Yamaha`s Strange Brit-bike fetish.

Matt Spencer · Aug 19, 2012

Perhaps he was expecting rain ? . :wink:

Bernhard · Aug 20, 2012

Matt Spencer said:
Perhaps he was expecting rain ? . :wink:

Must have been the reason why Kenny Roberts only rode the TZ750 on the dirt jut once, he had the wrong tyres fitted :!: :wink:

slimslowslider · Aug 20, 2012

Here a link to their police bike commissioned to NVT

http://www.classicyams.com/special-yama ... -bike.html

and NVT's Bob Trigg involvement in an isolastic frame for a XS650

http://www.classicyams.com/special-yama ... ecial.html

SteveMinning · Aug 20, 2012

As I understand it, the Bantam and the Villiers engine were copied from German DKW drawings seized after the war as reparations. The pre-war DKW RT 125 looks an awful lot like a Bantam. Here's a pre-war DKW RT 125:

J.A.W. · Aug 20, 2012

Correct Steve, & Yamaha & H-D did like-wise, bloody Hitlers revenge - if truth be told..

Matt Spencer · Aug 20, 2012

H.D. Whizzer . ER , HUMMER !

Source of the renowned ' Sportster ' fuel tank . :shock:

One " shouldnt mess with people strange to them " .

Or itll be no more D.K.W.s , and off to the Salt Mines with you .

American Version . . .

northern750 · Aug 20, 2012

Interesting thread. Kawasaki made a 650 in the 60s that was a complete BSA clone, far more so than any Yamaha.

Maybe it's perception, but I see an inordinate number of classic bike enthusiasts who also have Yamahas of various vintages in their possession more so than other Japanese marques - anything from modern 600/1000s to old RD/RZs. I have a fondness for Yammy two strokes, have owned, ridden, raced and restored many over the years, they are great bikes, true classics in any sense, plus parts are generally easily available.

J.A.W. · Aug 21, 2012

Indeed, the major improvement done by both Yam & Kaw to their BSA reps was the [2T type] rolling element bottom-end bearings, no nasty plain bushes in there boys..
Not that any Yam built XS 650 could beat the on-road/track performance of the equivalent 350 2T from Yamaha anyway..

Matt Spencer · Aug 21, 2012

Heres our W1SA , Two wheels road test thought it superior to BSA in smoothness , but less secure in the roadholding . Used as a Cop interceptor in various Australian ) & U.S. ) police forces . Or is that Patrol Bike .

W1R :!:

http://home.freeuk.com/klawsuc/

For pulling up Yamaha 2Ts . 8)

Rohan · Aug 21, 2012

Didn't Kawasaki get that Wisa design when they bought out Meguro ?
Amalgamating motorcycle companies wasn't exclusively a british past-time.

prmurat · Aug 21, 2012

I had a W1, 20 years ago... Engine was better that any BSA with over dimensioned parts (but for an alloy/nylon gear by the oil pump..). The old wife tell of Japanese copying starts to be boring... A XV off a Vincent????? A twin OHC, 5 gears, double piston brake, ES (XS2 in -70) to a BSA/Triumph??? A TX750 DOHC to a Norton???? Must admit I do not see the family links!

Philippe
PS: I still dream of a W3 with the Z900 fork....or a CB450 with 360 crank!!!

Jeandr · Aug 21, 2012

prmurat said:
PS: I still dream of a W3 with the Z900 fork....or a CB450 with 360 crank!!!

The W650 and W800 were by far the best "british" type bikes ever! The only problem there were too many other good bikes to choose from when they were introduced.

Jean

J.A.W. · Aug 21, 2012

TX 750/Commando, XV 1000/Vincent , not "family links" but in concept, Yamaha was clearly attempting [but failing]to re-iterate, [with 'improvements'] the defining +ve characteristics of those landmark British machines. ie..
'Omni-phase' vs isolastics to tone down vibes, open frame/cantilever V twin XV 1000 vs ditto Vincent?

Matt Spencer · Aug 21, 2012

Same as the TZs a rort of the Ariel Sq. 4 . conceptually , in the bottom end , after all , youd hardly do a Inline Four , Would you ? to many disadvantages .
in a motorcycle .

Matt Spencer · Aug 21, 2012

MEGURO .

In the 1950s, Meguro entered racing and built its first twin cylindered design, the 651 cc (39.7 cu in) 'Senior' based on a British pre-unit vertical twin design and later the K-series "Stamina" model, based on the BSA A7 A10 range, one of which Meguro had purchased in 1953. Its quality and engineering was superior to the BSA[2] and it was described by Edward Turner, one of Britain’s most talented motorcycle designers, as "too good to be true". For the first time, the Japanese motorcycle industry was perceived as a threat.[3] Its other models designed in collaboration with Kawasaki were entirely of Japanese design.

J.A.W. · Aug 21, 2012

Funny that Yamaha's 1st really successful 4T was a big inline 4,[XS1100] so they have kept at it since, currently leading the Moto 1 championship with their [V4 firing configuration] inline 4.
Matt, it was Suzuki who went square 4, but liquid cooled,[ like the Scott], & as the Squariel should`ve been.

Matt Spencer · Aug 21, 2012

But Air was Free . In those days . Ours were cooled by concrete .

J.A.W. · Aug 21, 2012

Is THAT why they sucked? L.O.L.

Matt Spencer · Aug 22, 2012

Whats worse than ONE RD ? , TWO .

actually , looking at the 16.000 to 18.000 cycles per minute as the most physically irritateing , Explains a few things about the triple 2ts ,
apart from the weight , the spindley forks and swing arm , and the cheap exposed seam mufflers , that even need decokeing, never mind
the cylinders .

J.A.W. · Aug 22, 2012

DE-COKING! You have been out of the loop for a century or 3 eh, Matt.
That is reserved for oil hungry old F-head Rovers & their ilk,... so how is the bean oil diet going anyhow, still smoking too much?