Yamaha YA-1 Resurrection

[Yamanatic]

The 1955 YA1 Yamaha 125 (2T) restoration has finally started after lurking in the corner for many years. These bikes were also known as the Akatombo, or Red Dragonfly. Some say blasphemy against the Yamagods: "Leave it original." I think not:


Let the project begin! First order of business is get the motor out and apart - it took a week to nurse the cases apart since a couple pullers had to be engineered, and surprisingly most of the internals are serviceable; a good thing since NO parts are available, not even from Japan. Here are the cases after being stripped and the first pass through the parts cleaner:


This is going to take some time. The bike spent 40 years in Hawaii at the first Yamaha Dealership in the United States, so the original finish has much surface-rust; the metal beneath is 100% sound and solid and amazingly straight.

The chrome will be a challenge as it didn't fare as well as the painted parts - the handlebars, rims, and exhaust system will take some heroic (read 'expensive') plating work.

Interesting history: the YA-1 was not only the first Yamaha, but it was also the first Yamaha race bike, having won the first race they ever entered, the 1955 Mount Fuji Ascent in Japan ... they finished minutes ahead of the pack. The YA-1 was produced from 1955 to 1957, and one had to be quite wealthy to buy one ... "the average starting salary of a college graduate (in Japan) was around 10,000 Yen, the YA-1's 138,000 Yen price put it well beyond the reach of most users." 

There are less than 10 YA-1's in the U.S., and this is one of two 1955's - the actual count is unknown, but the other dated bikes are 1957's. The Yamaha Corporation was formed in July of 1955, and the date tag on this frame shows Aug-1955, so this is likely one of the oldest in existence.

Updates will be slow in coming - I estimate at least 1-year to finish (it is a very simple and basic bike), which probably means it will take at least 2!

Warren

[Perattzi]

Wow this is amazing! Can't wait to see this come together 👏