OK so here goes - I've got a very complete 66 Yamaha YL1 2-smoker 100 cc twin, with dual exhausts and carbs. And here is the storey behind how I acquired it, and where I plan to go with this project.
5 years ago my son (22 at the time) replied to an ad for an old Solex. When he went to look at the Solex, the 80 something year old owner says "I've got some other bikes in a trailer - want to have a look?" Crammed inside the 20 foot trailer were a bunch of bikes from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Apparently the guy wanted to restore them someday, and as life went by he got too old and the wife told him to get rid of all his "crap". My son spotted the little YL1 under a ton of grease and dust. How much do you want for that one my son asked pointing to the YL1. "You can have it for 300 bucks" My cell phone rang shortly afterwards, my son asking if he could borrow 300. Yeah, sure I said. At least I had some collateral for the loan. Over the next 5 years, my son took the bike apart in his batchlor apartment, cleaned off the grease, and did some spray can painting. He rebuilt the top end of the engine, adding new pistons and rings. But he sort of lost interest and met the love of his life. (you know where this is going right?) Anyway, about a month ago he tells me he's getting married, and that he put the YL1 on Kijiji to get some cash. WHAT - how much?? I could not stand to let that thing go so I gave him his asking price immediately. Like I need another project - I'll be that 80 year old myself someday with a bunch of unfinished projects lol. So what to do with it? It's too rare and complete to chop up so changes will have to be reversible but I want to add my personal mark on this. And I always lusted after a 1969 Roadrunner. And although this bike is as far from a Roadrunner as you could get, there are a few things that are similar. Dual exhaust. Multiple carbs. Basic design. And a motor that has a nice sound. So there you have it. Here is the plan. Rebuild this bike as some sort of tribute to the Roadrunner without chopping it up. I dunno, did I smoke too much weed in the '70's or can I actually pull this off? Stay tuned.
5 years ago my son (22 at the time) replied to an ad for an old Solex. When he went to look at the Solex, the 80 something year old owner says "I've got some other bikes in a trailer - want to have a look?" Crammed inside the 20 foot trailer were a bunch of bikes from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Apparently the guy wanted to restore them someday, and as life went by he got too old and the wife told him to get rid of all his "crap". My son spotted the little YL1 under a ton of grease and dust. How much do you want for that one my son asked pointing to the YL1. "You can have it for 300 bucks" My cell phone rang shortly afterwards, my son asking if he could borrow 300. Yeah, sure I said. At least I had some collateral for the loan. Over the next 5 years, my son took the bike apart in his batchlor apartment, cleaned off the grease, and did some spray can painting. He rebuilt the top end of the engine, adding new pistons and rings. But he sort of lost interest and met the love of his life. (you know where this is going right?) Anyway, about a month ago he tells me he's getting married, and that he put the YL1 on Kijiji to get some cash. WHAT - how much?? I could not stand to let that thing go so I gave him his asking price immediately. Like I need another project - I'll be that 80 year old myself someday with a bunch of unfinished projects lol. So what to do with it? It's too rare and complete to chop up so changes will have to be reversible but I want to add my personal mark on this. And I always lusted after a 1969 Roadrunner. And although this bike is as far from a Roadrunner as you could get, there are a few things that are similar. Dual exhaust. Multiple carbs. Basic design. And a motor that has a nice sound. So there you have it. Here is the plan. Rebuild this bike as some sort of tribute to the Roadrunner without chopping it up. I dunno, did I smoke too much weed in the '70's or can I actually pull this off? Stay tuned.
