We thought we'd share with everyone what we've doing with our 2009 Yamaha YZF-R1. We bought the bike last year with the intention of doing some WERA events and it has since turned into quite the project bike. We brought in Seamus Taaffe, former Yamaha Factory mechanic from Ben Bostrom’s AMA team last year to help us develop the bike. It has been an education to say the least - Seamus has worked with: Anthony Gobert, Jake Zemke, Roger Lee Hayden, Damon Buckmaster, Jason DiSalvo, Doug Henry, Tom Montano and Steve Rapp, to name a few. And, having worked on some of the most well-prepared bikes in AMA racing, he knows his stuff and he’s picky! The RidersDiscount.com Yamaha YZF-R1 has been built with many parts from the YEC catalog, including ECU, wire harness, radiator and suspension linkage. The motor has a full superbike build, SharkSkinz has provided the bodywork and Attack triple clamps are on the way. And while we have spared no expense in the preparation of this bike, the devil is in the details … The frame has been gusseted to Sterilgarda Yamaha’s spec. The bungs allow us to attach various “tuning plates” to the bike just behind and below the steering head. All of this gusseting is designed to reduce the amount of flex in the front of the Yamaha. A problem we had noted last year when racing the bike. If you look at any factory-level R1, they have had this same treatment.
With the frame back from the painter, it was time to do the engine install. It’s much easier bolting the frame to the engine, rather than the other way around. But, before we started any of this we spent a few hours removing paint from the frame wherever there was a bolt was going to be mounted. This gives grease and dirt less to adhere to and ensures torque specifications are spot-on.
looks sweet, post the rest of the pics of it as its being put back together?? and the finished bike ??
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to work with YEC parts, it’s amazing how methodically packaged everything is. Every bolt gets a bag and each bracket is carefully packaged and labeled accordingly. You can never have enough in the way of spares … The YEC Kit Shock linkage is actually a group of parts with different link pull rods and various linkages. We have a drawer dedicated to these parts. At right, the aluminum bar stock keeps the bike on a rolling chassis when the shock is out for re-valving. The link pull rod can also be adjusted in situ. Akrapovic’s Evolution II full system was installed on the bike. This should turn a wonderful purple …
Flex is suspected to have caused engine failures on endurance bikes in 24 hour races last year. Wear could be seen on the head gasket after a few hours of use.
The MB Motorsports radiator is a work of art, but like many kit parts, required some skilled hands and a little thought to make it work on the R1. First, the water line that serves the oil cooler had to be welded onto the right side of the radiator. A lower bracket was fabricated to keep the radiator off the headers. After said bracket was drilled for weight, the upper spigot on the radiator was found to be incompatible with kit tuning plate. We’re not going to cut holes in this thing. The rad’s spigot will be cut and pointed slightly downwards. The R1’s motor produces a LOT of heat and we were weary of engine temps with the OEM radiator. This should solve that problem.
awsome project! my frames and swingarms were gusset'd on my cr250's it makes a huge difference keep the info and pics coming!
This has been a problem on other motorcycles in the past... Ever take notice to most of the newer (last 4-5 years) motorcycle frames mounting to the cases instead of the head? Frames were flexing and the heads were moving on the cases. Todd