the mistakes I made, but moreover I was able to grow through the experience. Sometimes, experience doesn’t come cheap. On this particular occasion, I was glad I bought it before I tried it.

DISCUSSION (63)

CalzoneGolem > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 08:46

You shown the bike off to friend’s roommate?

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 09:12

Is it bad of me that the R6 is just more appealing?

Kinja'd!!!

Peter Monshizadeh > CalzoneGolem
07/31/2015 at 09:12

I did! He was happy to have seen it rescued. Since it wasn’t exactly a quick-flip there were no hard feelings.

Peter Monshizadeh > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
07/31/2015 at 09:15

Not at all! It’s a superb bike in its own regard. It even comes standard with the same transmission issues!

CalzoneGolem > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 09:22

What’s the next bike you’re going to rescue from some boxes?

LongbowMkII > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 09:23

Loved this series, even as a lifelong cager

Peter Monshizadeh > CalzoneGolem
07/31/2015 at 09:30

Good question, I’m not sure. It hasn’t found me yet!

Peter Monshizadeh > LongbowMkII
07/31/2015 at 09:31

Thanks - I hope to do some more. Maybe even with 4 wheels!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 09:32

Awesome write-up!

With something like that, I’d be somewhat terrified to take on as a project. It’s all the little things - dropping parts into the carpet, not being able to figure out how to get things apart - the things like that that make it difficult for me.

Peter Monshizadeh > BaconSandwich is tasty.
07/31/2015 at 09:40

Thanks Bacon! Sometimes you have to start small. My advice? Buy an old, beat up gas R/C car and tear it down then build it back up. If you can do that, you can move to bigger things!

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 09:41

So what was your total cost for the bike to get the bike in it’s current condition?

Mmmmm > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 09:51

Great write ups! When is she going to the track!?

Peter Monshizadeh > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
07/31/2015 at 09:53

All in it was $2,791.95.

Peter Monshizadeh > Mmmmm
07/31/2015 at 09:56

Thank you! I had every intention to take it to the track but unfortunately once I finished it, the local track shut it’s doors. All that’s left around here are straight roads. :(

http://hpt.com/

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 10:12

Kinja'd!!!

Mmmmm > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 11:41

Oh damn I’m sorry to hear that. You should move! Haha

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 13:52

Definitely a smarter/better idea than doing that to a daily driver... :P

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > Peter Monshizadeh
07/31/2015 at 17:51

I somehow missed all of your previous write-ups, so thank you for including them in here. This was an excellent story to read through and has inspired me to start scouring Craigslist for my own bike project. My brother and I have been discussing ideas like this for a while now and this only adds more fuel to the fire! You did a great job with the write up too. All 4 parts were excellent reads. Now to keep searching for my own project bike! Also, do you have any videos of the bike running or the startup? I’d love to hear how it sounds with that exhaust.

Peter Monshizadeh > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
07/31/2015 at 23:48

Thank you! I highly encourage your bike hunt and rescue. It’s a great feeling to bring them back! I think I have a video of the first time I started it up, I’ll have to get that uploaded.

Peter Monshizadeh > Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy
08/01/2015 at 00:07

I’ve added a video of the bike starting in the main post.

Art > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 10:27

The went through the same process with my bike but mine was do to a driver who cut me off and took off. All in all I spend like 2k to put the bike together. It was an amazing process, I learn a lot and made many new friends who all help me out in putting the bike together. That’s the main reason why I would probably never get rid of my first bike. Great read by the way!

Rensho > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 11:40

Wow, what a deal! Nice job!

I bought a 2000 R1 new, at full MSRP. So fun. Steers like a pig, but man that motor and carbs are so smooth coming on. If you can find a set of Ivan’s needles for the carbs, it makes a nice difference, at least on my CA bike. It runs well/better on 87 fuel.

SweynForkbeard > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2015 at 11:52

I did the transmission on my ‘99 R6 when my 2nd gear finally failed. I recommend the gears be hardened when doing this. 10 years later the R6 is still running on the rebuild transmission.

Iamopenlyjudgingyou > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 12:00

“How fast does that crotch rocket go?!”

Setting aside anyone who calls a motorcycle a crotch rocket is probably a...(bites tongue before going into rant)

My goto answer is “55MPH, sometimes 65MPH depending on the road”

Zoom > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 12:53

Very nice work.

I will own an R1 someday. Most likely in a similar fashion.

With very few words changed, I could substitute ‘Yamaha R1’ with ‘Sea Doo GSX Limited’, and tell almost exactly the same tale.

I bought a 951 twin red and purple GSX with a zinged crank when the seller was literally sweeping parts into a dust pan and handing them to me. About $900 later? With my own mods, a 70 mph boat.

highpsi > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 13:30

I have a 2000 R1 that I have owned since 2006. Carbs are a constant issue in the last 5 years, because I only ride it every couple of years now. $300 is a fire sale deal. In its current non-running state offers of 1000-1500 are easy to get. I plan to clean the carbs, again, this summer and sell it.

taskersrebelyell > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 13:37

1985 I paid $400 for a 750 Honda interceptor that was in multiple boxes and milk crates. Put it together in my living room over a period of weeks. Your story has brought back so many memories. Thanks.

Tohru > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 14:40

Kinja'd!!!

21 cylinders? [citation needed]

they-will-know-my-velocity > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 16:00

I loved doing this as a kid. I convinced my dad to buy a Team Losi XXX-T truck when I was young. I loved that thing. I learned SO much about it. I built the kit and upgraded. I learned about everything from the pros and cons of different materials like ABS VS carbon fiber, titanium, aluminum etc. I built my own shocks and learned about spring rates and oil viscosity. I built the rear end and learned about differentials and gearing and drive ratios. I set up the alignment and learned about caster/camber/toe-in. I learned how to airbrush and mask off areas for paint. I learned how to solder for batteries and how electric motors work. More importantly I learned how to take stuff apart and put it back together exactly the same way again. I could break down the front suspension

It was hugely educational and I loved it. I doubt Dad planned on this influencing me as much as it did and may have done something different since I’ve had everything with wheels apart in the garage since then.

Peter Monshizadeh > they-will-know-my-velocity
08/01/2015 at 16:22

Exactly! Thank you for sharing!

Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 16:24

Awesome! Thanks!

Peter Monshizadeh > Art
08/01/2015 at 16:31

Thank you! It is expensive, but you can learn so much by doing it.

Diego Ruiz > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 16:53

Whoever wrote this doesn’t know crap. Back when this bike was being sold this didn’t race in any class of racing. Back then superbikes were either 750cc 4-cylinder (Kawasaki ZX-7R, Suzuki GSX-R750, Yamaha R7) or 1000cc 2-cylinder (Bimota SB8K, Ducati 996R, Honda VTR1000)

It's a "Porch-uh" > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
08/01/2015 at 18:07

I had a 2002 R6. Loved that bike. Then I ended up getting the 2006 model (amazing the difference in seating position two models later. Never felt the need to go up to a liter bike.

scguy > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 18:47

Great resurrection! I have been resurrecting a 1999 Honda VFR800 that the previous owner left sit for almost 11 years. It’s back on the road now, and with 3k miles and the Tail of the Dragon under it’s belt, I can pronounce it officially alive and kicking. Leaving on it in 3 weeks to take a no plans, just ride 30 day trip out West.

Se77ens > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 18:51

Nice build and write-up! Now do one on the VFR in the background of some of your shots. I’m a sucker for that V4, no matter the packaging. I put 26,ooo miles on an ‘87 f2, and just put a ‘98 in my garage after clearing out the ‘97 Magna. Great machines! I'd love to see a VFR vs R1 real-world use comparo. Very different machines built for very different purposes, though remarkably similar in overall form and appearance.

klurejr > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 21:40

My 2003 fz1 has the same motor, just detuned to 130hp. Love that bike. Stupid fast.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Peter Monshizadeh
08/01/2015 at 22:55

Is that a Sedgwick County tag I see? Or is it a Douglas County tag? Either way, NICE!

Simon L > Peter Monshizadeh
08/02/2015 at 01:33

LIGHTNING! OH SWEET JESUS IT IS SPELLED LIGHTNING

Peter Monshizadeh > Simon L
08/02/2015 at 10:55

Haha, fixed just for you. :)

Peter Monshizadeh > Se77ens
08/02/2015 at 10:59

Good eye! I’ll see what I can do. VFRs never get the credit they deserve - they’re just that good.

Peter Monshizadeh > scguy
08/02/2015 at 11:01

Such a sweet bike. I have no doubt it will be a great companion for your trip!

mwverheijen1 > Peter Monshizadeh
08/02/2015 at 16:56

Really enjoyed this series of articles. Very funny without overly trying to be funny (which is rare talent). Strange to consider that the transmission parts were 4 times as expensive as the rest of the bike. Also shows that if you had not gotten the bike at that amazing price, but say for $1500, you probably would have been better off buying a mint condition R1 in the end. However now you have a bike on which you installed and torqued almost each nut and fastener, and worth every penny. Well done!

Simon L > Peter Monshizadeh
08/02/2015 at 17:33

Thank you. I’ve calmed down now. Also, everything else in the article was awesome. One day, when I have a garage, or even just a driveway (I live in an apartment building) I will be able to make a huge mess by disassembling an engine and putting it back together. I dream of that day.

Peter Monshizadeh > mwverheijen1
08/02/2015 at 20:05

Thanks for the kind words!

MoparMap > Peter Monshizadeh
08/03/2015 at 08:41

With a bike like a Yamaha R1, there is nothing to prove. There are no scores to settle.

This is one of the greatest quotes I’ve read in some time and applies to any high performance vehicle. I daily drive an 04 Viper and occasionally get similar responses from people in cars wanting to race. I know my car is faster in the right conditions, a stoplight with cold tires and questionable road surface is not one of them.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Peter Monshizadeh
08/03/2015 at 12:15

Awesome story. I have a 2001 R6 that I’ve had since 2010 and was my first bike. Love the carbureted Yamaha’s. Have fun with it!

And yes, having passenger cars floor it off the line thinking they would race you, while you just leave the light normally and smoke them is fun. Sorry, didn’t even know you were racing.....

Spaze > Peter Monshizadeh
08/03/2015 at 15:28

Congrats on the (re)build! now its time to log some miles and post about where you go and what you do! Good luck!!!

Matt@ShiftCarBlog > Peter Monshizadeh
08/03/2015 at 17:27

I think we have a Two Wheel Tavarish on our hands if you keep this up...

PragmaticPanda > Rensho
08/04/2015 at 12:14

*Might be a silly question* I always was told to put premium in the high performance moto’s; is that excessive?

Rensho > PragmaticPanda
08/04/2015 at 13:22

That’s the problem. We’ve all been brainwashed that higher octane is better. It is actually the opposite. Lower octane has more power. You use the lowest octane you can to NOT cause detonation. The CR and the cylinder/piston dome shape of this R1 is friendly enough to 87 octane, that it always has dyno’d better.

It was always strange to me that I should run 87 in my R1, but 91+ on my yammy 250f dirtbike. But, it is what it is.

PragmaticPanda > Rensho
08/04/2015 at 13:38

Thank you for your insight. I have a supercharged car and it requires 91 and the compression is 10.4:1–same compression before and after adding the kit. My wife and I took a trip to San Diego and she topped the car off with 87 and I didn’t know how ‘bad’ that was. We did drive 200 mi after that on the highway and the car seemed fine.

I love cars and bikes but the math and numbers and engineering stuff is confusing sometimes. :)

Rensho > PragmaticPanda
08/04/2015 at 14:20

With a 10.4 static CR and you boost it with 8psi, you’re at ~15.4ish psi. Luckily for you in that instance of 87 oct, nothing really does happen until your right foot pushes into boost. I had a 99 miata with a JR45 supercharger. That really added fun to the dead car.

With any force induction, you automatically put in 91+. I have had a couple Audi A4s, and they have decent knock sensors to pull back timing when i/someone have put in <91 oct. It can deal, but not a good thing.

BUTT SANDWICH > Peter Monshizadeh
08/04/2015 at 15:50

Who else went to craigslist immediately after reading the final installment?

highpsi > PragmaticPanda
08/04/2015 at 23:51

I have always put premium only in my 2000 R1. It does not hold much gas.

Bunkie21 > Peter Monshizadeh
08/11/2015 at 12:56

In ‘86, I bought a new FJ1200. Despite the fact that I didn’t beat on it, it eventually developed the popping out of second problem (I had the bike for 13 years). This was a known issue in the FJ community. My solution was to avoid hard upshifts into second. I sold the bike when it became difficult to get parts and service. That and the debacle of the way they sold the FJR1300 (requiring a non-refundable deposit just to get your dealer to order one) really soured me on Yamaha. The FJ1200 had been my third bought-new Yamaha (following an ‘82 Seca 650 and an ‘84 FJ100).

You had fordboy357 at "meat tornado" > Peter Monshizadeh
08/21/2015 at 14:53

Now, I am a hardcore Honda man (my dad worked at a Honda motorcycle dealership as a mechanic in the 70’s), but this bike is just knockout gorgeous. Right on the cusp of 90’s styling and 2000’s tech.

I might be a bit biased as the mismatched blue flyscreen gives it an HRC vibe.

All said and done, I’d still take a 92-94 CBR900RR with the big dual headlights coming off of Honda’s RC30 drawing board.

But being a sucker for engineering and tech, I’m looking for a VFR800 right now.

That’s neither here nor there. This bike looks fantastic and you did a fantastic job.

Sucks that you could’ve had it done for nearly half of what you had in it.

Peter Monshizadeh > You had fordboy357 at "meat tornado"
08/21/2015 at 22:35

Thank you! Yeah, the money sunk is just part of taking on a project.

You will never go wrong with a VFR - I have had two VFR750s myself (1990 & 1993) and they are superb in all ways except for weight.

BTW, I am looking hard for a ‘93 CBR900RR in white/red/blue. Absolutely gorgeous. It appears we have similar taste in bikes!

PlayerWAN > Peter Monshizadeh
09/15/2015 at 23:07

Fellow Wichitan I see. Nice!!

Peter Monshizadeh > PlayerWAN
09/16/2015 at 20:42

Close! But that’s a DG - Lawrence.

Roxteady > Peter Monshizadeh
05/13/2016 at 12:17

Greetings from Norway. Great work on the R1 and not to mention great writing! I am considering to buy a 98' R1 with the notorious 2nd gear to neutral issue. All other gears said to be ok. The owner had knocked of around USD 1000 due to the fault (paying some USD 2,000 for it in Norway). It’s quite cheap in Scandinavian terms, but I am somewhat unsure on the full economic exposure here. Did you change all the gears as a result of the wear or only the 2nd and 6th? Would you mind emailing me the list of part numbers you bought? Thanks a mill and hope you are still enjoying the bike.

Cheers.

/Elling

Peter Monshizadeh > Roxteady
05/15/2016 at 09:59

Thanks Elling.

I would only recommend rebuilding the transmission if you truly love the bike. It does take a decent amount of time tearing everything apart and then carefully reconstructing it. No doubt that snags will be encountered along the way. Such a project can turn a bike that you “liked” into a bike that you “hate”.

Now, I hope I didn’t discourage you because I definitely think the first generation R1 is a bike worth fixing and saving.

On my rebuild, I replaced all of the gears and affected shift forks. If I were to do it again, I would have replaced everything that moves inside of the transmission (aside from input/output shafts) simply for the peace of mind that comes with new parts. To do it this way, parts will be just shy of $1600 USD. In my opinion, it is completely worth it.

I can send you my parts list from when I did the rebuild, it should save you some time on that front. Shoot me your email and I’ll pass it along.

Take care.

Roxteady > Peter Monshizadeh
05/16/2016 at 09:21

Thanks a bunch for your input. 1600 USD is quite substantial, I was budgeting around 3-400 USD for changing the 2nd/6th gear + 1-2 shift forks. I fully see your point of changing everything for the piece of mind. At the same time, much of the reason for buying the bike with the fault is in order to do the actual job. But again, your point is very good on that this is probably no job you would want to do twice.
Great if you could pass on the list to ellingmagnussen@gmail.com.

Thanks a mill.

/Elling