Fatal attraction

Last time out, even though I had only planned a short piece to introduce my 2004 R1 to the mag, I had already collected my first mechanical issue; the flywheel magnets had detached and smashed the stator.

It’s a common problem on this model (why do we always find that kind of stuff out after it’s happened?), and has affected enough R1/FZ1 owners for Yamaha to issue an updated part. (As proof of this, one listing on eBay in the USA for the new part has had 506 sales at time of writing.)

In my case it was spotted by Andy Woolrich from after finding my flat battery’s reason for dysfunction was rooted in the lack of output from the regulator/rectifier, and then in turn the alternator. His subsequent opening of the alternator cover revealed the horror story within. What remained unknown was how long ago it had happened, how much damage the detached magnets had done (if any), and how much damage they could