A distinctly Japanese influence at mono motorcycles this week

The mono motorcycles workshop has been heavily dominated by a Japanese feel this week.

The immaculate Yamaha R1 completed her rejuvenation journey this week. The lime green Yamaha R1 has had her engine fitted, the Yamaha WR450 has begun her rebuild & the REPSOL Honda CBR 1000RR joined us for servicing.

After a month of residing with us at mono motorcycles, the first generation of the iconic Yamaha R1 has completed her rejuvenation journey.

Having stood in a dry garage for some three years prior to her current owner taking possession of her; she has undergone some major rejuvenation since she joined us a month ago.

After a month of residing with us at mono motorcycles, the first generation of the iconic Yamaha R1 has completed her rejuvenation journey
After a month of residing with us at mono motorcycles, the first generation of the iconic Yamaha R1 has completed her rejuvenation journey
Having stood in a dry garage for some three years prior to her current owner taking possession of her; she has undergone some major rejuvenation since she joined us a month ago.
Having stood in a dry garage for some three years prior to her current owner taking possession of her; she has undergone some major rejuvenation since she joined us a month ago.

When the First Gen R1 joined us she was a non start. Having had her carbs apart, Daniel had to order new rubbers, as the ethanol in the fuel had eaten them away over time. Once the carbs had been rebuilt & the process of balancing them was undertaken; the R1 underwent a major service & valve clearance check. Remarkably, every valve was in tolerance & non needed adjusting.

Having had her carbs apart, Daniel had to order new rubbers, as the ethanol in the fuel had eaten them away over time.
Having had her carbs apart, Daniel had to order new rubbers, as the ethanol in the fuel had eaten them away over time.
Once the carbs had been rebuilt & the process of balancing them was undertaken; the R1 underwent a major service & valve clearance check. Remarkably, every valve was in tolerance & non needed adjusting.
Once the carbs had been rebuilt & the process of balancing them was undertaken; the R1 underwent a major service & valve clearance check. Remarkably, every valve was in tolerance & non needed adjusting.

Once new brake lines had been fitted & the service completed, it was discovered on her first fire up, that she wasn’t charging. The regulator rectifier had failed & needed replacing.

The R1’s new owner wanted to keep her as original as was possible & therefore instructed mono motorcycles to re-instigate the EXUP valve. Once new cables were fitted, Daniel noted that the EXUP valve would jam once hot. Upon inspection, the EXUP valve was found to have distorted. After some considerable fettling, minor modifications & refitting several times & it still jammed; it was agreed with the customer to wire the EXUP valve open.

Once all of these works were completed, Daniel was able to take the R1 out for her first road test. However, it was while on road test that Daniel noted that there was a hesitation in the R1 under load. Once back in the workshop & under investigation, it was decided to replace the coils & HT leads to clear the hesitation. Once road tested again the hesitation had gone.

However, it was while on road test that Daniel noted that there was a hesitation in the R1 under load. Once back in the workshop & under investigation, it was decided to replace the coils & HT leads to clear the hesitation. Once road tested again the hesitation had gone.
However, it was while on road test that Daniel noted that there was a hesitation in the R1 under load. Once back in the workshop & under investigation, it was decided to replace the coils & HT leads to clear the hesitation. Once road tested again the hesitation had gone.

With an MOT now on the R1, she is well & truly ready to be re-united with her eager owner; a man who understands & respects the iconic First Gen Yamaha R1 for what she is & her performance.

With an MOT now on the R1, she is well & truly ready to be re-united with her eager owner; a man who understands & respects the iconic First Gen Yamaha R1 for what she is & her performance.
With an MOT now on the R1, she is well & truly ready to be re-united with her eager owner; a man who understands & respects the iconic First Gen Yamaha R1 for what she is & her performance.

Our second long term guest, the first generation fuel injected Yamaha R1, has finally had her new-pre-loved engine fitted.

Sadly for her owner, after literally one week having her rear wheel bearing replaced, the engine decided it had had enough, spun a bearing & died.

second long term guest, the first generation fuel injected Yamaha R1, has finally had her new-pre-loved engine fitted.
second long term guest, the first generation fuel injected Yamaha R1, has finally had her new-pre-loved engine fitted.

As we have seen before, the decisions having to be made are tough. Do you cut your loses & scrap the entire machine? or do you hunt down a pre-loved engine (this model was only made for two years) & hope you can bring your beloved R1 back to life?

Our customer, who has invested considerably into this model, took the latter route & found a pre-loved engine, which was intended to have been fitted in a car!

Our customer, who has invested considerably into this model, took the latter route & found a pre-loved engine, which was intended to have been fitted in a car!
The Yamaha R1 engine being dropped out of the chassis.
Rolling chassis of the Yamaha R1, minus it's defunct engine.
Rolling chassis of the Yamaha R1, minus it’s defunct engine.

Once Daniel had checked the valve clearances on the new/pre-loved engine & fitted the new/pre-loved engine into the R1 chassis, he was then, once the electrics were connected, able to fire her up. It was such a pleasure to hear the roar of the deep engine inside the R1 chassis. The oil in the new/pre-loved engine was running clear prior to start up, leading us to believe that this engine had been cared for.

Once Daniel had checked the valve clearances on the new/pre-loved engine & fitted the new/pre-loved engine into the R1 chassis, he was then, once the electrics were connected, able to fire her up.
Once Daniel had checked the valve clearances on the new/pre-loved engine & fitted the new/pre-loved engine into the R1 chassis, he was then, once the electrics were connected, able to fire her up.

Daniel took the R1 out for a road test & could instantly feel the difference in the engine, which had considerably less miles on than the previous one.

The first gen fuel injection Yamaha R1 is now re-united with her very relieved owner, who has already been rekindling his passion for riding in the May sunshine.

Our next guest is the Yamaha WR450F, who has joined us to have her piston replaced. The Yamaha WR450F has a 450 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine.

Our next guest is the Yamaha WR450, who has joined us to have her piston replaced.
Our next guest is the Yamaha WR450, who has joined us to have her piston replaced.

The delicate job of getting the rings aligned, involved Daniel & Katy easing the cylinder gently over the piston & ensuring all of the delicate rings were aligned, prior to fitting. The next phase of the job is to re-connect the considerable amount of wiring loom.

The next phase of the job is to re-connect the considerable amount of wiring loom.
The next phase of the job is to re-connect the considerable amount of wiring loom.

The final Japanese guest this week, is the very clean REPSOL Honda CBR1000 RR, who has joined us for a full service.

The final Japanese guest this week, is the very clean REPSOL Honda CBR1000 RR, who has joined us for a full service.
The final Japanese guest this week, is the very clean REPSOL Honda CBR1000 RR, who has joined us for a full service.

The Fireblade’s owner, one of our regular customers, wanted to ensure that despite the service book having been previously stamped regularly, that the Fireblade was in tip top road condition.

The Fireblade's owner, one of our regular customers, wanted to ensure that despite the service book having been previously stamped regularly, that the Fireblade was in tip top road condition.
The Fireblade’s owner, one of our regular customers, wanted to ensure that despite the service book having been previously stamped regularly, that the Fireblade was in tip top road condition.

Our events calendar is hotting up, with our next breakfast club only round the corner, on Sunday 26th May. We are hoping that we can gather some V-Twin & Hotrod guests for the morning, as well as welcoming everyone to join us for a hearty breakfast & a catch up.

As always, for all your motorcycling needs, contact Daniel or Katy on T: 01243 576212 / 07899 654446 or through our contact page.

Category: Blog, Service & repair