YZ360B Dirt Bike Test
Mono-Mania – THE OPEN CLASS ULTIMATE
’75 Yamaha YZ Monocross by the Staff of DIRT BIKE
Let’s skip the old format for a dirt test this time, and put the conclusion up here – first. That’s breaking a precedent, but the YZ Monocross breaks precedents too. OK, here’s the conclusion: This motorcycle is THE ultimate weapon right now!
Oh, it’s got stuff wrong with it. It’s not the traditional maintenance-free Yamaha of the past. But even if the motor fell out of the frame once every day, it is still the finest racing bike you can buy, right now.
And this is why: It’s got power.
YZs always had power. So does this one. It comes out of the hole and out of the corners like a greased, goosed grand prix race car. It is screaming from the moment you crack it open. It breaks the rear wheel loose in every gear. When you’re on it, your favorite track gets shortened by what feels like 20 percent. Everything comes up sooner than ever before. See that corner up there? It’s here. Right now. Continue reading
1975 Yamaha YZ250B Bike Test
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. Continue reading
Posted in 1975 Yamaha YZ250B project, Vintage Dirt Bike Tests | 
1975, 250, b, Motocross, Vintage, yamaha, yz | 
Leave a comment1975 Yamaha YZ250B
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
1975 Yamaha YZ360B
1975 YZ360B
This is the top of the range in the Pre 75 class, the YZ360B. Even though the “B” model was mainly manufactured in 75 for the US market it actually came to Australia in 1974 so qualifies in the pre 1975 vmx race class!
You beauty, these are almost a straight “works’ bike and are the king of the track and any serious collector wants one.
I was looking for over a year and never found one to buy and I was looking all over Australia and the USA. In the USA they go mainly for the “A” model as it complies withe their pre 75 race rules and those babies sell for upto US$13,000 if you can find one. In Australia we go more for the “B” model.
Unexpectedly one of these YZ360B came up for sale it was all of 1 mile from my house! A fellow club member was selling his treasure and his bike was magnificant, fascidioulsy restored and maintained and setup to hit the racetrack. No effort required by me except to maintain it from here on.
It didn’t take much to get me to write out the cheque and it’s now in my shed, another vmx obsession secured.
It looks great and the detail is first class.
Lesson#: Fellow club members are proud of their bikes and will tell you everything about it and more. They sell good bikes.
A list of what has been performed
- Top end sleeved with standard bore and piston.
- Big end, little end and main bearings replaced.
- Gaskets On Everything
- Exhaust System Sandblasted and Repainted
- Carburettor Reconditioned.
- Throttle (short twist) and Cable.
- Boyesen Reeds.
- New Clamps, Lines and Hoses.
- New K&N Hi Performance Air filters.
- New PVL Germany Electronic Ignition
- New Aluminium Rims
- New Stainless Steel Spokes
- New Wheel Bearings
- New Tyres
- Reconditioned Rear Shock
- New Swing arm Bearings
- New Clutch and Front Brake Cables
- Magura Germany Bar Lever Assemblies
- Renthal Handlebars
- Scott Grips
- Drilled Brake Levers
- Drilled Stabiliser Rod
- New Plastics
- All Fasteners Replated or Replaced
The Way It Was
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