Introduced in the late 1960s as an over-the-counter racebike, Yamaha’s TR2 was based on the road-going R3, and was extremely popular among privateer racers of the period. At just 253lbs dry, the bike was lightweight and, with a nearly square 61mm x 59.6mm bore and stroke that worked out to 348cc, the little air-cooled, two-stroke parallel-twin put a claimed 55hp through a five-speed gearbox.
The huge drum brakes at both ends seen here were difficult to adjust correctly and are obviously not as effective as discs that would have likely been fitted to period racers as soon as they could get their hands on a set, but look very shiny!
From the original eBay listing: 1970 Yamaha TR2 350 for Sale
Restored to an excellent condition. Matching numbers. This very rare racebike have been completely overhauled with a lot of brand new parts as new cylinder barrels and pistons and an overhauled crankshaft, new Koni shock dampers, tires etc.
Transport can be arranged to most EU countries as I can deliver it by myself for actual costs for petrol and ferry tickets and, depending of distance, overnight costs at a cheap hotel. Transport outside Europe must be arranged by the buyer himself. I will make it ready for shipping with a crate and good wrapping.
Currently located in Sweden, this bike is in extremely nice condition, considering the age and the hard life most racebikes have endured, and appears ready to run or for display. Starting bid is $9,900 with no takers and very little time left on the auction, so move fast if you’re living room needs redecorating!
-tad
Maybe not the place for it, but RIP Nicky.
Everyplace is the place for it right now. Thanks J
First class specimen…While no doubt technically inferior to disc brakes, the monster four leading shoe front drum originally fitted to these – when properly set up and adjusted – was capable of stunning feats of physics…One could likewise make the argument the rear drum brake, with its simple cable mechanism, was easier for the “average” rider to make the most of, at least when compared to the new fangled hydraulics of the time…All of that typed, not many “average” types saw seat time on one of these…RTN/XXX/OOO
Yeah, I’ve heard that the oversized drum setups like the one at the front of the Laverda SF and the Moto Guzzi V7 Sport had plenty of power and work pretty well. I know in cars the big issue with drums was fade, not outright stopping power.
I raced the TR2, TD3 and the TZ 250’s back in the day and all came with the 4LS front drum which were tricky to adjust correctly and started to fade noticeably after a lap or two. The solution to the fading issue was to replace the stock linings with Ferodo green linings (Still have some) which improved the performance dramatically but made trail braking tricky at best as it became easy to lock the front wheel. Most of us fitted front disc’s and round filed the stock drums soon as we could. They did look bitchen though.