[jeganatu]

I always had a dream for getting a new bike with my own money. But I ended buying a new car first and got a free bike - that too a Yamaha RX100. Yes you heard it - free bike.

It was during 2010 when my close buddy got an offer for US offshore from his company. He had to give his RX100 in safe hands and I got a chance to lay my hands on it. It was with me for the next 2 years.

Having tested the ride quality of the RX100, I was not happy with any of the new bikes available on the market. Tested bikes all round the segment - from Impulse to R15, but nothing had a feel like the RX. I had to literally blackmail my friend to either sell this bike to me or get me a good used RX100 and then take back his bike. After a month, he got me a used bike and took back his!

Before


I got a used yellow-coloured bike for about Rs. 25,000 which had a yellow-coloured, shabby paint job done 6 months prior to my purchase. The previous owner had also carried out engine work and so, I didn't had to put in more vitamin M on service after the purchase. I put in a new battery, chain sprocket kit and engine oil which cost less than Rs. 5,000. After driving the bike for a couple of years, I planned to restore it and give it a fresh look.

Refurbishment Process:

Prior to modification, I gave the bike to the mechanic for a complete engine and general check up. The piston and value were good. I changed the oil seals only and bike was ready for painting.

One of my friend owns a mod shop in my city, having a very good reputation for fine quality mod-jobs. So finding a modifier was not a painstaking process for me. Proud to mention his name, Arun Velraj of Autoxsculpt Modification Garage, Madurai.

After several colour searches on google as well as Team-BHP, I finally zeroed in on red and black. Arun was extremely talented at applying ideas for decent mod-jobs.

I told Arun that I hated chroming the engine. First for its classic look, next for its quality and fading. He suggested to me that a golden paint with a clear coat will look energetic and will match the red, I agreed.

Colour used - Polo Red, Black, Brown Gold.
Red for fuel tank, side doors, front bumper, rear body stay
Gold for engine, front fork, clutch and front brake lever
Black for rims, rest of the chassis, scoop.
Zinc-coated spokes and nuts.

Chrome was chosen for indicators and headlight assembly to match all original monograms. The original fuel tank sticker was of golden colour and we were lucky enough that it matched the engine colour. All nuts and spokes were coated with zinc plated, which again had a golden colour reflection.

Parts Replaced:
Headlight assembly
Indicators and rear warning lamp
Engine scoop
Seat assembly
Side doors
Front and back mudguards
Silencer
License plate
Spark plug
All rubber parts and fasteners

The paint job was done in a dust-free chamber and the bike was given a clear coat.

Total value of the modification [spares + painting] was Rs. 28,000
Cost of purchase was Rs. 25,000 plus an initial expense of Rs. 5,000
Net total for refurbishment Rs. 58,000

This was an amount far less than the price of new premium bikes available in the market, which never come close to the ride quality and aesthetic feel of an RX.

Riding Experience:

That's the awesome part for any RX100 enthusiast and the sole reason for me to choose the bike. One kick, and it roars!

In first gear, unlike any other bike, the RX just goes mad. It gushes like a water out of a dam! Oo laa laaa!

When shifting to second gear, it just maintains a speed of around 20-35 kmph and waits eagerly to shift upwards. It is just so restless in 2nd gear.

And the most fun part of the ride is experienced in 3rd gear, where one can literally feel the bike going into a super-bike mode. I particularly love riding on a steep hill in 3rd gear, where a perfect mix of a speed, control and grip can be felt.

In fourth gear, the RX is like a "bull on the loose". It can do awesome speeds at ease on a good freeway and one can feel every bit of speed building up.
The sky is the limit in 4th gear.

Overall, it's a fantastic experience to ride an RX.

Proud to share. Here you go:







The below picture of the engine has the actual colour of gold Rest of the images do not show the actual colour due to lighting / camera effect.

[kiku007]

It's your ride; your money but sorry to say this, that just doesn't look like an RX100. The clear lens indicators+headlight, colours (Black, gold, red, chrome), seats, rims with blackened edges etc.. have taken away a lot from classic RX100 design.

The mod has tried to incorporate several elements and the bike ends up looking confused.

[The Great]

Very neatly done bro.

Also I agree that the smiles and rush from an RX is unmatchable. I have an 135-5speed and even if I buy any other bike I won't sell mine. Everytime I ride it it simply gives me great joy and happiness.

Simple engineering and virtually maintenance free bike.

Cheers !

[pramodkumar]

Originally Posted by kiku007

It's your ride; your money but sorry to say this, that just doesn't look like an RX100. The clear lens indicators+headlight, colours (Black, gold, red, chrome), seats, rims with blackened edges etc.. have taken away a lot from classic RX100 design.

The mod has tried to incorporate several elements and the bike ends up looking confused.

No offence but isn't your bike supposed to reflect your personality and liking?

The RX 100 has poor lighting, the stock headlamps are plain dangerous at night, re chroming always thins out the metal and its more prone to rusting after being re chromed, Painting it is the simplest solution available and trust me the bike carrys it quite well.

I like the paint used on the engine, looks great.


To each his own, Period!

Kudus to jeganatu for the build. Let me know which bike are those head lamp from, the beam looks like its from a TVX max XL?

Pramod

[VJ_MAVRICK]

Congrats @ "jeganatu" on this ride which on any given day will always standout for me like many others, as I had some sweet memories during my college days.

Blessed in a generation that had the opportunity to ride this beauty, hear the firing on this one, I can immediately relate to your connect and emotion for this beauty.

Enjoy the ride and drive safe .

[petrolhead_neel]

You have a made a good looking bike look even better. Just love the red paint on the bike. What is biking without a bit of personal touch?
Would request you to compose a full length ownership review. This will benefit the forum users. Contact the mods for help. They might move it to the 'Assembly Line' to help you out. If you want this thread to showcase only the modifications carried out, then please add some more details to make this thread 'complete.'
Nevertheless, a very neatly executed mod job. Also, would it be possible for you to take your time out and record the exhaust note of the RX and post it in here? Just love hearing it--pure music to an enthusiast's ears.
Now, planing some performance mods?
Cheers,
Neel

[Viju]

Congrats to the OP on a job well done. I hope you enjoy your RX100 for a very long time to come. My only humble suggestion would be to consider removing the RXZ engine guard, as it does not seem to serve any purpose - form-wise or function-wise.

Cheers!

[kiku007]

Originally Posted by pramodkumar

I don't understand the reason people are so fixated about stock looks, the moment a bit of custom touch is applied, which not only improves form but also functionality, people jump with their pitch forks screaming abomination, no offences but isn't your bike supposed to reflect your personality and liking?

The RX 100 has poor lighting, the stock headlamps are plain dangerous at night, re chroming always thins out the metal and its more prone to rusting after being re chromed, Painting it is the simplest solution available and trust me the bike carrys it quite well.

To each his own, Period!

When the title reads, "My Red Beast Yamaha Rx 100 Restoration" I expected to see a restored bike. This is a modified bike (To the owner's liking). Cool down and understand the difference between both before getting hot.

From the looks perspective it's far from being RESTORED.

Originally Posted by Viju

Pramod But I find it a bit strange when the word restoration is used so lightly and loosely. Restoration, rebuild and modification are very different things - whether you approve of it or not. Restoration is only back to factory specifications - there is no other way.

[noopster]

Mod Note: Please stay on-topic and avoid personal attacks and lengthy digressions. Thread title has been edited suitably.

[Poloprasad]

Nicely done bro. You can think of changing the seat profile along with the original orange indicators for a better RX feel. Just a suggestion since i have a Yamaha RX-135 (5 Speed).

[jeganatu]

My regrets to confuse the title mentioning restoration instead of modification or refurbishment which caused chaos here.
Thats okey, the mods have done their job, thanks!

Originally Posted by pramodkumar

The RX 100 has poor lighting, the stock headlamps are plain dangerous at night, re chroming always thins out the metal and its more prone to rusting after being re chromed, Painting it is the simplest solution available and trust me the bike carrys it quite well.

I like the paint used on the engine, looks great.


To each his own, Period!

Kudus to jeganatu for the build. Let me know which bike are those head lamp from, the beam looks like its from a TVX max XL?


Pramod

Well, first of all, I did not like the chorme looks of the bike, and I wanted a mod-job that will carry a look close to stock condition without any visible alteration of the chassis , tweaked colors a little and made people turn around .

Chorme, as you said is hard to maintain on long run, and we thought of anodizing which was not feasible and solution was a nice paint job.

Headlight assembly is of Thunderbird and indicators are of Enfield classic.

Originally Posted by Viju

Congrats to the OP on a job well done. I hope you enjoy your RX100 for a very long time to come. My only humble suggestion would be to consider removing the RXZ engine guard, as it does not seem to serve any purpose - form-wise or function-wise.


Cheers!

Without the engine scoop the bike looked so bland and I fixed to satisfy my personal feel on the bike, Purely cosmetic reasons.

Originally Posted by Poloprasad

Nicely done bro. You can think of changing the seat profile along with the original orange indicators for a better RX feel. Just a suggestion since i have a Yamaha RX-135 (5 Speed).

Different Seat profile option was not available in stock with the local dealer. Never showed any importance to that.

Regarding original orange indicators:
Yahama Rx100 has one of the worst quality of indicator stay assembly . You can see many of the RX 's indicator having suicide (broken or hanging) on street . Even I need to change them very often since a slight force on them will bend them and within days the spring inside the stay will give away.
I liked the rocket engine nozzle shaped indicators of enfield classis and hence I fixed it on mine, now enjoying hassle free indicators almost 6 months of driving. Orange lens with red made it too contrast, hence fixed clear glass.

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Motorbikes Section. Thanks for sharing!

[jeganatu]

Originally Posted by petrolhead_neel

would it be possible for you to take your time out and record the exhaust note of the RX and post it in here? Just love hearing it--pure music to an enthusiast's ears.
Now, planing some performance mods?
Cheers,
Neel

Yes, Will record the exhaust sound and post it soon. No, I am not touching its heart. It shall stay stock tuned.

[ku69rd]

Originally Posted by jeganatu

Yes, Will record the exhaust sound and post it soon. No, I am not touching its heart. It shall stay stock tuned.

Tastefully done up bike buddie, am sure you would have put a very detailed thought process into getting her the shape she is in currently.

The Gold Paint on the Clutch cases, fork & Cylinder head contrast well with the overall bike.

My 2 cents, did you consider getting the spokes electro plated in the same hue?

[jeganatu]

Originally Posted by ku69rd

Tastefully done up bike buddie, am sure you would have put a very detailed thought process into getting her the shape she is in currently.

The Gold Paint on the Clutch cases, fork & Cylinder head contrast well with the overall bike.

My 2 cents, did you consider getting the spokes electro plated in the same hue?

Yes, We tried and it closely matched the gold color . also most fasteners were plated along with spokes.