New Steed

Right I'm looking at getting the Ace, a cheap two up as the Mrs is missing being on the back although I'm planning on getting her on one so she will be riding herself to Oxford in August.

Not overly fussed about cosmetics (if you've seen some of my posts then you'll know I like getting frisky with the paint cans) but mechanically would like it to be sound, no more than 30000 on the clocks and a max price of £1500.

1. Does anyone know of any

2. What do I need to look out for on these when looking to buy
and
3. Even though I've read reviews and such peoples opinion on them as a bike in their own right.

The main things I read about them is that they are thirsty for oil and fuel and to make sure the EXUP valve is working. They are apparently stupid fast, with proper mid-range torque. Lots of valves to keep happy though (and one too few gears in the box).

Not sure if Wild-Kat-Wolf still drops in from time to time, but she owns an Ace. Perhaps a PM or forum email to her may reap the wealth of owner info that you seek

Cheers
Tel

weasley wrote:The main things I read about them is that they are thirsty for oil and fuel and to make sure the EXUP valve is working.  They are apparently stupid fast, with proper mid-range torque.  Lots of valves to keep happy though (and one too few gears in the box).

I just read that on one for sale 5 gears WTF, just got used to 6 gears again lol Did these not come with 2nd as standard then?

Yes also 5 valves per cylinder. What were Yamaha thinking 1 less gear but 1 extra valve, I wonder what they were smoking in that R&D office at the time.

0ldcat wrote:Not sure if Wild-Kat-Wolf still drops in from time to time, but she owns an Ace. Perhaps a PM or forum email to her may reap the wealth of owner info that you seek

Cheers
Tel

Cheers Tel, I'll send her a PM, certainly cant hurt to know the pitfalls to look out for.

The White One wrote: . . . . Yes also 5 valves per cylinder. What were Yamaha thinking 1 less gear but 1 extra valve, I wonder what they were smoking in that R&D office at the time.

Munchin' on to many Shiitake Mushrooms San [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] I suspect

MevsyD (Martin) had one too.

Maybe Pm and ask him to share his experience too?

Cheers
Rosco

I have the Ace' predecessor in the form of the original Exup which shares many mechanicals with the Ace, I can confirm both are noted for oil burning if ridden enthusiastically. (Mr France will also confirm on his Ace)
The Exup valve is a must have to be working otherwise you will lose bottom end torque & a huge flat spot, many have had aftermarket downpipes fitted which removes the Exup valve altogether.
Still plenty of good examples out there though so have a sift through them.

I'm sure you've probably had a look on there but this is on auto trader. Not sure where you are but this is a beaut. Love it in Black,so much better than the red

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On a slightly different note there's a guy up near me (hull area) selling a Honda Blackbird for £1500. He'd also consider swapping it for a 600 if ya had one knocking about. Be funny for you to try and keep your missus on the back of one of them haha

robertcains wrote:I have the Ace' predecessor in the form of the original Exup which shares many mechanicals with the Ace, I can confirm both are noted for oil burning if ridden enthusiastically. (Mr France will also confirm on his Ace)
The Exup valve is a must have to be working otherwise you will lose bottom end torque & a huge flat spot, many have had aftermarket downpipes fitted which removes the Exup valve altogether.
Still plenty of good examples out there though so have a sift through them.

Does it matter if the exup has been removed as quite a few I have seen have the headers replaced with SS exup free headers.

Do you know the reason for burning oil? Rings, cams/cam chain, gear box?

dudeofrude wrote:I'm sure you've probably had a look on there but this is on auto trader. Not sure where you are but this is a beaut. Love it in Black,so much better than the red

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Cheers Dude, ive seen that one on ebay as well. On closer inspection it has quite a bit of surface rust on it.

Looking at this one

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dudeofrude wrote:On a slightly different note there's a guy up near me (hull area) selling a Honda Blackbird for £1500. He'd also consider swapping it for a 600 if ya had one knocking about. Be funny for you to try and keep your missus on the back of one of them haha

You have any pictures or a link for the XX?

The idea of the Exup valve is to allow a larger bore exhaust, the downside to this is lower back pressure which results in a huge flat spot at low revs, the Exup valve simply blanks some of the collector box resulting in higher back pressure, it does make a big difference & Yamaha managed to patent it for 10 years, most bikes run a similar system these days.

Yes I know that Honda had the HTEV and HVIX and Suzuki had the SET. I know it is supposed to increase power dependant on throttle opening so the valve moves open or closed. I've read that by removing or wedging the valve open it is supposed to give more power lower down but not 100% sure I want to take that chance and then have to buy exup headers and power valve.

The only way that removing the valve gives you a power increase is because it produces a large flat spot in the rev range which makes you think that the parts of the rev range were the bike is running better seem powerful.

past-it wrote:The only way that removing the valve gives you a power increase is because it produces a large flat spot in the rev range which makes you think that the parts of the rev range were the bike is running better seem powerful.

Cheers past it, assuming you cant sync to get round it. Ill probably just go with a bulk standard system then.

The White One wrote:I've read that by removing or wedging the valve open it is supposed to give more power lower down.

Quite the opposite for the reasons stated above.

To be honest the Ex-Up argument is as old as time and there will always be people swearing it's best to remove it and just as many promising it's best left alone.
As far as my limited knowledge of it stands it's very necessary in carbed bikes as they rely on exhaust pressures to help pull the fuel through the carbs ( or something along them lines) but on modern fuel injected bikes they are mainly there to reduce emissions and meet sound laws.
My Bike doesn't currently have it in as it's in the stock exhaust so once that's gone the exup goes with it. Just had to tidy up the cables

You've probably seen this one, but looks like a nice "Thunderace"

0ldcat wrote:You've probably seen this one, but looks like a nice "Thunderace"

I have seen it and it is in my watch list. I have 2 to see on Sunday, one in Bournemouth that I posted above at 10am and one in leatherhead at 13.00 that is up for £850 but needs fairings. Worth a look. If neither take my fancy in the flesh then its that one you posted Tel and a "project" that's in reading.

Good bike the Ace, my brother in law had one from new in 2000 and still bangs on about more than the 2005 Blade he bought me to replace it

MrFrance went very well on his Ace on a couple of BC's too, even if it did lay down smoke like a Royal navy destroyer under air attack!

Radar wrote:Good bike the Ace, my brother in law had one from new in 2000 and still bangs on about more than the 2005 Blade he bought me to replace it

MrFrance went very well on his Ace on a couple of BC's too, even if it did lay down smoke like a Royal navy destroyer under air attack!

Don't say that, I don't want a bike that smokes more than I do. I will test ride them as I'm still unsure about the 5 gears on them.