For Sale: 1975 Yamaha TZ700 T750
Regardless of age, high-performance never goes out of style. And while this is a 37 year old comparative dinosaur next to many of the modern machines posted on RSBFS, it still looks fast and purposeful – and ready to rip your arms out of their sockets when it hits the pipe!
The TZ series were Yamaha customer race bikes, allowing privateers access to *almost* the same machinery as “factory sponsored” riders. The factory boys probably sat on the same base motorcycle as the privateers, but were often assisted by trick parts and the latest developmental gadgets. Still, many a professional rider turned laps on TZ machines, and their contribution to motorcycle roadracing cannot be denied. Unfortunately, very few of the racebikes survive in any period correct semblance and prices are rising fast on quality hardware.
From the seller:
YAMAHA TZ750 TZ 750 700 TZ700
Serial number 409-100118Rare and hard to find Yamaha TZ750
The serial number indicates this TZ750 is an early 1975 model,
still with the 700cc top end.The 1975 production began with serial number 409-100101,
indicating this bike was in the first 20 bikes produced that year.
Possibly meaning that the bike was originally assigned to a factory-supported
team in the USA, Asia or Europe.Perhaps this bike was originally assigned to Steve Baker,
Johnny Cecotto, Gaicomo Agostini, Gene Romero, Kenny Roberts
or another factory supported rider.Almost impossible to find with the original top end.
The 34mm Mikuni carbs are properly marked with the “409” designation,
indicating the carbs were made for the early TZ750, A, B or CTank equipped with a quick-fill option. The tank conversion workmanship looks to be
either factory or a VERY professional conversion.Wire spoke wheels appear original.
Attractive paint on tank, seat and fairing.
The cases have no serial number, not unusual for a factory bike.
The providence of any racebike is often a murky affair. The seller insinuates that this bike might have been ridden by one of the greats, but that is not a documented fact. The point is that documented race history turbocharges the price on any collectable racebike. Still, this is an undeniably clean example of one of the classic GP machines of the day.
I can’t decide if this super-sano example is a $34,500 find (as per the BIN) asked by the seller, or a $20k bike with a $15k detail job – I’m not sure the last meal I ate was served on a plate this clean! Two strokes are notorious for burping out schmutz on every possible surface – which is part of their charm – so to see this bike in such a restored state is really a nice treat. Other interested parties seem to agree, as spirited bidding has taken this bike over the $22k mark with reserve still in place. Do yourself a favor and check out the pics on this one: click here to jump over to the auction. Enjoy!
MI
The correct word is “provenance” not “providence.”
“The provenance of any racebike is often a murky affair.”
Thanks so much for the comment and correction, Randy. While this bike is indeed God-like, “provenance” was the proper word choice. Providence is what I would rely on should I ever have the chance to ride this beast!
I hope this does not go down on my permanent record….
“The providence of any racebike is often a murky affair. The seller insinuates that this bike might have been ridden by one of the greats, but that is not a documented fact.”
The above statement (providence not with standing ;)) says it all.
This bike may be a TZ700/750 – but without documente proof of the actual bikes history, the ‘truth’ is just as murky as that “1 of 3” special Kenny Roberts Edition 3XV that was listed a week or so ago – then *poof* vanished into the night.
Hopefully calm heads will prevail and this bike will sell as a ‘clean restored’ TZ for a reasonable price and do the market of the true collectible TZ’s justice.
Of course it won’t. I love your site, by the way.
Always good to see old friends and this one looks pretty good. Hope you don’t mind if I chime in about some of the sellers descriptions as there is some speculation. The ser #’s for the first 1974 TZ 700″s started with 409-000101 to 409-000319 with matching chassis #’. The barrels were later increased to 750 cc give the bike more power which they needed at the time. If this bike was assigned to a factory team, it sat on the wall as the factory bikes for Kenny, Baker, Cecatto and the rest were very trick (Understatement there).
If I were considering buying this bike, I would have a million questions and would wonder why there is no video of the bike running. As for the cases having no #’s? They were notorious for breaking cases for various reasons and throwing the riders down the road. (Don’t ask me how I know) and replacement cases were available with no #’s from Yamaha.
That being said, it looks good in the pictures. If I were going to buy this, I would pay someone like Curruthers to go with me to Florida and have a look. Now THAT would be a good investment. They sold for about $3,600.00 new from Yamaha.
Wait a minute- the seller says nothing about the internal mechanical conditon of the motor, or when it was last rebuilt and how extensively, and by whom. He doesn’t even specifically say that if it runs or not! Why would you leave out so much critical information on a bike valued at $20-30,000?
[…] in July we brought you this great Yamaha racer from the same seller. Meticulously presented and one year newer, that bike sold for $28,000. Now we […]