Final fling!

There was just one last thing to finish Niall Mackenzie’s YZF-R1 Yamaha – fitting as Yamaha Motor Company celebrates 65 years this July!

- NIALL MACKENZIE

Yamaha YZF-R1 4XV Part 6

My ‘Journey’s End’piece on my 1998R1 in the January issue of this wonderful publication was essentially the conclusion of my latest restoration.

There was no rush, but real work got in the way so it took over a year to once again have this Yamaha icon looking pristine. Except I knew she wasn’t. Most nights I sleep well (paying my taxes and not cheating on the wife definitely helps). However, a careless brake fluid spill on the rear wheel and a scabby Niall Mac top triple clamp paint job (badly peppered by a rattling key ring) was troubling my slumber so something had to be done.

You’ve probably heard me mention CJ Ward from Burton on Trent before and mostly because I love them. Tim and Chris operate out of modest-sized old school premises, but packed with the latest stove enamelling, powder-coating and shot blasting equipment.