Yamaha Two-Stroke Threesome

This collection of Yamaha two stroke production racing motorcycles includes a 1969 Yamaha TR2 350, a 1979 Yamaha TZ125 and TZ750. The TR2 was the first production racer to take on the factory bikes at the Grand Prix level. 1969 was the year the 150 mph 350cc was launched and this machine is number 19 made. It still has matching frame and engine numbers, in fact, all three of the these bikes do. Owned by Jacques DuPont, aka Jack, it was lasted raced by Timmy Sussman in the 1972 Daytona 200 and was sent to the Isle of Man for the T.T races at some point, but no confirmation of results has been located thus far. It was recently sold from the original owner's family after being laid up since 1973.

 

In 1973, 500cc FIM World Champion Giacomo Agostini famously left Italian manufacturer MV Agusta for Yamaha. He took a stunning victory on the Yamaha TZ750 in the Daytona 200 race in 1974. Yamaha domination had began in earnest then and lasted for more than a decade at the speedway.

 

The TZ125 is a single cylinder, water-cooled 125cc two stroke with monoshock rear suspension. Weight is a mere 165 pounds and top speed in the range of 120 mph.

 

 

The TZ750 is one of the last mono shock ' OW31' replica's made by the factory. The TZ750 was made from 1974-1980, about 500 in total. Initially, they had twin shock rear suspension before getting upgraded in 1975 to the monoshock. Besides revised exhaust pipe routing that became a signature of the incredibly fast racer, numerous other changes, it was now capable of speeds in excess of  180 mph.

 

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