I bought a very low mile '67 YR1 way back in 1973 for 275.00 then in 1975 Bought a new RD350B. Planned on keeping the YR1 forever as loved the bike but a cousin rolled his car over and needed transportation so let him have it. Wanted another for past 40yrs but could never find the "right" bike. Recently I stumbled across a absolute mint unrestored bike original down to tires with very low miles from a 79 yr old gentleman that rode it away from dealer way back in 1967. Garage kept and well maintained since new. Not registered since mid 70's but always kept it in running condition.

Had an YDS 3 back in 1968/69. Had a lot of fun with it.

Great restoration. The Yam looks so sharp in Black & chrome

I had one of these back in the late 90's and I loved it. This thing would handle like it was on rails even on gravel roads, fast too. I wish I would have kept it. Best handling old bike I have ever rode and I've rode a lot of different old bikes. I did not use the oil injection. I didn't trust it so I premixed the gas and oil. Beautiful bike.

Honda predates Yamaha's combined speedo/tacho by 7 years the CB72 had this arrangement on it's launch in 1960. The YR1 could have been a better performer however Yamaha held back on this one and did not utilise the 5 port transfer port system until the following year, the biggest plus for this engine is the horizontally split crankcases, the previous 250 models had been vertical's, which were a mechanics dream for any crank and gearbox work, and mounting the clutch on the gearbox shaft rather then the crankshaft. What I liked about the whole range of Yamaha 250/350's over the years was their genuine shared DNA with their racing bikes.

The double-leading brake arrangement in the front wheel ensured that the leading ends of each of the two brake shoes engaged with the rotating hub, giving better stopping power than the single-action system where the leading end of one shoe, and the trailing end of the other shoe engaged the rotating hub.

hahaha ... the rubber tank pads are for gripping the tank with your knees, not to protect the paint. And as for the single tach/speedo, Honda had that for years before 1967.

Great Greg thanks for explaining how Yamaha created the auto lube oil system and how the racing bikes took over retail trade that even still today. I had a RS125 and then a RD250 , I never lost the Yamaha grin after I rode my bike.

Great little piece, all though I didn't get the law suit thing at the end. Just keep it about the bike!

Great review. Have one myself.

Not true about the lubrication - the Velocette GTP featured a separate oil tank and supply in the 1920s....beautiful bike though and I would love one !! (P.S. the positive stop footchange gearshift that the Yamaha uses is also 1920's Velocette technology)...

I had one my senior year in college (1970-71). An interesting feature was the fuel tank dipstick that you could pull out of the filler orifice if you wanted to know the volume of fuel. But I never used it; I just ran it until I had to go to the reserve tap on the fuel cock and then looked for a gas station.

I'm looking to buy a Yamaha c60 campus but needs lots of work how hard would it be to restore a bike like that it has 400 miles on it its a 65 and was found in a barn it starts fine and is rideable.

I agree the YR-1 was a great bike. I rode a modified version in competition in the years around 1970, picking up drag race and land speed records for myself and Roland Scott, the owner. However, almost all the details you mention about the bike have everything from moderate to severe inaccuracy. Please research the info before you do another, or issue an update to this one. I'll help if you like.

where you get parts im flat out getting bits for my yds6c? help me please

What kind of spark plugs do you use??

Is this a 6 or 12 volt system?? Thanks

Anybody know the seat height on these bikes?

I like the video very clean bike. I am also restoring a YR1 and I am trying to locate a OEM seat or just the seat cover, any ideas?

Nice video, I'm trying to restore a bike my uncle gave me 25yrs ago, it's a custom job with a yr1 motor . I would like to know were did you find the motor diagrams that were in your video. I could surely use the help .

Just picked up a 1967 YR1 only made in 1967 not 1977 as you mentioned, yours is a 1967, human error. Very nice though. But trying to find out how much gear/transmission oil to put in the gearbox? Can't find any information anywhere? I know the auto lube 2 stroke oil refill but not the gearbox. Any luck on reflll capacity? Much appreciated anyone? Thanks!

Beautiful bike

im 22 yrs old and im the first owner of a 1967 yr1 350 2 stroke

my first bike.Luckly it handed all right because i would have hurt myself a lot more as it was quick for its day.thanks for the flash back!

I like it!

most triumphs where 500's and 650's back then

"up until this time most were 750cc....."? No, don't be ridiculous. Rubber panels were there to keep debris from your knees from scratching the tank? Good Lord.