TRI-Z Q&A with driscoll

[radrandy2001]

I never thought I would ride or own a 3wheeler ever again... But the thought kinda grew on me.....and I figured it would be a good time to jump in.....I will be building a replica of my first tri-z.... 1985, yamaha yellow...race ready for short course.... like my profile pic...the forks gotta go... I wanna do something trick but keep the cost down....I think I will go with a basically stock motor... dg or cobra pipe and silencer , I need new yellow plastics including the shrouds....nice re-built shock.....I wanna get rid of the stock gas tank and mount one (aluminum?) under the plastic top tank cover (gravity feed)....and much more.... the swingarm would be a good idea too.....Im only going to ride it 1 or 2 times a year(trikefest/Imp Invasion)... so I want it very dependable....with this set up I could still throw paddles on it and do some sand riding....I also plan on displaying it in my surf and skate shop.... If I do another tri-z later , It will be a baja desert racing replica....

Brett, now that you have a master plan, lets roll with it. How are the wheels on the machine? Looking for a nice set of original gold wheels? I have some.

I just bought a Works Performance shock for my 86 and it was $650 (gulp) but I went to the dunes in Waynoka Oklahoma and it worked perfectly just like Works Performance always delivers. I was using a stock shock with their "Heart Transplant" internals and it lasted 20 years. That route will save over $300. Rider weight and the stock spring is the only limiting factor. I weigh in right at 200-210 lbs in full MX gear so I always had the stock shock spring cranked up tight. Its nice to havethe correct spring rate now.

As far as the pipes go, get a Cobra if you can find one. I have tried them all and the Cobra delivers a true seat in the pants difference. Here is a interesting story you may or may not remember. I think I asked this or at least discussed this a long time ago of you. When I got into the Tri Z's it was early 1990's. I found a factory part number for a race pipe that Yamaha offered in their parts books. It was a hand coned works looking pipe and I wanted one bad. It was no longer available. I called Yamaha and after being bounced around many times I finally get someone that knew all about it and I think (?) it may have been Pete McCarthy or someone near that level of racing knowledge. He explained that the original hand coned pipe was too time consuming to build and sell so Cobra made a pressed/stamped version of it and if you ordered one through Yamaha when it was still available, you got a Cobra shipped so he said "Buy a Cobra" soI did. Later on I buy a buddies (Dennis Collinge, Carbondale Kansas) 85 Tri Z in which he bought from you, Brand New, a Factory Tri pipe. Your pipe and the Cobra are absolutely identical. Knowing the back story on how Pete helped design your pipe (Am I remembering this right?) I believe your Factory Tri pipe and the Cobra pipe to be one in the same. It only makes sense wouldn't you think? I can get you measurements and pics if you want as I still own three of these pipes.

Being a racer and go fast guy that you are, I think you will want some port work, pipe and carb to wake up a stock motor as you will become bored quickly in stock form. I have no reliability issues with my modified engines.

How about the tranny? I would slip a 1986 6 speed into the 85 cases. You can find them if you look far machines being parted out.

I think the radiator scoops will be your hardest to find plastic. Most everything else is available. If you don't know, the new Maier plastic is shiney like the factory stuff. It used to be dull but not now.

Shoot me a PM and I can give you my diect email address and I can share some more stuff with you.

Good Luck on your project.
Brett Rides Again!!!!!

Randy

[3WW Star-driscoll333]

Randy, the wheels are ok, but I'd rather have the gold stockers... shoot me a $ amount.....I think I should go with a works or ? better shock... If u say works is the way to go, I will go that route....I would like to be able to get one of my old factory TRI pipes...but figured there was no way... and yes, Kieth McCarty gave me all the contacts a specs to get them produced...(cobra) There is no better pipe ...Also.I'm doing a run of factory-tri stickers..

[Bryan Raffa]

I never thought I would ride or own a 3wheeler ever again... But the thought kinda grew on me.....and I figured it would be a good time to jump in.....I will be building a replica of my first tri-z.... 1985, yamaha yellow...race ready for short course.... like my profile pic...the forks gotta go... I wanna do something trick but keep the cost down....I think I will go with a basically stock motor... dg or cobra pipe and silencer , I need new yellow plastics including the shrouds....nice re-built shock.....I wanna get rid of the stock gas tank and mount one (aluminum?) under the plastic top tank cover (gravity feed)....and much more.... the swingarm would be a good idea too.....Im only going to ride it 1 or 2 times a year(trikefest/Imp Invasion)... so I want it very dependable....with this set up I could still throw paddles on it and do some sand riding....I also plan on displaying it in my surf and skate shop.... If I do another tri-z later , It will be a baja desert racing replica....

I have been lookin for a plate like you use to run I want them reproduced! DC plastic just made me a white set of shrouds for my 490.. the plastic is obtainable ,,NEW... oem ya just gotta watch ebay,,, billy can make tripples like mine to run the KTM stuff,, and jason hall is gettin ready to make a few sets..also around 400ish top of the line...you could have a K in the front end easy.. front fender is the hardest for oem.. you want a sprock intake and a sprock clutch basket!

you want all oem stuff? I want a neon tri sticker signed!!!

[radrandy2001]

Randy, the wheels are ok, but I'd rather have the gold stockers... shoot me a $ amount.....I think I should go with a works or ? better shock... If u say works is the way to go, I will go that route....I would like to be able to get one of my old factory TRI pipes...but figured there was no way... and yes, Kieth McCarty gave me all the contacts a specs to get them produced...(cobra) There is no better pipe ...Also.I'm doing a run of factory-tri stickers..

Keith McCarty not Pete McCarthy, I knew I had the wrong name. Thanks for clarifying.

Works Performance has all the specs for a Tri Z and I have used their shocks on my vintage MX bikes for a number of years. I think you would be very happy with them.

I will try to take some pics of what I have and want to sell for a Tri Z and let you know. Check your personal messages on this site and I will shoot you my home email. If you reply with your email I can send the pics there.

Factory Tri Stickers? HELL YA!!!!!, been wanting some of those for sure. Count me in for a few of them.

Do you remember back in January I posted pics of the flat track white & red Tri Z with the small Hoosier tires set up for coke on concrete racing? That is buddy Eddie Bergman and he won that race against a complete field of Honda's. Last night Eddie comes by for a few cold ones and a RZR blast around my property and we get to talking and I told him you were going to build a Tri Z. He tells me that he has one of your cylinders on his trike. I totally forgot about that as he bought the '86 new so its been a few years. He said when he bought the cylinder from you, you told him it was off one of your racers or practice trikes. He has a hand written note from you with the carb jetting to use and so on. Funny how he still has that and that machine of his is fast. The cylinder has a little Fractory Tri logo engraved in it.

Is Cobra still making pipes? Do you think they would make a small run of those pipes again? I agree, they are the best.

Check you messages.
Thanks!
Randy

[3WW Star-driscoll333]

bryan..It seems like we (I) could get a plastic co. to reproduce the # plates in any color we want....Its all about quantity...about how many Tri-z guys would want # plates, shrouds, factory tri (cobra) pipes, tanks, westcoast replica swingarms? etc.... I can start contacting my old sponsors and connections.... If Im building one Z, maybe its just as easy to build 2 or 3....just a thought? maybe factory tri needs to come back.... haha

[3WW Star-driscoll333]

Randy, I feel the pain of being the only yamaha on the field of red...good job for eddie to win against all honda's.....I dont remember selling cylinders, unless it was off my personal trike... thats too cool... I wanna see that paperwork! ....can u take a picture of that cylinder? Im blown away! ...does anyone know if cobra is still in business? I will call them.... Im not scared to do a run of 50-100 pipes if the demand is there.....

[dcreel]

Wow.. This is awesome for sure.. Looks like I need to find a Tri-Z now.. lol Congrats on finding a Tri-Z to rebuild..

[shawnroy1971]

Just curious about the factory tri top mount fuel tank's,did you make them yourself or a fab shop? I'm sure it's been discussed already,sorry if I missed it..Any chance you or someone has the old dimension's? I work for a welding supply co. that also has a welding school,and possible could duplicate one. Unfortunatly I don't have a tri-z anymore to mock and fab a tank. Those sticker's are awesome!

[3WW Star-driscoll333]

I had a guy in arizona building them...The first 2 were built by Tim Orchard (OMF)... I just talked to him today about them....He said he could build more, but I would need to order 20 at a time ... But Tim dosen't short hit on his work... they would be sikk... but Im guessing 400-500 each....He said he still has some petcocks and caps laying around that Yamaha sent him when fabricating my first 2.....OMF still has the jigs for the tri-z swingarm skid plates... Stock, westcoast, and Cal fab...Yes, the could be fabricated at a school but the gotta be done right... Gas leaks are dangerous....With everyone on here, It seems like we could get 20 of them done somewhere...lets start a list... I want 2 now....Brett

[Bryan Raffa]

ya he does skids for $100 I got one...=) great guy! and they do not fit the Calfab swingarms... just sayin...hahaha

[Mosh]

We have already had Maier repop the Shrouds and air box covers.
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...ouds-PRE-ORDER!!
We should be ordering another run of them here mid summer.
Grab a billet water pump from Corey Sprock, and good luck with your build.

I agree that the Cobra/ or Phase 5 pipes run better than a DG. I run a Phase 5 on my 310 Z.

[radrandy2001]

Randy, I feel the pain of being the only yamaha on the field of red...good job for eddie to win against all honda's.....I dont remember selling cylinders, unless it was off my personal trike... thats too cool... I wanna see that paperwork! ....can u take a picture of that cylinder? Im blown away! ...does anyone know if cobra is still in business? I will call them.... Im not scared to do a run of 50-100 pipes if the demand is there.....

Brett, Here a pic of the side of Eddies cylinder. I will ask him to dig out the paper work.

Randy

[radrandy2001]

I had a guy in arizona building them...The first 2 were built by Tim Orchard (OMF)... I just talked to him today about them....He said he could build more, but I would need to order 20 at a time ... But Tim dosen't short hit on his work... they would be sikk... but Im guessing 400-500 each....He said he still has some petcocks and caps laying around that Yamaha sent him when fabricating my first 2.....OMF still has the jigs for the tri-z swingarm skid plates... Stock, westcoast, and Cal fab...Yes, the could be fabricated at a school but the gotta be done right... Gas leaks are dangerous....With everyone on here, It seems like we could get 20 of them done somewhere...lets start a list... I want 2 now....Brett

Didn't JP Racing also sell the gas tanks? Seems like I remember seeing ads for them.
Randy

[HuffieVA]

Didn't JP Racing also sell the gas tanks? Seems like I remember seeing ads for them.
Randy

Yes they did sell top mount tanks...

[radrandy2001]

Yes they did sell top mount tanks...

Huffie, is that you gas tank or just a picture you have? Nice find.
Randy