Jump to content

MAJESTY questions


pmk
 Share

Recommended Posts

Always liked the looks of those bikes.  Never seen one in person and not even sure if many made it to the USA.  How do they compare to the production bikes of the same ERA, such as the TY and MAR, plus more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

If I recall correctly, MAJESTY stands for - Mick Andrews, John E Shirt, TY  it was the brain child of Mick Andrews and Yamaha importer (at the time) John Shirt Senior. I believe it was a stock TY that was modified & improved by these two guys, more power, different geometry, different seat & tank... 

Mick was heavily involved with the Yamaha factory and John was the UK Yamaha importer both form the Derbyshire area 

I could be wrong, somebody with more knowledge of the history of Majesty will correct me. I was just a school boy rider at the time and was getting coaching from Mick and my father was friends with John so I'm just going off my memory from when I was a young lad.  

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
10 hours ago, pmk said:

Always liked the looks of those bikes.  Never seen one in person and not even sure if many made it to the USA.  How do they compare to the production bikes of the same ERA, such as the TY and MAR, plus more.

Info on how to convert to majesty spec :-

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/109171438807732712015/albums/5694268572989036097/5695714225111077714?banner=pwa&pid=5694606578210398034&oid=109171438807732712015

Edited by b40rt
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Some made their way into the States.  I got a chance to parking lot ride a 175 Majesty a few years ago.  Nifty and different (especially here), but I didn't ride it enough to compare it to anything.  They'll pop up on Fleabay and Craig's from time to time. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
 
  • 4 weeks later...

Still a few 175s & 250s being ridden in my local classic trials. 

One totally unrestored and still the original owner. 

It's good to see them getting used and haven't become trailer queens like so many old bikes. 

Edited by shakennstirred
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

If you have deep pockets, get Yamaha-majesty.com to build you a new (well, 90% new) one.

 

Converting a regular TY isn't too horrible, but having additional changes beside the original can make them feel very much like a modern bike ... my TY is partly majesty-fied, it weighs 4Kg less than stock and handles very similarly to the 2004 TxT Pro I used to have.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
On 07/06/2018 at 11:05 AM, Intotrials said:

If I recall correctly, MAJESTY stands for - Mick Andrews, John E Shirt, TY  it was the brain child of Mick Andrews and Yamaha importer (at the time) John Shirt Senior. I believe it was a stock TY that was modified & improved by these two guys, more power, different geometry, different seat & tank... 

Mick was heavily involved with the Yamaha factory and John was the UK Yamaha importer both form the Derbyshire area 

I could be wrong, somebody with more knowledge of the history of Majesty will correct me. I was just a school boy rider at the time and was getting coaching from Mick and my father was friends with John so I'm just going off my memory from when I was a young lad.  

Mitsui at Oakcroft Road Chessington were the Official Yamaha Importers, at least that’s where all my new stock (including the TY range) came from. John Shirt didn’t import Yamaha’s he would have to get his stock from Mitsui, as far as I know. Nice chap to deal with and a nice chap to meet to. Fowler’s of Bristol supplied the M/X and IT enduro Yamaha’s in a dealer/ distributor agreement ?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
13 hours ago, section swept said:

Mitsui at Oakcroft Road Chessington were the Official Yamaha Importers, at least that’s where all my new stock (including the TY range) came from. John Shirt didn’t import Yamaha’s he would have to get his stock from Mitsui, as far as I know. Nice chap to deal with and a nice chap to meet to. Fowler’s of Bristol supplied the M/X and IT enduro Yamaha’s in a dealer/ distributor agreement ?

Right, yes thanks for the correction, John was a Yamaha dealer. I remember Mitsui :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
  • 5 years later...

Sorry but I realise this is an old post...but I have an old bike !

I have one of the original Majesty's that John Shirt built at his workshop just outside Buxton UK.

It is bored out to 320cc and John built it to order. I was last ridden (by me) in about 1986 and has

languished in my shed since then. Last year I decided to restore it and bring it back to it's former self.

I did carry on riding Trials later than 1986 but on a modern Montesa mono shock.

I think it's unlikely that I will ride the Majesty again in a trial, although I have

seen and visited the vintage trials in France, and Mike Andrews has competed in them.

 ......but for now it's gone back under a cover in the shed !

w_1000006.jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
On 6/10/2024 at 6:04 AM, Giff said:

Sorry but I realise this is an old post...but I have an old bike !

I have one of the original Majesty's that John Shirt built at his workshop just outside Buxton UK.

It is bored out to 320cc and John built it to order. I was last ridden (by me) in about 1986 and has

languished in my shed since then. Last year I decided to restore it and bring it back to it's former self.

I did carry on riding Trials later than 1986 but on a modern Montesa mono shock.

I think it's unlikely that I will ride the Majesty again in a trial, although I have

seen and visited the vintage trials in France, and Mike Andrews has competed in them.

 ......but for now it's gone back under a cover in the shed !

w_1000006.jpg

It's very nice to see an original Yam framed Majesty looking so beautiful.

Something looked unusual and I've just worked out that it's that the fork legs and front wheel are fitted the opposite way to normal

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Hi Feetupfun

That's very observant !

I knew there was an issue as I couldn't fit the original speedo, and thought I had the front wheel in wrong way round, but the brake stay was in the wrong place 🤔

Now it makes sense that the forks are reversed.

I did strip the forks down and fitted new chrome stanchions as they were quite pitted. I should have marked    L & R !

Thanks for you reply

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

It looks just yours is the model before mine ie original ty frame modified. Mines a mk1 godden frame my grandad ordered it new from john in 1980ish and is a 320 as well. I've just started to sort it out as it's sat in my dad's garage for about 20 years. I have swapped forks and wheels to mono 1s but the others were seized solid 

20240518_164434.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
  • Create New...