Did we bite off more than we can chew with a basket case Yamaha FZR400 obtained from eBay for less than £100? Probably, is the obvious answer, but the Road Runt project is all about the challenge. And after the initial enthusiasm and excitement has worn off, we’re now able to see the actual size of what we’ve taken on. It’s a bit like getting home with a newborn baby and realising exactly how much nappies smell and how little sleep you’ll really get.
After going through the buckets of bits that came with our bike, it’s clear that the bits missing from your FZR400 1WG outnumber the bits we have. That worries us a bit, but it means we have plenty of scope to make budget-inspired changes. And our aim remains the same – we’re going to start by creating a cheap but effective way for Dan ‘little legs’ Thornton to own a bike which actually runs, and then see how we can improve it over time .
On the plus side, the parts we actually got are quite tidy. The frame shows no signs of being crashed in almost three decades, and despite a lack of carbs and CDI, the engine was sold as being good.
Our first decision is whether to try sourcing a set of carbs, exhaust and ignition box to gamble on the unheard and untested engine? Or do we just go straight to the common and fairly cheap option of a Yamaha FZR600 motor transplant – which have ironically become scarcer since we started considering it.
In the meantime, we’ve been making some decent progress. Slight pitting on the forks cleaned up OK, and the discovery that the fork seals don’t leak was a happy moment. So for the moment the forks are staying.
We couldn’t say the same about the calipers, which were beyond help. So to stop us getting depressed they’ve gone in the bin. That’s balanced out by the Brembo master cylinder which came fitted to the Runt when we collected it. That’s now been swapped for a Micron can, some FZR400 discs and a standard master cylinder assembly in a trade which was fair for all involved.
So the Road Runt has gained some bits, but did also loose the weird inner fuel tank, which was far too rusty to bother with. Somehow we’ve ended up with less parts than we started with, and didn’t manage to pick up anything at Stafford.
The main aim at the moment is to sort the absence of a shock. Mainly because it’s a real pain in the backside to keep moving it without one. So we’re keeping an eye out for potential solutions from the Yamaha FZR400, Thundercat and TRX to see what might fit as an alternative to the pricier and more common R6 route. Anyone got one spare?
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