The Claw

THE CLAW

American FLYERS

Ragin' Cajun R1

JAMIE JAMES KNOWS A thing or two about what it takes to make a motorcycle go fast. He’s a multi-time AMA national roadrace champ for one. For two, during those championship years, many with Yamaha, setting up a bike and knowing what works became second nature. So you know when he decides to throw the heavy massage on a Yamaha YZF-R1,it’s bound to be good.

“I’ve had this on my mind for a long time,” says the Louisiana native, who is building the bike under the Jamie James Productions banner. “I’d like to take it even farther at some point, but this one here is a lot of fun. Actually, this thing’s faster than the Vance & Hines YZF750 Superbike I won the ’96 championship on.”

Working with Yamaha dealers nationwide, JJ’s plan is to make just 50 of these hot Rls. Mechanically, it goes something like this: a little combustion-chamber sculpting, a little head portation, a kit head gas-

ket that maintains p’urtnear stock compression ratio with just a little bump, degree the cams, Akrapovic titanium exhaust, fully adjustable Öhlins shock and Tinitride-coated fork,

Öhlins steering damper, Braking rotors, AP Lockheed adjustableleverage-ratio brake master cylinder and calipers, custom top triple-clamp. The James gang then custom paints the bodywork in a pearl gray scheme with artwork designed by Jeff Gunlach, and Jamie, in his own hand, lays on his signature, just so you know for sure what you’re getting is an authentic Ragin’ Cajun recipe.

How much difference could these subtle changes make?

Let me just say that the slight right kink leading into Tum 10 at Road Atlanta (where James foolishly let me have a go on his baby) is all of a sudden a turn that demands your immediate attention, with the digital speedo registering 170 mph (Jamie sees 180, he says). The thing feels much faster than a stock Rl, and with 144 horsepower at the rear wheel, it is. Fear not, though, because the brakes-using full drop-anchor six-piston calipers at the front-make the really good stock pieces feel like ’67 Chevelle drums. Beast.

JJ’s plan is for the Rl buyer to have a crated-up bike shipped from the dealership to his shop (www.jamiejamespro ductions.com) somewhere outside Asheville, North Carolina, where the transmogrification takes place, then it’s back in the crate, fresh to your door for a grand total of $23,500, new Rl purchase price included. Be the first on your block...

-John Burns