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Thread: Yamaha TZ750 kenny roberts flat tracker

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    Bodger

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    Yamaha TZ750 kenny roberts flat tracker

    Did know there was a bike thread here on turbo sport just thought you boys might be interested in my dads Bike:

    This is a replica kenny roberts tz750 flat tracker its the only one road registered in the uk my dad tells me its greater that i could understand. I don't know a great deal about bikes i ride a aprilia rs50 1999 2 stroke and ive done a carb upgrade on it to a 21mm delorto carb and polini read valves to make it more competitive in the traffic being only a 50cc bike. Anyway heres some pictures of my bike and my dads beast. should have seen the row wen he put it up the hall of our house needless to say my mum wouldnt let it stay there long.
    Click image for larger version Name:	11111138_538546292950006_1976644375147753421_n.jpg Views:	89 Size:	140.3 KB ID:	74927Click image for larger version Name:	10393913_538548349616467_5478420133444294870_n.jpg Views:	89 Size:	137.5 KB ID:	74928Click image for larger version Name:	10559829_538548329616469_168205506461477142_n.jpg Views:	89 Size:	108.3 KB ID:	74929Click image for larger version Name:	11119327_538548366283132_156853899618409160_n.jpg Views:	88 Size:	44.1 KB ID:	74930
    At least we stole the show...

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    Bodger

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    Re: Yamaha TZ750 kenny roberts flat tracker

    This may be one of the most awe-inspiring motorcycles ever built. In fact, even now, 26 years later, it is legendary as the bike that caused King Kenny Roberts to say: "They don’t pay me enough to ride that thing." Here’s the story: Roberts had won the 1973 and ’74 AMA Grand National Championships using twin-cylinder, four-stroke Yamahas on the dirt. But by ’75, Harley-Davidson’s XR750 had left the Yamaha behind in performance.

    So Yamaha tuners pulled the TZ750 two-stroke, four-cylinder motor out of the road-racer that Roberts used to win Laguna Seca that year, and stuffed it into a dirt-track frame. The engine pumped out 125 horsepower, 50 more than a Yamaha twin. But the question was whether anyone would be able to control the beast.
    Roberts tried it for the first time at the Indianapolis Mile, where he quickly discovered that brute power led to a bit of wheel spin. "Finding grip was a problem,’’ is the understated way Roberts explains it today.

    The TZ could hit about 150 mph at the end of each straight. But balancing throttle and traction in the corners wasn’t easy.

    Somehow, Roberts qualified for the 25-lap final. And off the line, he put himself in sixth place. But he admits that keeping the bike on the track took every bit of skill he possessed.

    "In the main," Roberts recalls, "the cushion went right up to the hay bales. After the race, I had baling wire on the bike" from bouncing off the bales.

    In spite of all that, Roberts closed on the leaders: Harley riders Rex Beauchamp, Corky Keener and Jay Springsteen. Then, on the last lap, "I got a terrific drive off turn three. I have no idea why. The tire was almost gone, three-quarters chunked.

    "Coming off the last corner, I definitely had third, and I thought I could get second. I hit fifth gear and it was less than a quarter mile at 145, so everything happened quickly."

    Somehow, Roberts got the TZ hooked up, and in the final feet of the race, blew past the Harley trio for the win.

    It was a spectacular debut, but it was also the bike’s only moment of glory. Roberts tried to ride it at two more races, but reverted to his twin both times. At the end of the season, the AMA wrote new safety rules outlawing such machines in the future.

    Eventually, this incredible motorcycle came into the hands of historian Steve Wright. It was previously on display at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum at AMA headquarters in Pickerington, Ohio. (quote from http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/asp/...bike.asp?id=42) Click image for larger version Name:	classjan_400.jpg Views:	83 Size:	38.1 KB ID:	74931
    At least we stole the show...

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    Re: Yamaha TZ750 kenny roberts flat tracker

    very cool machine, thanks for sharing

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    Spanner Monkey Mexico Spike's Avatar

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    Re: Yamaha TZ750 kenny roberts flat tracker

    Click image for larger version Name:	image.jpg Views:	61 Size:	100.4 KB ID:	74974
    Not nearly as nice as your dads,.. Built an RD350 version!
    Remove all Health & Safety and let Darwinism run its course!

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    Re: Yamaha TZ750 kenny roberts flat tracker

    Adam
    Luvly machine
    Best I ever managed was to fire up my old X7 in the hall, but any chance of a vid of that 750 running in the house

    Would sound the bollox
    Cheers Wyn ...

    Stuck in the 80's
    Back in Black

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    Bodger

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    Re: Yamaha TZ750 kenny roberts flat tracker

    i will be sure to post one in this thread for your enjoyment
    At least we stole the show...

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