Yamaha TZ750 roadbike

Folks,
I've blathered before about the how Yamaha faked up a 4cyl, 2-stroke
road-bike and showed it off at the '72 Tokyo show
and then used the existence of that road-bike to justify fitting 350
cylinders to the double-250 TZ500 GP bike and then claiming the resultant
TZ700 was "modified production" and thus eligible to race in the F750
championship (against the likes of Triumph Tridents, Ducati 750 Sports....
Mind you the other Japs were already at it with legitimately
production-derived Kwakka H2Rs and TR750 Suzukis).
The TZ700/750 mopped the floor with the opposition and dominated right up
until the series was cancelled in 1976..... all without the "road" bike ever
selling a single unit!
The prototype road bike was called the GL750:
http://www.motosclassicas70.com.br/Fotos/Yamaha_GL_750.jpg
http://www12.plala.or.jp/kokuretu/img151.jpg
you can see the similarities eh:
http://www.classic-motorrad.de/galerie/albums/userpics/10001/Yamaha-TZ750-ow31.jpg

 

Can't say I'm keen on the "production" version.

Love the racer.

Especially the business of exhaust positioning...any place it fits.

I suppose that the racer's petrol tank doesn't rust out.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

Can't say I'm keen on the "production" version.
me either, but you could fit up a lot of TZ gear real fast!