Archive for the ‘1975 Yamaha YZ250B project’ Category

For those who need to get your old vmx tank restored, you can do well by talking to your local auto body shop. I sent this old aluminium Yamaha YZ360B tank that was once on a USA yellow model to my guy Zac in Perth (0404 253 260) and he did a great job in repairing, smoothing and finishing the tank in white, very impressed by his work and the price was more than fair.

Next step was to find some new graphics, only problem I could not locate any at all for the Euro white model YZ360B YZ250B. There was some on ebay for the yellow model in the USA but not the white model. The solution, I went to my local sign shop and gave them an original tank that had the Yamaha graphics and my newly restored white tank, hey presto, 2 hours later they rang for me to pick it up – all finished and looks great. These guys have the digital artwork on computer now and can print out as many copies as they want if  you need a set for your white tank.

Before

Graphics supplied by Total Sign Co in Perth (08 9345 3240) www.totalsignco.com.au

This original test report from 1974 Cycle World tested the first monoshock YZ250b, it was a great bike then and you can see why…..

WE GET ASKED several times a month, through reader letters or at race tracks while testing, what we think is the best 250 motocrosser available today. Our answer has been, “It ain’t been built yet.” Oh sure, the 250 Elsinore is a bullet and it handles well, but trying to turn one is like trying to roller skate on ice.

The first Yamaha YZ was also fast, but it was too pipey, had zilch for tires, a toggle-switch rear brake, and wanted to high side a lot. The Montesa VR was a handling son of a gun, but try to name just three Montesa dealers in your area. Any three. How about two? One? The same goes for Bultaco and Ossa. Nice bikes, but what do you do when one breaks. And they will break, everything does sooner or later.

And what about Husky, Maico and CZ riders? Most of them would be on Japanese bikes if it weren’t for the fact that the only dealers in their counties are a couple of blocks away.

So you see, that elusive motocrosser, the one with the power, the handling, the right carburetion, non-mudding rims, cleated footpegs, gnarly knobbies and the rest of the proper paraphernalia, sitting complete at several dealers’ showrooms right near you just hasn’t been built yet. At least in 1974 it hadn’t been built. Read the rest of this entry »

After a real close inspection of the YZ250B we mapped out what needs to be done to make this a top notch VMX racer, it just takes time:

1. Tank paint is faded with age so a full respray and new decals will fix that.
2. Tyres are old so need to replace both.
3. Chain is old and needs replacing.
4. Shine has gone off the nuts and zinc fittings so replating required.
5. Wheel spokes are tarnished, replace or replate.
6. Engine top end will get a rebuild.
7. Front fork seals replaced
8. Rear shock rebuild and adjust travel to 4 inch vmx race limit.
9. Add renthal handlebars.
10. General adjustments and refreshing of bike.

This 1975 Yamaha YZ250B bike has been sitting around in storage for a very long time, it is still on ORIGINAL BORE!

It was described to me as still having the original piston, original front tyre, original bars and levers, original throttle, original chain and sprockets. The rims are dent free, straight, and true and the bike runs and shifts perfectly…. wow!

It seemed an easy project and needs a little cosmetic work to freshen up its looks, eg replace some of the nuts, repaint engine casing and do a full mechanical check to prepare it for the race track so I bought it and added it to my “to do” list.

1975 YZ250B Tank

1975 YZ250B

1975 YZ250 Engine

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