Museum Bikes?

[riot]

Found this 1970s Champion Yamaha TZ350 (!) on VFT the other day, and its got into my head:

07July11-ChampionYamaha.jpg

Those that know my flat track adventures may guess that I have it bad for old Champion Framers in a big way. For some reason they are just the best thing to me. This is the best of the best, combining my love of vintage golden era GP Yamaha 2-strokes (I used to race an RD350) with a Champion frame.

I have never seen one of these anywhere - I've seen very few Air Cooled Champion twins (RDs or TDs), but no TZs - so honestly the price is reasonable for what it is. But, I won't really be a able to ride it. You can't practically beat on an old TZ350 motor because spares are just too expensive and rare. You can exhibition the bike, but not really campaign it in earnest.

My current Champion gets ridden. I may baby it a little on track, but that is probably more to protect my old body than my old bike

So what say you? Rare useless bikes are awesome, or trophy bikes are stupid?

[Maritime]

Awesome, If you have the scratch to own it go for it. I'd have some that I just look at and ride a little if my disposable income allowed it. Will someday or won't but art is something that makes you feel good and worth what you will pay for it. Functional art is even better.

[BillnOroville]

If you had it, you could take it to the track and show it off by just riding it once around between races for everyone to look at and drool and hear that engine. That way it does more than sit at home.

[bitzz]

BUY IT. It's a deal.
And feel free to ride it and beat on it all you want. There's lots of parts available, pattern pistons from the UK, RD rods, bearings are the same as RD except for the left main which uses a roller but they're available, Nova makes trans parts. If you can't find parts, get in touch, I have 3 early TZs and lots of parts. There are few bikes that are as well supported as the TZs. They're still competitive in "lightweight" and there's lots of people still racing them... well... the "G" is still competitive
You could swap in a RD400 motor (air cooled with reed valves, so it has some mid range, it will just bolt in), to make it easier to ride, the power band on the C/D TZs is a bit of a light switch, and those pipes will make it worse.
Buy it and race it PLEASE

[jspeed53]

I don’t know if Ken, Socalrc31, checks in here from time to time, but he did what I would enviously like to copy ... a glass case in the dining room! Known for his sano builds and record HOTM awards, this was a rare grey-market ( I forget the model, sorry) perfect condition Honda RC-something.
Wish I had a pic of the “display.”

[6]

Not going to get another shot at something like that.. So if you can...... . Send it.

[JanM]

If there ever was a "your" bike - this is yours, riot. Get it.

[6]

Well???????

[riot]

Didn’t get it. It was probably for the best - if I’m gonna spend that kind of money on my hobby, I would get a new (old) van to upgrade my hauling setup. Not only would that make my riding experience much better than another bike, it would be a much easier sell to the wife.

But more than that, I definitely fall on the side of use it rather than just have it. Even if the bike would be maintainable, there are very few classes that would suit it - there are barely any for my current flat track bike. Worse, it wouldn’t be competitive if I found them. The big four strokes tractability definitely outweighs the performance of this bike, unless you happen to be King Kenny maybe.

Finally, dirt track is a PITA, because your bike is always dirty. I would hate every minute of doing that to such a bike. I can’t imagine all that dirt getting into a dry clutch and magneto! At least on my current ride, engine rebuilds aren’t too expensive!

[riot]

BUY IT. It's a deal.
And feel free to ride it and beat on it all you want. There's lots of parts available, pattern pistons from the UK, RD rods, bearings are the same as RD except for the left main which uses a roller but they're available, Nova makes trans parts. If you can't find parts, get in touch, I have 3 early TZs and lots of parts. There are few bikes that are as well supported as the TZs. They're still competitive in "lightweight" and there's lots of people still racing them... well... the "G" is still competitive
You could swap in a RD400 motor (air cooled with reed valves, so it has some mid range, it will just bolt in), to make it easier to ride, the power band on the C/D TZs is a bit of a light switch, and those pipes will make it worse.
Buy it and race it PLEASE

If you ever decide to get rid of a TZ call me first! I love them all, but a 1977 Mono shock would be the top!

[bitzz]

drop me a line jim at bitzz dot com
I have a TR3, a B, a F and a G ... everything is for sale for the right price
The B is virtually new, never been apart, still have the original spares kit.
...but I'm in Canada

[6]

imagine all that dirt getting into a dry clutch

I can tell you from speedway experience, it works out better than you could guess.