Yamaha YB 1 1999 tidy-up
Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2023 4:55 pm
This is the thread to my new 'project' a Japanese market only Yamaha 50cc YB1 built in 1999.
It will be my 6th 2 wheel restoration/rebuild/tidy I've done since retiring from work, I find these light 2 wheelers really nice to work on, light and easy to handle, don't take up too much space and not a fortune to do, the opposite to a 911!
I was looking for a cosmetic project this time round, non of the rusted out fuel tanks, broken piston rings tired gearboxes and rust rust rust everywhere you looked or touched. bit sick of all that grief (getting older..)
By chance I happened on a Yamaha 50cc 2 stroke quite local to me with a dealer I knew well, £995 on ebay, buy it now at £1500, but it was unregistered, just a NOVA slip and looked a bit scared and too un loved, I was not sure.
Then up popped the same day this one that is now the project bike.
The YB1 model is the bike after the famous 'Fizzy' the FS1E which are now really expensive, around £6000 for a minter, projects tend to be rough and unloved (= expensive).
The YB is a Sports model in Japan, unrestricted engine (don't get excited), rider only seat and strengthen frame, a few are now being imported from Japan's south where no salt is used, so the vehicles tend to be free of serious or any rust. Nice.
This one is UK registered, fresh battery, tyres, few scars and actually runs, starts first kick every time. I've never had a bike that did that!
The model has 12V electrics and CDI ignition that helps.
With around 5300 miles it is really in good condition, but..
The wheels are a bit pitted, esp the rear and the spokes (galvanised) rusty too.
Some of the silver grey paint on the forks is bruised by stone chips and the seat cover is torn where the pvc cover has yielded in the sun.
Away from staring at it (I find it a very pleasing design) the tank is now empty and off (no scars, no dents, and the petcock fully works, (another first for me) and the seat is off.
This exposes the main pressed steel frame and with a dust of WD40 the original black paint simply shines through. Everywhere. No shot blasting required.
Ok, what is my objective here?
To simply make it look new again, don't spend a fortune (!) and make it something I feel proud of like all the others I've done.
Oh, and to get my hands dirty, take up the spare time and keep by brain cell active.
I'm sure I will have issues along the way, but I'm off to a good (great) start.
It will be my 6th 2 wheel restoration/rebuild/tidy I've done since retiring from work, I find these light 2 wheelers really nice to work on, light and easy to handle, don't take up too much space and not a fortune to do, the opposite to a 911!
I was looking for a cosmetic project this time round, non of the rusted out fuel tanks, broken piston rings tired gearboxes and rust rust rust everywhere you looked or touched. bit sick of all that grief (getting older..)
By chance I happened on a Yamaha 50cc 2 stroke quite local to me with a dealer I knew well, £995 on ebay, buy it now at £1500, but it was unregistered, just a NOVA slip and looked a bit scared and too un loved, I was not sure.
Then up popped the same day this one that is now the project bike.
The YB1 model is the bike after the famous 'Fizzy' the FS1E which are now really expensive, around £6000 for a minter, projects tend to be rough and unloved (= expensive).
The YB is a Sports model in Japan, unrestricted engine (don't get excited), rider only seat and strengthen frame, a few are now being imported from Japan's south where no salt is used, so the vehicles tend to be free of serious or any rust. Nice.
This one is UK registered, fresh battery, tyres, few scars and actually runs, starts first kick every time. I've never had a bike that did that!
The model has 12V electrics and CDI ignition that helps.
With around 5300 miles it is really in good condition, but..
The wheels are a bit pitted, esp the rear and the spokes (galvanised) rusty too.
Some of the silver grey paint on the forks is bruised by stone chips and the seat cover is torn where the pvc cover has yielded in the sun.
Away from staring at it (I find it a very pleasing design) the tank is now empty and off (no scars, no dents, and the petcock fully works, (another first for me) and the seat is off.
This exposes the main pressed steel frame and with a dust of WD40 the original black paint simply shines through. Everywhere. No shot blasting required.
Ok, what is my objective here?
To simply make it look new again, don't spend a fortune (!) and make it something I feel proud of like all the others I've done.
Oh, and to get my hands dirty, take up the spare time and keep by brain cell active.
I'm sure I will have issues along the way, but I'm off to a good (great) start.