WIP: Yamaha R1 Tuner

[joelwideqvist]

Hi
Just finished off my latest GP500 bikes and decided to start a long awaited build. Long time since I did a street bike so I'm going to tune a Yamaha R1.

Bike will get seat pipes, mono swing arm, new brake discs and calipers and a lot of scratch built details.
Frame will be flat black and the cowls some nice red color. Looked through the amazing Cobra Colors but as I'm in Sweden it will probably end up Tamiya Metallic Red or something...

To achieve my goal I will bash the Tamiya Yamaha R1 together with the Tamiya Ducati 916. Add to that, some calipers and fenders from GP bikes.

These kits haven't got that many parts so hopefully it will be a pretty fast build (say not more than 6 months...) but getting the added detail right may take me a while. I guess making the seat pipes and rebuilding the R1 swing to a mono one will be the most time consuming parts.

To start off, I've stripped the chrome plating and begun filling the frame parts.


I've glued the tank and seat cowl halfs together and started working on the seams. I've opened up holes in both parts wich will get PE mesh installed from the inside. Have to open up the bottom of the tank to achieve that but that's a later issue...




Started working on the side cowlings as well. The R1 kit has 98/99 version cowlings and they are a bit too dressed for this tuner. I've cut some plastic off and will continue filing and sanding it to some nicer shape.


R1 calipers is a bit dull for my taste. I've taking the lower part of the forks including Brembo calipers from a ´01 Yamaha YZR500 GP bike and will use the fork arms from the R1 kit so they fit with the tri-clamps. Sliding parts will be machined brass.


The R1 front fender (to the right) is a bit large and boring. I need something more agressive and sporty. Choice fell on the smaller fender from the GP bike mentioned above. Some work is needed to fit it in between the fork arms and the fender will get meshed holes like the tank and seat cowl.


How's that for a start? Tell me what you think.
best regards
Joel

[gpz900ra7]

Hi, nice to see another bike being built, not enough IMO. I'll be watching this with interest. As you are using parts from the 916, why don't you use the swinging arm off that complete with the whole wheel assembly, wouldn't that be easier? Keep up the good work and the updates coming.

[joelwideqvist]

Hi, yes it would definately be easier, but as always things aren't as straight forward as you like them to be. When I started planning for this project (like two years ago...) I was going to do just as you suggest but the Ducati swing is just too short, wich makes the wheel hit the frame. Instead I'll have to walk the long way, rebuilding the R1 swing and reshape the Ducati wheel to center in the new swing. I'll be using the Ducati chain, brake disc and caliper though.
/Joel

[travis712]

Cool WIP, subscribed

[joelwideqvist]

Started cleaning up some of the minor parts today and sorting them for painting.
I'm having some trouble regarding the engine color, don't know if I shall do it the conventional steel/black way or put some gold into the top area. What do you think?

As I know progress threads are worthless without pics I put in a picture of one of the the brake discs. I'm cutting them to represent wave style discs. This goes for both front and rear brake systems. I've sanded down the molded in washers and rivets to be replaced with PE ones.
There is still some cleaning up to do before painting them:



best regards
Joel

[G-man422]

OH baby, cant wait to see it when its done!!

[joelwideqvist]

Well, don't know how long it's been since I posted this thread... I've done some minor progress since then but thinking of heating this build process up a bit. I mounted the larger parts together for a mock up of the final result. As you can see there is plenty left to do but you get the idea of what it is supposed to become.
Larger modifications that's left is to rebuild the swing a bit more to make it look better and to make room for the seat pipes. I also have to come up with an idea of how to mount the new front fender.

Here are the mock up shots (they were taken in too bright sun light, hence the crappy quality ) As the rear damper isn't installed I got a bit of an ugly lift of the rear on the first pic...:













best regards
Joel

[SupaMan89T]

looks great so far love how this is turning out!

[willimo]

Cool build! I've not seen a lot of tuned bikes - in fact, I can't recall any. Great work so far, I can't wait to see it come together.

[joelwideqvist]

There has been a few but as you say, they are not many. At least not here at AF. I'll fix the new exhaust pipes and the swing so that I can move on with it.
Joel

[iceracer1]

Very interesting project here

I also have the Yap R1 and also wanted to make a tuned model. But I think I'll wil make a naked bike (streetfighter)

I'll keep folowing this one!

Kris.

[joelwideqvist]

So, things are starting to happen around here. More progress in two days than I've made in six months...

Today I started working on the new swing arm. I've decided to make it a mono swing as it gives the bike a more sporty look. I've cut the right side arm off the old R1 swing. After that I've grinded the right side of the swing just inside the foot peg carrier to make room for the new seat pipes.
I've added some epoxy putty to the cut off edges and will start shaping that as soon as it has dried.



I will be using the under seat mufflers from the Ducati 916 kit. That leaves me with the job to make new exhaust pipes and to make them fit into the exup of the R1 system. I've used styrene rod with a 3,5 mm diameter. That dimension looks quite alright on the bike and fits like a dream into the mufflers.
I made a dummy out of wire for the first pipe, heated the rod over a candle and formed it after the dummy. It took two runs to make it look good. Going at the second pipe I just followed the curves of the first one making it a lot easier.



This is how it looks with the pipes fitted into the frame.





I still have to fit the ends into the exup but I think that's going to be a minor problem. A bigger one is to hang the whole system so that it doesn't tilt. Any ideas.

best regards
Joel

[joelwideqvist]

Lot of puttying going on right now. Swing is almost done, so is the frame. I've decided to move on down the scratch building road and try and get the bike an airbox. We'll see how that project turns out...
Cowlings has got their first run of primer and I've found some imperfections to take care of. Think I've also decided to paint the tank and perhaps the front fender in some contrasting color, like metallic grey or black.

To give you guys something I have now finished off the remodeling of the brake discs. Had a bit of mishap with the rear one but nothing serious. All molded in rivets has been removed and shall be replaced with PE ones. Know I have to clean them up a bit and prepare for some paint.



best regards
Joel

[nugundam93]

wow...i sure missed this great build! nice work!

[BugZilla]

Hey Joel,

I know you have been talking about this for a while now, the first few posts must have slipped by me, but I think you sent me some pics of it before. Nice to see some more progress on it.

As always, if you need anything, let me know.

Dave