[guinnessfox]

Hello all. Just purchased my third bike today. Kinda scary purchase though... first bike I have purchased to become a cafe racer AND the first bike I have purchased without a title. 1966?? Yamaha YM1. It has a trail of bills of sales going back to 1981 from previous owner and his father (hasn't been registered since the 70s). It runs great, goes through the gears no problem and looks like nothing else I have ever had before. It is just... beautiful. 40xx original miles and all #s matching. VIN came back from police in WI as clear and checks out on NIBC Vin checker. You guys recommend the Vermont route (heard it is SUPER easy) or trying MNDOT?

ANY help is appreciated in getting this beauty back on the road!

Cheers,
G-Fox

 

[guinnessfox]

More shots of her in action~

 

[guinnessfox]

Update: Apparently... MNDMV is super easy to deal with. Just went in with 4 pictures, bill of sale and a statement of facts and the bike got its plates and title right then and there. Super stoked to ride now.

 

[Tanshanomi]

Please give us a detailed idea of what modifications you want to make to the bike. That's too nice a survivor to hack up. Hopefully you're going to keep the option of returning it to stock?

 

[o1marc]

Get some proper riding gear.

 

[hillsy]

View attachment 14911

That kinda reminds me of where I sat on my XT500 - pretty much riding it from the back seat.

 

[Stolenare]

This is a cafe-racer. Anything you do to the looks will make it less of a cafe-racer. If you plan to only ride it in the sun, and have a good place to keep it when it isn't out on the street, I'd pick it apart and shine up the engine and other parts that might have some rust to it. If you (for some dorky reason) want to rebuild it, pleace don't make any changes that cannot be reversed, and don't sell off original parts.

 

[Witworth]

This is a cafe-racer. Anything you do to the looks will make it less of a cafe-racer. If you plan to only ride it in the sun, and have a good place to keep it when it isn't out on the street, I'd pick it apart and shine up the engine and other parts that might have some rust to it. If you (for some dorky reason) want to rebuild it, pleace don't make any changes that cannot be reversed, and don't sell off original parts.

It's not a cafe racer. It's a two person, two stroke, touring motorcycle.

All it really needs is some lower euro - style bars, some modern tires and general maint.

It's not the bike to butcher to follow some passing trend, either.

Danger, is my business."

 

[hillsy]

This is a cafe-racer. Anything you do to the looks will make it less of a cafe-racer.

How the fuck is this bike already a "cafe racer" ? It's a standard, stock, old 2 stroke that could barely pull the skin off a stale custard.

This notion of "any old bike is a cafe racer" is really starting to piss me off.

 

[drgonzo]

If it were my bike, I'd likely upgrade the suspension and install some flat bars. The bars will give a somewhat cramped riding position without rear-sets but it sure would look good with them. Almost forgot, quality tires. I like Avon AM26's.

 

[guinnessfox]

Please give us a detailed idea of what modifications you want to make to the bike. That's too nice a survivor to hack up. Hopefully you're going to keep the option of returning it to stock?

I am sorry, I didn't mean ACTUALLY cut the poor thing up! I mean just new seat/handle bars and polish the chrome up.

It needs a few tiny parts here n there, so I will be focusing on maintenance first (safety, drivability, reliability). Carb boots, motor reseal, safety switch leak, some wiring, petcock is finicky, carbs need to be synched.

After that, I am looking at seat/handlebars. It is missing the logos on the tank, so I was going to machine some steel to fit in there and have my buddy pin stripe "YAMAHA" on them. Was thinking of fabbing a headlight visor and making a custom stamped front plate for her. Obviously my bike is much nicer than the one pictured, but it looks like this was just a seat replacement/handle bar replacement. The last thing I want done is pin striping on the black on my tank. My tank is not perfect, there are dents here and there. And I would like my own "personal" touch on the bike. I do not want to do anything that I cannot undo to her because like people previously said, it is far too nice and complete to "hack up" View attachment 15064

 

[guinnessfox]

Get some proper riding gear.

Sorry, was too excited that night ;P

- - - Updated - - -

If it were my bike, I'd likely upgrade the suspension and install some flat bars. The bars will give a somewhat cramped riding position without rear-sets but it sure would look good with them. Almost forgot, quality tires. I like Avon AM26's.

It needs tires, like I stated in my earlier reply, I am focusing on maintenance now (motor, electronics, tires).

Would you think white walls would look good? or would they be too flashy/out of place on this bike?

Thanks for the advice on the tires though, I will look into those! Definitely NOT a place that you would want to cheap on on a bike. ;P

 

[guinnessfox]

How the fuck is this bike already a "cafe racer" ? It's a standard, stock, old 2 stroke that could barely pull the skin off a stale custard.

This notion of "any old bike is a cafe racer" is really starting to piss me off.

I got that a few times already... "Nice cafe!"

I need the seats and everything first. Have any suggestions for resources?

Cheers!

 

[guinnessfox]

SO here is a list of what I need to do before I modify the bike:

-Petcock rebuild
-Carb boots
-Some electronic work
-TIRES (Dear god they are original)
-Safety switch leak


MODS (after the bike is 100% road ready!)
-Seat
-Headlight visor
-Front plate
-Yellow headlight
-Tank pin striping
-Custom tank emblems
-Suspension? (What do you guys recommend??)
-handle bars (Clubmans? Clip ons?)

Here is a ratty example of a YM1 cafe. Mine is much nicer...

 

[Witworth]

Honestly, don't try and emulate that failed POS. Do you want a list of fails, bad mods and dangerous dysfunctions? Really.

Danger, is my business."

 

[guinnessfox]

Honestly, don't try and emulate that failed POS. Do you want a list of fails, bad mods and dangerous dysfunctions? Really.

Danger, is my business."

nononono! I don't want my bike to look like that, I was just using the fact that he has a YM1 and it was "cafe styled". I want mine to remain clean, with quality parts. I would never cheap out on my bike! Something like this would be my goal:

 

[o1marc]

Upside down handlebars and a bumstop seat do not make a cafe racer.

 

[TrialsRider]

:I think he was going for the bulbous look.

He does have expansion chambers !
… and he removed the oil tank so he can run pre-mix, that would be really handy when you go to fuel up at the local gas bar.

Stick around, I think these guys can help you do better then that.

 

[guinnessfox]

Upside down handlebars and a bumstop seat do not make a cafe racer.

??? You not see my list? I want to do a lot to the bike.

 

[o1marc]

??? You not see my list? I want to do a lot to the bike.

I was referring to the pic you said was the goal for your build.