Suzuki 2 Strokes

A local shop near me has a 1969 Yamaha YR3 350 2 stroke twin. Been there a long time, 5+ years. Solid project, complete, low miles, hasn't run in years. Guy wants (5 years ago) $1500. I drove past the shop and it's still there, thinking about making the guy an offer. Haven't found alot of info on this bike on the net. Seems to be the precedessor to the R5 and RD350. Parts are rare. Any of the older gentlemen on here remember anything about these bikes? Is it something to consider or avoid?

The YR5 is a cracking machine. As you say the forerunner to the RD series. Spares are reasonably good too. A very attractive looking machine to my tastes, if you can get it for a fair price go for it.

Cheers Geoff

I’ve seen the YR3 but never really looked at it that closely. Its listed in the online parts manuals so you can check for the availability of key parts.
Looks like a fun project if you can get some key parts like oversize pistons.

Its worth joining a two stroke forum that covers Yamaha. They will be able to clue you in on issues.

I have a 1967 YR1- pic below. 4400 mile original. I went through the engine last year. The 69 R3 was the last of this 1st generation and has some unique one year parts to it. Personally, I love the styling of these old machines. PM me if you have questions and if I can help.

Thanks for the responses. Think I'm going to talk to the guy at the shop on Saturday. Possibly check to see if the motor is seized and make 100% sure it's complete. As for today I think I'm going to check Partzilla to see what is actually still available for this machine as jabcb suggested. BTW this bike sits in the front window of the shop... Like a pet store with a cute puppy in the window scratching at the window saying "Take me home" every time I drive by...

Post up a pic of it later and can tell you what's complete/ missing/ original etc. I have some surplus parts myself that fit it and a lot is still available. Exhausts and gàuges are one year only

IIRC, that was called the YDS3 in the UK. I remember them in the late 60's/very early 70s.
Plenty of info online - here's some pics;

https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/sear ... 3&fr=yfp-t" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

More info;

https://uk.search.yahoo.com/search?p=ya ... s&ei=UTF-8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Plenty of stuff on ebay if that's the one you need.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=yamaha+yds3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Almost right Alan. YDS is the 250 version, YR is the 350. 250 more common in the UK at the time and 350 more common in the US I believe.

Looking at google pictures of YR3, some seem to have a tank and seat that wrap over the side panels and others have a tank and seat that runs above the side panels. Presumably they are different years. Did teh YR1 and 2 have the more curved bottom edge and the later R3 have the straight tank bottom or the other way around?

Evans Ward wrote:Post up a pic of it later and can tell you what's complete/ missing/ original etc. I have some surplus parts myself that fit it and a lot is still available. Exhausts and gàuges are one year only

Sorry I don't have a pic and the shop isn't on-line. IIRC it does have the original clocks (two) unlike your YR1 Speedo/tach combo. Pipes have the "funneled down" tips.

TZ... I believe from what I saw they all have a curved bottom edge, its just that some of them had a two-tone paint job and starting on a horizontal seam on the tank were painted black below that. The one I'm looking at is solid orange in color

Sounds like it has the correct clocks and "pea shooter" pipes. Hopefully it has the 2 rubber air box snorkels as those are expensive. Sounds original!

tz375 wrote: 250 more common in the UK at the time and 350 more common in the US I believe.

Probably so. Very few 350s about here as that class of bikes were considered too small for serious biking and too big for learners who were limited to 250s back then. Although tbe 350 Bridgestone opened peoples eyes a bit.

Wasn't the bridgestone a 2-stroke harley?

No, the Bridgestone 350GTR was a disc valved 6 speed two stroke twin. I'd still like one - missed one last year to be truthful.

Pics below;

https://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/sear ... r&fr=yfp-t" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

sportston wrote:Wasn't the bridgestone a 2-stroke harley?

You are probably thinking of the Aermacchi 2-st (Walter Villa w/champion etc.) badged as Harley Davidson. sportston.

Bridgestone were an innovative manufacturer. Urban myth has it the as they supplied all the other Japanese manufactures with OEM tyres they were told they would lose the OEM tyre business if they kept on producing bikes.

Cheers Geoff

Ah that must be what I was thinking of Geoff. Thanks. I read an article a while ago about the Bridgestone, but also read one about the Harley, I guess I must have muddled the two. Pity that Bridgestone stopped making bikes. I wonder what would have been...