Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Frame No: 430/991497
Engine No: N/A
cc: 350
MOT Expiry Date: N/A

During the 1972 season Yamaha's works team which consisted of Gould and Saarinen, campaigned machines in the 250 and 350cc classes that were essentially prototypes for the following season's production racers, notable for the employment of liquid cooling. The liquid cooling employed on the 1972 works bikes and subsequently on the new TZ's sought to address the Achilles heel of the TR3/TD3 air cooled racers, the gradual loss of power through heat build up which could and often did result in the machine nipping-up, leaving many riders with a nervous condition which manifests itself as an involuntary clenching of the left-hand. Introduced for the 1973 season, the A series TZ's newly developed engine was housed in a set of cycle parts that were essentially the same as those employed by the previous TD3/TR3 racers. A steel duplex, pivoted fork frame equipped with twin rear shock absorbers and telescopic forks was employed. The radiator was mounted on the front down tubes below the bottom edge of the fuel tank. Braking was provided by a double sided twin leading shoe front drum brake of impressive dimensions gracing the front end, complimented by a full width item at the rear. The newly developed water cooled power plants delivered claimed figures of 50 bhp at 10,500 rpm and 60 bhp at 10,000rpm for the 250cc and 350cc machines respectively with power being taken to the rear wheel via a dry multi plate clutch and a six speed gearbox in both cases. The fairing, seat and tank followed the same familiar as the items employed by the TD/TR3, however the cockpit had gained a second instrument in the form of a temperature gauge. The new model quickly established itself as the dominant machine at all levels of competition in the 250 and 350cc classes and marked the beginning of a reign that it would see it and the subsequent versions crowned as the most successful production racing motorcycle.
This example has been in the vendor's ownership for over thirty years during which time he has raced it "many times". The vendor describes the mechanical condition as being in "good race order" and the transmission and cosmetic condition as being "good". The cycle parts are similarly described and he notes that a new set of tyres have been fitted.