Yamaha YBR 125 Custom

[kleholmes]

Hi, I'm new to the bike world so I'm just looking for a bit of advice!

I just just brought a Yamaha YBR 125 custom (2012) with 23000 miles on the clock. A recent MOT (16/02/18) picked up on slightly worn sprockets and chain but apart from that its all in running order.

However...there is quite a bit of rust on parts of the exhaust. In parts (mainly the first bit of exhaust pipe...not sure what you'd call it) it is so bad that there are little holes but (according to someone who knows more than me) its just the outer piping and the inner part should be fine it just doesn't look particularly attractive.

So my first question is; can I make this look better and if so how?

There are also bit of rust developing on the front suspension bars and again I've been told its not affecting the performance or damaging the suspension seals (again I don't know what they are called). If its left though its going to become an issue!

So question no.2 is; how can I remove the existing rust and prevent more from developing?

Final question; for the parts of the bike (handlebars etc) that have general rusty specks whats the best way to clear these up?

Thanks for reading this I spent £850 on the bike including the guys leather and bike cover...I hope I haven't been ripped off!

[Tankie]

If the down pipe is rusted through and is double skinned then in a short time the inner pipe will fail, I suggest you replace it , ether with a Yam item or an aftermarket system, as for the rust on the bars,clean with metal polish and or Aluminum foil, yes the foil trick does remove rust .
The rust is the result of poor or porous plating, so again replacement could be the way to go
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Always learning, everyday is a school day

[Courier265]

I agree with Tankie, get the exhaust replaced because it will fail, doing this soon as possible will save you money and inconvenience.

DO the research on the net for prices for both genuine and pattern.

[ADSrox0r]

You're about to find out a painful feature of the YBR Custom; the exhaust is painfully expensive. And the real kicker? 'Standard' (cheaper) exhaust won't fit the Custom without some welding modification to the hanger area.

The stock exhaust is quite literally made of cheese, it tends to rot at the lowest point where the weld is. Keep an eye on this but it will inevitably fail.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[kleholmes]

Oh joys this is going to be expensive... I've had a little look and from the looks of things some of the yamaha ybr 125 exhausts say they'll fit on mine (they don't really match tho), will it still need welding modification?

Would it be cheaper to just replace the down pipe part even though it will require a lot more metal cutting and welding? If so where can I get the parts

[ADSrox0r]

Yeah you'll find they say they fit when in fact they don't, the custom hanger is different. It's a bit further forward if I remember correctly.

The only way to find out for sure is to get a standard YBR exhaust and take the bike to a decent mechanic and get them to fabricate a bracket arrangement to fit. Unless of course you have access to welding gear and sheet material yourself. If you do then I'd think you could fabricobble something together to the tune of a bracket 'extension'. Might even be possible to do it with just cut and drilled plate and relevant bolts, no welding.

Cutting and modifying the existing exhaust with new stainless steel downpipes would be more of a ballache I would say.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[kleholmes]

I defiantly don't trust myself to do the work myself!

Either way I can see this being difficult...as the MOT was only 2 days ago and it wasn't mentioned, I think I'm going to assume it'll be fine for the time being so I can find the parts when I have some more money!

I am right in thinking they would have picked up on it if it was really bad?

[bamt]

I wouldn't worry too much about it at the moment - certainly I wouldn't be looking to change it, depending upon your plans it may outlive your ownership of the bike.

The MOT man will only complain if there is an actual hole.

[kleholmes]

Oh okay well that makes me feel a lot better about it then!

Is removing some of the rust and then putting a protector type paint on it worth a try? even just to make it look a little better?

[ADSrox0r]

If you're moving on to bigger and better then don't sweat it. The salt on the roads at the moment will eat it in short order though.

Whipping it off and going over it with wire wool then a BBQ paint respray is literally a 10 minute job when you come to sell on.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[kleholmes]

fab, thanks so much!!