1975 yamaha yz 250.(First mono shock)

[pistonhed]

Hi all,

just landed my self home an origonal condition motorcross bike. Shes the 1974 yz 250 yamaha.

only been told that these bikes are actually worth quite a bit of money? does anyone know anything about them?

I bought it for raking about the fields, not intending it to be of any value. I am told there are 4 or 5 in N.Ireland.

Thnaks

Edited by pistonhed on Thursday 18th October 23:41

[srob]

There's a pretty active classic motocross scene.

Have a look in the newsagents for a mgazine called Classic Dirt Bike ( http://www.classicdirtbike.co.uk/ ) - may be worth having a look in there and seeing if there's any specialists you could contact

[wavydave13]

got any pics mate ?

[pistonhed]

Hi, Thanks I will try having a look through that link now cheers. yea I have a few pictures I will put up soon.

started cleaning the bike before I start to do to much...

Mouse nest in the air box, and it had chewed through the wires to the coil pack but iv got it joint back together and got it sparking last night!

I will get you pictures asap

[MontyC]

The early MotoX bikes are pretty thought after but the twin shock ones are always worth more then mono, I have had over 100 motorcross bikes over the years from 1970s to 2000s if you need parts I may be able to help you out or put you in touch with someone that can, but remember these are not very friendly bikes to ride compared to the later ones and can be an B*****D to start. I had a 82 YZ490 that would snap the kickstart spring every 5th or so kick I got so fedup replacing them in the end.

[pistonhed]

I cant find anywhere how much this age/ modle of bike is worth. Dont want to spend big money on it as to be heonest im more into my cars than anything but Its a pretty interesting project and im learning pretty quick.
I will be glad to hear it starting if it ever gets that far!

I'm gonna bore you all with a wee story of how the bike came about..

Watched that man jumping from space a few weeks ago, this you tube video lead me to red bull X-fighters..this made me think I needed a bike..
a friend of mine used to have an old bike laying in his shed, it was his dads and hasnt been started in 20 years. I hadnt been at his house since 2006. got in touch with him on facebook and asked if it was still there and if he would sell it.something to have for around the farm (checking the sheep etc)


so went uo and had a look, seemed straight enought and after watching countless you tube videos on the workings of a 2 stroke engine I thought I was up to the challenge. lifted the bike and took it to a stortage container we have hired only abiout a month ago.
the bike was bought with no exhaust on it what so ever. I told the man who owns the yard I bought an bike and if he knew anything about them (he works at lawnmowers) he started laughing..turns out he has a shed full of old bikes, maybe 30+! we got talking and he asked me where i bought it from..maybe 30 miles away from where he was.
he looked at me like he had seen a ghost, took me up to his shed and got me the exhaust the previous owner had left to him over 15 years ago to get welded but never returned for...so bike and exhaust are now reunited! real nice man, keeping me right with the work.


Too wierd, N.Ireland is too small a country.

I will try to take plenty of pics. and thanks mate I might have to tke you up on the offer of parts/contacts as I think they are hard enough to come by.

[wavydave13]

man that is a great story, i love stuff like that.
and although it is a mono it is twin shock eligible because of it's age.
value wise, sorry but not a lot even if it is restored , it wasn't the best of bikes when new.husky's,CZ's and Maico's of that age are more competetive so command higher prices.

[pistonhed]

Thanks mate, really strange how things like that work out! ahh right...I better go ask for my job back then :-( haha sure it can always be retired to the farm after all! not gonna lie im a complete novice when it comes to bikes. Thanks though good to know!

[pistonhed]

Bike is making slow and steady progress. its actually a mx250 B. Have 18 people that have left their details with me to buy it...but I might just sicken them and put it in the garage for a year so I can appreciate my hard work!

[pistonhed]

here she is guys, looks significantly different now, frame has been powder coated etc, engine rebuilt and everything else ongoing! what you think?

[V8 Fettler]

You're going to use that to check on the sheep?

[pistonhed]

Are you saying i should get something more reliable?..that was the plan until I was told I should restore it. never had any experience with bikes before hand

[pistonhed]

Bottom swing arm bearings...what's left of them

[pistonhed]

Damage to the left hand side dust cover has caused the bearings to deteriorate, the other one was in better condition

[pistonhed]

preferred method of keeping it all together, freezr bags- !:50 for 100 :-D

[pistonhed]

when I got the bike the was damage to the rear of the frame where I'm guessing an overconfident wheelie put the rider on his ass and kinked the frame. My uncle is a fabricator and he was able to straighten them out, weld it up and buff it down good as new

[pistonhed]

stripped for glass bead blasting this week! then off to the body shop for a respray

[pistonhed]

[pistonhed]

frame and fuel tank. not sure weather to get the tank re painted. I quite like the fact that the origional stickers are still the and on a bike this age the worn red graphic add a bit of character. (In my opinion anyway) no pont pretending it was a show room bike, its been through the wars and thats what I like about it so it might be the one bit that I leave untouched...

[pistonhed]

so this is the general conditon of the frame. Nothing more than i little surface rust. Hoping there won't be too much pitting after the bead blasting takes the rust off, but time will tell, no other way around it uness a high build primer reduces any pitting that is on highly visible areas