Spondon F1 RD500

The Spondon F1 RD500 is restored, the current owner did a great job and came up with some extra information about this very rare and unique machine.
"I spoke to the engine builder just 3 weeks ago and was told this; The bike was built in the winter of 1984 and tested on a “water break dyno” not one of these dynojet things!!! So its at the crank the readings. At 10.500 rpm it made 125bhp and at 11.500rpm it made 150bhp however the pistons were not up to the job so a limit of 125bhp was set to make it reliable. The bike was ran for only one season as the rules changed at the end of the season allowing 1000cc four strokes so the project was then scrapped.
The bike is all totally original apart from two things.
1. The original forks were stolen for another bike many years before I got it, I am still trying to locate some original forks, so in the mean time I have just fitted some period forks.
2. The Front Spondon brake calipers were butchered and are currently being refurbed, so I have fitted Yamaha FZR calipers, the Spondon calipers will be fitted shortly.
Even the wheels are original and have been crack tested by Steve Turner the chap who made them in 1984."  
For more pics see
Spondon F1 Yamaha RD500 

Spondon F1 Yamaha RD500

Ex Brian Reid Yamaha 500 V4 F1 Spondon Racer.
This machine was built especially for the F1 world championship in 1985, it had taken months of preparation & some £25,000 in funds to get this machine ready in time for the IOM TT races, but going to the TT races in a fishing boat ended in disaster as the boat the Tornamona Lass skippered by Archie Lappin and with Joey & Robert Dunlop as passengers, foundered on rocks and this machine along with some others sank to the bottom of the sea, the machine was brand new and had not even raced yet.
The machine was eventually recovered rebuilt and prepared for the TT races, Brian lapped the circuit at 107.05mph on the first lap of the F1 race but later retired at Hanley’s when the carburetor blew off. The frame is a Spondon beam, the engine was built by Arnie Fletcher and Robin Church from Len Manchester Motorcycles, the engine in 1985 was giving out 150Bhp on the test bench, timing 1mm BTDC, short reach plugs fitted, 280 main jets, 35º squish, piston clearance 2.6 thou. Brian Reid was able to pass a TZ750 Yamaha easy at the UGP. The wheels are special 16" Dymag items, and the exhausts are Len Manchester made,the ignition is Hitachi TZ500, the forks were changed some time during 85 from Spondon to RG500. (This great information was provided by RZatch from the RDRZ500 forum)
For more pics see
Spondon F1 Yamaha RD500