Team-BHP - The Yamaha 'RX' Thread (with pics)

@Danny, you've a same taste of mine. I was looking out for some help regarding the chrome works on the rear swing arm, drums, head, L brackets, engine covers & I find your job something what I dream off. I'd people telling me that don't even think of chroming & provided me various reasons. Since my rebuild might kick off in couple of weeks, appreciate if you can give me some pointers. But I'm really happy to look that chromed rear swing arm, light switches, clutch & front brake levers & how did you even silver coat the footrest. Simply loved your work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yzfrj (Post 1890296)

I'll give you only one - Location (Chennai = Rust)

Big NO if the work is done neatly. I've this CD100's rims on my RX that hasn't got even a single micron of rust for last 3 years while you can see minute spot of rusts on the OE handle bars after 4 years & the little chrome visible amidst of rust on the exhaust after I got it chromed in 2002. It all depends on the quality of chrome & again, it is prone to rust, but a good quality of work postpones the rust as much as possible.

@Danny - Try to get a pair of new C5's RVMS to add elegancy & more chromy look; incase you don't get the C5's RVM's, go for TBTS's RVM. Appreciate if you can share some details on the chrome job done. What I heard was, by chroming the parts, they increase the size by few mm & thus blocking the free movement on bolt-nut threads. Could you clarify this point pls?

PS - I use TBTS's RVM on my RX

Quote:

Originally Posted by aargee (Post 1890467)

Big NO if the work is done neatly.

I don't agree. My bike is 1997 Dec, it was shipped to Chennai Dec 2005. In that 8 years the rims, exhaust, handle, grab handle had 0 rust.
The engine casing and the front shocks paint was in good condition.

I had noobs (Who does't know anything about bikes) asking if my bike is "new model" when I brought it here to Chennai.

I kid you not.

Now I have specks of rust on the chrome bits and the paint from the shocks have peeled off.

Heck, my zen was rust free till it came to Chennai. Now it has a started bit by bit. My Bro Wagon-R (sold now) was the classic example of what Salty water and air can do.

Plus the extreme heat here kind of acts as a "catalyst".

Quote:

Originally Posted by aargee (Post 1896773)

@YZFRJ - My point to convey was, be it Kerala or Kulalumpur any piece of iron/chrome is prone to rust, a good job will only prolong the rust. As you said, Chennai's weather is definitely a catalyst.

Taken from here- > What is Rust?

Quote:

The main catalyst for the rusting process is dihydrogen oxide, but we know it better as water. Iron or steel structures may appear solid, but water molecules can easily penetrate the microscopic pits and cracks in any exposed metal. The hydrogen atoms present in water can combine with other elements to form acids, which will eventually cause more metal to be exposed. If sodium is present, as is the case with saltwater, corrosion will likely occur more quickly. Meanwhile, the oxygen atoms combine with metallic atoms to form the destructive oxide compound. As the atoms combine they weaken the metal, making the structure brittle and

Chennai has salty air. Heat just speeds up the process.
I never said iron or plated parts will not rust, its only a matter of time.
And "time" depends on the proximity to sea, temperature, salinity in the air and water etc.
So it helps :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipdrive (Post 1818884)

here is the pic of the carbs: they are mikunis

IIRC, Jap RX, 86-87, had 'Made in Japan' embossed on the crank case cover and the carb too.

BTW, is that the fuel filter usually found in Hero Honda CD100/Splendor/etc?
And by any chance, is it fitted upside down?
These were pretty useless imho.
The disposable ones found in TVS Max/Samurais etc were quite good inspite of being very inexpensive.

Been ages since i used to ride- so please pardon me if wrong.

@XH_Vee - Oh!!! God!!! good to see the mint vehicle (actually I'm stumbling for words due to joy)

So beautiful looking motorcycle & sad that YMI stopped manufacturing this anymore. Atleast they could've tested a probability with 2-strokes in controlled emissions (they did the catcon one, but somehow it didn't catch up with the mass).

Hope you still are able to get the genuine parts for this model. Thanks for sharing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aargee (Post 1918045)

Believe it or not, I got her paying full cost 15 days in advance. There was no display vehicle in the showroom and when I asked for a broucher (after writing the cheque of the full amount) the guy in the showroom searched through his drawer for 20 mins and got me a postcard size photo. It was in Pune and that city doesn't even have any on the roads. At that time I did not care how she looked as long as the on-paper specs were correct. :D

But when I finally saw her - boy it was love at first sight! (I remember that was the last TV commercial of RX135)

Parts are a problem - especially the body parts. That's why you see the headlamp cowl missing. The service is also quite poor. Couple of years back, I busted the original Yamaha front disk brake master cylinder oil seal. And many mechanics in Bangalore told me I would have to change the entire disk brake kit + the front forks and install KBX kit. Finally I went to DTW in Bangalore. That guy not only repaired my bust seal but also got me another new kit (Master cylinder & Disk) from his stock. Now I have a spare set.

By the way my bike came with a cat-con exhaust. But I changed to a RX100 exhaust with a modded bend pipe. I have still retained the original 13.5 kg exhaust and lug it around with me wherever I go. But even with the non-catcon exhaust, my PUC levels are way below modern electronic ignition 4-strokers. And they are no match in performance as well :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by XH_Vee (Post 1918066)

Parts are a problem - especially the body parts. That's why you see the headlamp cowl missing.

Yes, I'm aware. Trust me, you could find even parts for RX100, but not for this model. Reason being, low numbers in sale & YMIS doesn't find much takers for the parts. Same case with RXZ 4-speed old model without the disc brakes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XH_Vee (Post 1918066)

The service is also quite poor.

Well, you could change the way Y.A.S.S behaves; anyway majority of Yamaha loyalist have the same opinion as you do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XH_Vee (Post 1918066)

Couple of years back, I busted the original Yamaha front disk brake master cylinder oil seal. And many mechanics in Bangalore told me I would have to change the entire disk brake kit + the front forks and install KBX kit. Finally I went to DTW in Bangalore. That guy not only repaired my bust seal but also got me another new kit (Master cylinder & Disk) from his stock. Now I have a spare set.

Right; Y.A.S.S doesn't repair stuffs as they're instructed to replace the parts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XH_Vee (Post 1918066)

But even with the non-catcon exhaust, my PUC levels are way below modern electronic ignition 4-strokers. And they are no match in performance as well :)

Why wouldn't I agree?