According to Mike at RSBFS, “The TD3 is a parallel twin, 250cc aircooled two stroke. This is stone-age technology for which much knowledge exists. Common RD series hop up tricks apply here (the RD being the Road model, the TD being the Track model), and parts are readily available. As such, these are popular bikes for restorations and collections – the end result is a quintessential looking 250 GP bike with classic lines. With nearly 50 HP in a 230-ish pound package, performance is more than adequate for anyone wishing to ride the machine in anger.”
Reader Steve Lang commented back in 2011 about the TD3, “I raced one of these as an AMA Novice in the early 70’s and they are an absolute blast to ride, easy to work on and extreamely addictive. They will make you write bad checks and take your life in unexpected directions as you will find any excuse to take it to the track and ride it with Walter Mitty aspirations. These are fast disappearing and will only increase in value as the years go on. I paid $1700.00 for an AMA used expert class TD3 back in 1973 with illusions of being a world Champion… Roberts, Mamolla and Lawson had other ideas about that. This thing is money in the bank…only better. Just to give you an idea about its value right now…the front brake is worth over $2000.00.”
Where is the market 12 years later? Looking through our archives I found less than a handful of these on our site over the past 15 years.
Year: 1972
Miles: 10,000
Engine Size: 250
Price: $14,995
According to the seller, “This bike was Ralph Hudson (worlds fastest man on a motorcycle ) TD3 that he purchased from his friend Don Vesco back in the 70’s “
Seller
Yamaha 1842 TD3This bike was Ralph Hudson (worlds fastest man on a motorcycle ) TD3 that he purchased from his friend Don Vesco back in the 70’s
I bought it a few years back, sitting on a shipping container from its trip to Australia for the Phillip Island challenge 2017 where he placed 2nd. Sat ever since.
The bike has never been restored from New and has been raced on and off ever since. The bike has travelled around the world from Romania to U.K to Australia.
Ralph said that Scott Mc-cloud did all the engines on t=his 2x GP bikes If you don’t know Ralph Hudson, his exploits in motorcycle community are far and wide.
https://www.mcnews.com.au/fastest-ralph-hudson-phil-hall/
I have priced it according to its current condition. I am only selling it as I have 130+ bikes and I need room. Nearly impossible to find these unrestored and a solid history.
This bike’s vintage Yamaha graphics, race numbers and overall cool factor stopped us in our scrolling zone. Then when we read the history we knew it had to be on the site.
Good luck to the buyer and seller!