Can I Get This 1960's Yamaha Motorcycle Running?
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- Опубликовано: 30 ноя 2023
- We found this in a junkyard. I know, shocker. How many kicks?
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I am 75 years old, graduated in 1966 from HS. I had a Honda sport 50 , I weighed 120 lb. my friend weighed 200 so he bought the Yamaha 100 , just like the one you are working on, it was blue too. We rode the wheels off those bikes that summer come September we went into the Army together, and our adult life started. My friend passed a few years back. This vid brought a tear to my eyes. all the memories we made that summer. Hearing that motor run was great, if only you could bring my friend back. Thank you for sharing. be safe again thank you.
I am sorry to hear about your friend passing, it can be hard to handle the loss of those we care about. I want to thank you for your service and your friend in kind. I hope everything works out well for you and those you care about! If you truly served in the armed forces please do not read any further. If you didn't serve and are using this comment sector as a means to obtain stolen valor, well lets just say someone will probably come find you and have a little chat with you before long.
Same here. In 1969 I was 16 and started with a Honda sport 50. Others had the Honda 65, 90, 160 and one kid had a 450! Others had one of these Yamaha 100 or a Bridgestone. After high school I moved up to a Yamaha 180. Now I’m 71 and have owned over 30 bikes and been riding 57 years. I’ve logged over 600,000 miles on 4 continents. Motorcycles are my passion.
@@epictales1307 my friend served in Viet Nam and I in Germany.
I had a Campus 60 in 1966 this brings back sweet memories !
@@davidclark682I'm about your age, got a panther 197 in 1965 age 13, passed my test on it two days after my 16th birthday, straight onto a Triumph 350 T21, 650 Bonneville by September of 1968, had a Triton, BSA A65Lightnigh by 1971 then a 500 Matchless G9 with a sidecar for my girlfriend to learn on, she didn't like it so got the yam 100, it was so different to the old 2 sk Panther, so powerful for its size, on 2 strokes more or less ever since, even when I had My Suzuki GS1000 I still had a RG250 J in the Garage, same as now age 71 downsized from my Kawasaki ZX9 to an old SV650, 'cos of my age, but still have a Yamaha TZR 3ma 250 in the garage that is slightly tuned and way quicker than the SV but as 2 stroke fans will know with 18 mpg and I lt Racing 2 stroke oil at £30 it isn't exactly a commuter bike, can burn quarter gal just warming it up.
This is quickly becoming my favorite channel. The only downside is that I keep getting inspired to buy more project bikes...
Laughing and crying with you as I look at the 3 project bikes in the garage. 😅
Maybe you guys should document your builds on youtube like Craig
I hear you I got a 79 Yamaha.. 82 Honda and a 08 Suzuki and I'm currently surfing marketplace for more
Never a downside
Same😂
Over 30 years ago my mom died of cancer and her motorcycle, a Honda CB100, sat in the basement until my dad passed away. It's now in my garage and your video has inspired me to get it running again. Thanks. It would make my mom happy.
so sorry for your losses of your parents,i definately think you should have a go at restoring,that would be amazing
You get it going yet man?
I believe in you
Or you could sell it to me!
May your Mom’s legacy of her joy riding that little Honda fill your heart as you lovingly bring it back to life and every time you are out for a ride 🦊
You're not just bringing back bikes.. you're bringing back memories. Thank you, TBM.🤗
"We don't need gloves where we're going."
"To the hospital?"
That was a good one, Dan. Loving all the vintage motorcycle content. I'm glad to see Sean is getting into vintage bikes as well. It all started with that old Indian...then the WLA...and now he's got a frickin knucklehead.
Fix it up
I love how a lot of stuff on this channel is under $1000, unless it's a customer. Craig is basically the polar opposite of BnB now, and i absolutely love it. Lots of stuff thats obtainable to almost anyone.
The world needs more Craigs.
He should make a list or something and sell what he fixes. Maybe call it Fixed List? Craig's List?
Another plus is I don't have to listen to a quote from the Bible. Like Another bike channel 😊
I know nothing about bikes. 51yrs old and never been on one. But just spent last 3 evenings watching your vids. awesome.
I’m 81 now and you just brought so many memories back into play! Cruising down the streets of YT and this bike image caught my eye. I bought a red YT1 in ‘67 as my first bike to commute to work. Great little ring-a-ding dinger! Replaced it with Yamaha 100 dirt bike once I discovered the joys of playing in the dirt. So much fun, so many kisses from “angel of death!” and blatant overconfident abuse of physics! Thanks for the memories!
It’s probably smoking so bad because you mixed oil in the fuel and it has oil injection.
Best part of Friday!
I love how Craig optimistically says "and you can do it too". I can't. I really can't.
Get a trash bike, get the shop manual, and have at it. If you buy it as junk, you can't make it any worse.
you totally can, believe in yourself.
I bought an 81 Honda trail 110. That didn’t even roll I had to drag and push it to the truck. With the help of RUclips I went through it and got it running great to where it started on the first or second kick every time. It took me 6 months in the shed after work tinkering on it when I had the time to get it there but I’m no mechanic at all. If I can do it you can too. Small single cylinder engines don’t scare me now I’m about to do a big bore kit on my daughter’s crf70. (With RUclipss help of course)
Yes you can!😃
If you have the space, and a couple hours a week, motorbikes are one, if not the cheapest way to have a go at any vehicle. You really can do it.
Off course you get it running Craig 😊
Its a Yamaha !
It will never die !
And as a Yamaha fanboy i would thank you so much (again)for putting another Yamaha back on the road.
Keep em comming ❤
God bless this beared mechanic and the good old US of A !
❤🏍🙏🏻🇺🇲
Well said. Been riding Yamahas since 1964. Best bikes ever made
Don't get too excited. As you say it's a Yamaha not a Honda.😂. My RD250/350 found lots of ways to die back in the day and taught me so much about two-strokes that I bought a 4-stroke Honda instead.😂
I had a RD250,RD350 and RD400 Daytona special and HondaCB400f loved all of them. The CB400f I still have needs the restored
Yeah !
Me too !
Trinidad & Tobago.
West Indies.
YL1 was my first motorcycle - bought around 1971 (age 21). Parents didn't say much, but I presume they were not pleased.
Couple years later, living outside Cleveland, I headed home in the dark (about 40 miles) and decided to take the "Ohio Turnpike" toll road for the first time, just a few miles, as a quick shortcut. Toll taker at the entrance gate looked down at my little bike with a sneer - wondering if it would go at least the minimum speed. She let me go, and obviously, I lived through the experience.
The bike had a worn clutch but was still functional. The next spring, I replaced the clutch plates and promptly started popping little wheelies with the thing. First time I'd ever done that. Lately I've been missing that bike, and presto - I stumble on this video..
Four years later, after my Honda CL350 was stolen outside my apartment, I bought a Yamaha R5 - 350, which was refined into the RD350. Of all the bikes I've owned, that R5 was the best.
Hi Craig, I bought a 1966 yt-1 in 1970. Came to me for a hundred bucks with a stuck motor. Installed new rings and drove it for two summers. Sold it running. I had so much fun on that bike, also I only weighed in at almost 120. Great memories. Now 70 years old and still riding, and still riding Yamaha..
Your engaging content has been truly enthralling, especially in showcasing the revival of these bikes. Personally, I'm drawn to the idea of witnessing a complete restoration process-watching these bikes transform not only mechanically but also aesthetically into their best possible versions. I believe there's a considerable audience that shares this particular preference. Keep up the fantastic work, and please continue to showcase the captivating journey of these bikes undergoing total restoration.
Its great to see an American who loves old Japanese stuff, nice one Craig (I'm in the UK). It would be cool to see this cleaned up with new tyres and the petcock fixed taken on a mini adventure somewhere.... I feel this bike deserves more content :)
Yes! 100%
Is it for sale.
It is a wonderful machine.
Trinidad & Tobago.
West Indies.
Im in the U.K & a local lad had one of these in the 1970s, it sounded fantastic!! A 100cc twin two stroke not much could sound better!
I remember watching Elvis movie where he rode a bike...what is that 60s bike?
This brings back great memories,thank you. It was my first bike at 14 years old. Bought it used for $180. I went to high school on it, went to beach, 200 miles away, rode every street in the big city I grew up in. Mine smoked big time! I’m definitely pumped! Now ride a Goldwing at 70.
I love watching these videos! This was my childhood. My dad would run across a barn find british or metric bike that had been sitting for years. We’d work on them together with him showing me how it all worked. I lost him in June and now I’m surrounded by his collection of barn finds. These videos bring back so many memories ❤
He sounds like a Great Dad. I bet you really learned a Lot Working with him.
I had a 1965 YL1 when I was 16 years old. It was not called a 'YL1', rather a 'Twin Jet 100'. Bought it new. This little bike started like a champ on first kick every time; even in the coldest weather. It was amazingly quick for 100 cc's (I only weighed 145 pounds). Insurance cost just $37/year and when you cancelled for the winter the insurance company sent you a '$rebate'. I had a part-time job after school and that gave me the money to buy the bike and operate it. Loved that bike!! Absolutely loved it!!
Yes I had one and it was called a Twin Jet 100
lucky
A YL1 was my first bike. It was always a first kick start and was good for 70mph (indicated). The best thing was that it looked like a moped and when the lads on their 'nifty fifties' (usually FS1Es) wanted a drag race at the lights I could always leave them choking in two stroke smoke.
At full throttle it did leave a huge trail of smoke. I had a lot of fun on that bike and sold it for more than I paid for it after a couple of years.
Brings back a lot of memories ........
That was SO much fun to watch. The YL1 was my first ever bike and I learned so much tearing it apart and putting it back together again. I got mine around 1970 and drove it for years. Thanks for a bit of nostalgia!
Same here was very much like my first bike, have a 1200 HD at present.
I grew up riding those when I was a kid. Loved them at the time. The automatic oiling system was a game changer for me.
I had one in mint condition. It was called the 100 Twin too. Other than regularly fouling spark plugs it was reliable. It came with the owners manual. Being an early Japanese import a few things in the manual were lost in translation. For example. This Yamaha has “the most defective ludrication system in the world” . It was actually quite effective and I believe the first reliable oil injection system on a two stroke. Looking at this video reminded me of just how small these early Japanese imports were.
I scrolled through the comments looking for someone that was familiar with this cool little thing.. I knew I'd find one. Thanks. I love old yamaha two strokes
I bought this bike exactly the same even same colour in November 1967 in England for my 16th birthday at a price of 167 pounds 10 shillings brand new I would love to restore one now in my retirement if only I could find one I followed up with a Yamaha yds 3. 250 again I would love one of those. Ohhh the memories 😢😢
I've never owned a yamaha, always been more of a suzuki guy myself, but it makes me smile seeing more of these old girls saved from the scrapyard and put back on the road.
The amount of information we learn from Craig is amazing
that is one fun machine! I started my motorcycling with a used 1966 Yamaha YL1. Mine shined up with coca_Cola! I was 16 years old and spent $100. I rode mostly city streets , and the tires were terrible, but I learned a lot on that bike, Including how to wheelie! That came in handy when I replaced the yl1 with a DT175! I have had 15 motorcycles and this first one was very great experience for me! Good luck ,,,,,now back to the video I stopped to post my smile🙂 JT in Northern Illinois.
You don't see many of these old Yamaha's running around anymore. I don't believe it's worth much, but a spray paint "restoration" would be kind of neat to see. Glad that the inside of the tank was in good shape.
Man. nice but when he acted surprised when he took off the gas cap and the tank was clean, I think he already knew that it was clean !
32:48 my favorite part of the episode 😂 this is quickly becoming my favorite channel. The pure honest love for bikes shines through and it’s intoxicating. From one tinkerer to another, this is inspiring. Time to tear up some mechanical stuff in the garage.
Old school engineering and 2-stroke magic. I'm a Geezer and I love it!
I still have my 1970 Yamaha HS1, 90cc 2-stroke twin, had it since 1990. Super fun bike and revs to the moon.
What a delight this series is. I actually get much more from this than I did from the original series of bearded guy. (no knock on him) ..but this is so straight up down to earth. And the idea of reviving these trashed up bikes is wonderful. Anything that helps us get inspired from our 'junk-everything' ethos. (or lack of ethos)
You and Dan make a good team this channel is going to blow up like bikes and beards. Can see the confidence growing in Dan as he learns more and more. Definitely fun to watch.
This is kind of stuff I live for. I have worked on bikes since 1969 and salvaged a few. My first bike was a 1964 CA 77 305cc Dream, not a restoration but I learned so much wrenching on that bike. The early 60s VW camper van (6VDC system) was my next challenge. Good days, man, good days. Great job on this Yamaha. I'm impressed.
What a testament to Yamaha quality. It's amazing that it started 3rd kick. Love this channel.
Brings me back to the end 70-80's. I'd love wrenching on an oldie in your shop. Don't get me wrong the new bikes are nice but the 70-90's two strokes are what motorcycling was about for me. Making power with simple mods was easy back then, too bad frames didn't always follow the power ☺. Damn I miss my RD400 Daytona .... Love the show, keep on going 😍
Those were good old bikes. Nice to see one getting some love. This is one of the first bikes I ever road as a kid, good memories.
Edit - An sos pad and some water would go a long way to making it more presentable.
What a beautiful little Motor Cycle
Wow! Fantastic job of bringing that old bike back to life. When I was 9 years old, my first motorcycle was a single-cylinder Yamaha 80, which looked almost exactly like that bike, but red. The two-stroke sound brings back memories.
I love your content Craig! You have an awesome personality and you are a great mechanic which is the perfect combo for a channel like this.. keep up the good work bud and i cant wait for the next one!
It brought a smile to my face when you made it come alive. Cool video. Thanks for sharing.
Omg, this was the very first motorcycle. I had purchased when I was 16 years old you brought back many fun memories thank you guys.
Always love watching you bring these old bikes to life.
That was so most nostalgic as I owned one in 1966 when I was sixteen. I passed my test on it , the examiner had not seen one before. The auto-lube system was a revelation in those days. Yours sounded exactly like mine did, a very unique two stroke twin sound. Many thanks for posting, best wishes from a very cold England.
Wow! I love those bikes!! I’m a big vintage 2stroke guy. I’ll tell you my heart skipped a beat when Dan was opening the tool bag…gently my friend😊. I can believe how clean the bike is! Great job as always! You guys are doing a great job with the channel! More 2t’s please!
Back in 1969 shortly after my wife and I were married my wife’s younger brother bought one of these little twins used. He rode it to high school until he finally wreaked it. It sounded just like a hopped chain saw and for the time was pretty fast for its size. Seeing this video brought back memories of days gone by. Thanks for sharing.😊😊😊
Thanks for uploading this video. This Yamaha Twin Jet 100 was my first bike as a 14 years old lad in 1969. I done some of the same work that you done but on mine the shifter barrel had a broken bolt inside. Just before winter that year I pulled the engine out and took it into my parents basement. I worked most of the winter and in the spring I put the engine back in and it ran and shifted well after that. I went on to become an automotive mechanic and later a heavy equipment mechanic for John Deere for over 40 total years . now at 68 years old Your video has taken me back to my youth ! Thanks very much what a great show you made. 😁
I have a very similar bike (1965 Yamaha YA6) and I think this video will come in handy if I ever get around to fixing it up!
Best videos Craig! Keep em coming! Dan and you are quickly becoming my favorite go-to RUclipsrs! I did tons of work on my ‘65 Honda Dream before selling it. So much fun! Thanks for doing what you do guys.
I had a 1965 Honda CB72 Dream in blue . Was a fantastic bike would love to get it back
Great vid.
Entertaining and engaging, with easy to watch tutorials on how to go about fixing stuff without being overcomplicated.
Thanks!
Craig you saved another one. You and Dan are doing a great job. No fancy BS just true mechanical knowledge and persistence the bike now it runs and moves is a worthy candidate for you or some one else to bring back to it's former glory. I'm inspired to rebuild another bike.
Dan makes such an enthusiastic collaborator/assistant/camera man! You guys really do seem to be having fun TOGETHER. (Unlike Craig's previous YT "partner" who made Craig second fiddle and the butt of all the jokes while letting him do all the work )
I love your channel, Craig! This episode is awesome! I have a 64 YJ1 and a 65 YJ2. The YJ2 I picked from a pile of trash 40 years ago. It sat in my barn for 30 years, before I had time to work on it. I got it running, but not good enough to ride. Life events put it in back in the corner of my shop waiting for me to have time to get back to it. The 64 is a basket case that I picked up for $20. They are cool little bikes. This makes me want to get back to it.
My first bike in 1972…Silver and black and it looked huge! Unbelievably reliable zipping around at the head of a thin grey line of 2 cycle smoke….Its wonderful to watch you trouble shoot and follow your thought process as you systematically get these classics running….
I just found you're videos ! And I think their Awesome. I'm 66 and want to start my First project . Don't have one yet. So I'll keep watching you to learn what I can. Thank you Peggy
Love these episodes! I've learned a lot by watching these and you explaining your thoughts and knowledge as you go. Thank you! Seeing these old bikes come alive is the best. And congrats on your new company: The Bearded Mosquito Abatement Guy. 😉
Heck yeah it’s gonna be a great day when Craig uploads a new video! Thanks for the inspiration to get into motorcycles and their revivals
First time I ever turned on notifications. Keep Dan.
I love these videos so much. Reminds me of the time my dad was still alive. He used to work on bikes also. The moment they first come to live after sitting for so many years has something special. The garage filling up smoke after the first start. The smell of a 2-stroke. Not much that can beat that! 😂❤
This is awesome I would love to see a full restoration of this bike, back to its original glory, what a piece of Yamaha history.
Craig and Dan make for a great team - also quality to see he's picking stuff up as the series progresses... Give it a few months and it'd be good to see Dan take on a challenge to see how much he's picked up.
That’s a Great Idea. You can tell from his comments that he is really learning. He’s got a Great Teacher.
Been sitting and refreshing every couple of minutes waiting for this
Me too 😆
This is the best channel to learn about fixing dead bikes. I love this. And I know so much more now. Good work guys. 🤘🤗🇧🇻
I had one of these in high school in the late 70s-early 80s. Wish I still had it. With the pipes off it sounded ferocious!
I thought this was going to be a cybertruck review.....
Small bikes always bring so much joy.
Wow, my first bike when I was 16 in 1970! It was a great first bike for a shorty like me. It got written off when an idiot pulled out in front of me and after I got repaired myself I bought it back from the insurer, bought another with a wrecked engine and put it back on the road. Thanks for showing this, it brings back lots of memories, Mick
Your love and knowledge of motorcycles is inspiring. Love your channel
Ive been doing this for a long time and ive never used the heat trick for the slides. Thanks for the tip!
Well done. I had one of these back in 1972. It was an awesome little bike and ultra reliable
One of the things I learned with Ultrasonic Cleaners, Glass jars with you cleaning medium in sizes you need. Let the Tub heat and vibrate, the glass transfers the vibe through to your medium. Gas (not recommended), Penetration Fluid, a soap medium....more effective than just letting it all sit.
When I watch the effort to get this Yamabeast running, I’m reminded of some of my “ you’ll never get that running” past projects I’ve had. I’m not remotely as talented or determined as you are, but I learn stuff from you almost every time and enjoy every episode. 🍺😎🇨🇦
I don't watch them all, but when you come up with gems like this I am enraptured. Thank you so much for the great video.
My first motor cycle. Rode it daily for years so I know all about what you did. Brakes were not the best . Adjusting the points was always tricky. Rode it from Melbourne ( Australia) to Rockhampton and back. Over 2000 miles return. What a fantastic bike for young bloke.
I just bought a 1971 HS1-B 90cc twin jet barn find. All original bought new Jacksonville Florida. The last year it was titled was in 1979. It’s complete but the tank was very rusty. I cleaned it and put a liner in it. Cleaned the carbs and put fresh pistons and rings(hard to find) fresh battery and crank case oil and injection oil and cranked right up. It still had the original tires and it now has new tires and tubes.. it’s a great little motorcycle. I love it.
I had a 1970 HS1 (90cc twin). We called it the "sewing machine". Great little bike ! Thanks for bringing back some great memories!!!
I owned one of these bikes in the early seventies. The best two stroke I ever owned
I had one back when I was 16,I’m now 68. Loved it. Never broke down ever. I have evolved since. I now ride a 2019 yamaha bws/zuma,50cc. Same deal, never breaks and I ride it like a gold wing. There is nowhere it wont go. Mine was a 68,yl1e. .I could get 60mph out of it 2 up. Thanks for the memories
Great new channel for me. I have been riding some kind of motorcycle for most of my life, my first street bike was a 66 BSA thunderbolt…that was a mistake. Watching you work is an inspiration to get another classic that I might keep running this time!
In 1983 I was senior in high school and had this exact bike (1966 Yamaha YL-1) except mine was black with the black and white seat. Bought it from a neighbor for $175, it had been under their stairs in the basement for a long time. It only had about 1200 miles on it. Got it running, took my motorcycle test on it and rode it to school and work every day. I look around for one every once in a while and they are non-existent. Very rare. I have only seen 1 other one and it was at an old motorcycle shop I used to go to. Very cool find. I hope you restore it.
My dad bought the same model brand new back in 1966 when he was 16. He has some great stories of his experiences riding it in southern California back in the day.
My first motorcycle was the Yamaha Twin Jet way back in 1967 at the age of 16; what a revelation to experience freedom and a bigger world! Always had motorcycles and now at age 73 my current ride is my modified 2010 Triumph Street Triple R. Nice work getting it going again.
Without knowing how long that bike had sat untouched for this is amazing that it it ran after 3 kicks... Awesome video needs some love that's for sure
Dude, the content, the bikes, the Craig, the editing and the side commentary from Dan, plus his filming, truly make this channel great. Keep up the great work.
Great getting it running. Love to see it all cleaned up.
My neighbor had this exact same bike, it was a blast to ride. Seeing the toe/heal shifter brought back this buried memory. I had just moved from a SL70 to a TM-125. Anyways the neighbors son put a knobby on the back and it made a decent trail bike.
I have been eyeing the Honda Monkey as it reminds me of my cousins CT-70. Just an all around fun bike!
I love this whole thing getting that old bike running fabulous you’re also so incredibly knowledgeable with all that geeky stuff we love
That there was what I learned how to ride in Ireland , we call it a Yamaha twin , then a year later I bought a YAS1 , known as a Yasy, then an AS3 all marvelous machines. Fantastic to see one running in 2023, definitely worth restoring. Nice job
Loved the video... I have a 74 DT100 - like I used to have when I was a kid. That first sign of life is the best feeling...
Congrat!
I rode one of these in 1968 for a while. Played in the war, then rode it again in early 1974. Traded it in for a car when my daughter was born. Thank you for sharing this channel 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏
Love these bring back to life classics.
It's the weekend. I have tons of projects to get done. I don't ride motorcycles very often. But I'd rather just chill all day watching Craig bring old junk bikes back to life.
That brings back some memories. My first motorbike was a Suzuki M15 50cc two stroke single of a similar age. That was followed by a 1971 Yamaha YAS-1 2 stroke twin. Both had chrome side panels on the tank with rubber pads for grip.,Those models got me on the road to over 40 years of motorcycling. I still recall my first ride on the YAS-1. I collected the bike in my lunch hour but was running late for work as I needed to stop for petrol. I gave it the beans from the station forecourt and was a bit alarmed when she pulled a 20 foot wheelie. I managed to regain control by the time I got into the correct lane and sure took it a bit slower until I got used to it
I have one of these - an orange 67 - sitting in my garage for the better part of a decade. You've inspired me to get it running.
I bought one of these brand new when I was 15 and I loved it! Mine was red and I got creative and went to a total loss magneto, changed the angle of the carbs going into the cyclenders, ran 1 piston ring, and stepped up to the next size carbs. No one in my class in TT Class racing (remember TT?) , (and "yes", I put a knobby tire on it and a smaller single person seat.) could even come close to catching me.
I had a seventy something RD 200 when I was a teenager. That was a fun bike. The points were the heart of that thing. Good points and point gap and it ran like new.
Best video so far. This is what this channel is all about, love it. New fav channel. Craig ur the man
Back in the mid-60s when I was a teenager, not quite old enough to legally drive a car, the Twin-Jet 100 was the bike to get. Laws limited you to 100 cc displacement and this was the way to go. But the Twin-Jets quickly became a "Belly-Button," like, everyone had one. For some silly reason my aspirations were much larger than a T-J. I really dug the Honda 250 Hawk and 305 Super Hawk, and the scrambler versions of the same. Funny that I ended up with a BSA B-33, that I picked up for $75.00, and all my rides from then on would be British or American. However, being handy with wrenches (later being a professional mechanic for 50 years), and having a fetish for motorcycles, the locals brought their T-J's, and everything else to me for repairs. I rode everything I worked on and developed some likes and dislikes. I really have to give Yamaha credit for producing a bike that could handle all the abuse you could give it and still come back for more.
A friend had one, back in '66. LOL! We called it the "Tin Jet" because of the tinny exhaust note.
Wish I had one today, it was a genuine *HOOT* to ride!! Thanks for the video!
Those little spine frame 60s motorcycles are so great. Well done breathing life into the old gal.
I had the electric start version when I was 16. It was a screamin machine on Shady Grove Boulevard in Bossier City, LA. So much fun to ride. I tried to take it on a long road trip from Bossier to Dallas and burned a hole in one of the pistons it got so hot. I probably forgot to top off the injection oil or some other stupid thing, but that was my last ride on that bike. I broke down near Cleburne, TX and limped into Fort Worth (about 45 miles on one cylinder). I turned myself in to the Ft Worth Police and my dad drove over to pick me up. I really enjoyed watching you play with this, I still remembered how everything fit together. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane.
I used to muck around with the slightly later versions of this bike but many of the parts and design features were similar. Yamaha did a 50 cc version called SS or FS1. The gear box remained all four down. With a little tinkering these engines can really scream and in the late 70;s there were tonnes of aftermarket upgrades for them, including watercooled heads and expansion exhausts. I had two of them one stock that did about 70 kmh and my other one that was highly tuned and did 120. Heaps of fun for a 16 year old tinkerer. I became a huge Yamaha fan and have 12 Yamaha Bass guitars and other Yamaha gear. Thanks for the video and the memories.
I used to say in the old days, " Yamaha or walk !"
That was so cool to see that thing fire up that easy. I love your channel!
I really like how enjoyable all of these videos are to watch and it’s also really cool how much I’m learning from them too