Vintage Yamaha Race Trikes

[Yamahammer490]

With winter coming I'm thinking about a new project. When I was a kid I remember the old Yamaha trikes from 3B and so forth, and always wanted to make one. I started designing rear suspension for my Tri-Moto 175 but sold it to pay for college. (I've got a Tri-Z now but it's not the same.)

The racers I remember usually had an IT175 or YZ250 engine, front forks from a YZ80, and a custom frame with rear suspension. A friend of mine has a pretty complete machine shop so we can fabricate just about anything. I'm probably going to start with a Blaster and turn it into a retro looking trike. I'll get some front forks, fabricate the triple clamps and add some Tri-Moto plastic.

Does anybody have any details on the racers from 3B or any similar team for reference? Any other Yamaha fans ever thought about making something like this? Any pictures would help a lot.

I realize this will be a difficult project but it would be awesome to have something so unique. Something back from when Yamahas were... well... yellow.

Any reference material will be most appreciated.

[Jeb]

I know where one of those is setting in a junk yard. It's an air-cooled YZ250 motor and frame (old first generation A-frame mono-cross rear end) with a custom swingarm. It has some kind of ATC suspended front end. It's not 80cc mini-mx forks. Rounded out with fenders from a 175 Tri-Moto. Has a huge fat front tire and low profile rears. Sets real low to the ground and looks awesome! I tried to buy it, but it wasn't for sale. It was waiting for restoration I was told as it belongs to the owner of the shop and was his original ATV race bike from the very early 80s.

I think what your doing is a killer project. Wish I could help more! :-D

[Trikeaholic]

I have the very tri moto 175 you are talking about. (minus the tricked out front end, thats coming later) DG head,White Bros pipe, Pro-Tec rear suspension, custom rear wheel spacers for Honda pattern rims. Mitchell aluminum wheels with 18" turf tamers. Mild port and polish. I found it in a junk pile, and kept finding cool aftermarket parts. Im trying to slowly build it as a replica of the old Dirt Wheels article bike. I still need an IT200 intake w/boost bottle, and work some bugs out of the rear suspension kit, and do the front end. I was thinking 85 Tecate frot end, so I keep the fat tire but add a disc brake.

[Trikeaholic]

I have the article I could send you. let me know. Unique, it is. It was a hit at trikefest 03, anyone that rode it was sure surprised! Its like an angry bumble-bee. It was super fast with the old 22's on it, would easily dust my 86 200X. The 18's slowed its top end down ALOT, and I failed to humiliate an 86 AND 87 200X at Haspin, although she was sniffing thier pipes the whole way. It probably has to do with a combo of the 18's and auto clutch that was handicapping her.

[mike from long island]

i wander who that was? hmmmmm but that was one fun trike it held its own for as different as it was. if memory serves me correctly it was the only one there. but i did have fun racing her. cant wait till next trikefest :-D

[Trikeaholic]

well, she has got some pretty nasty pivot bolt slop in the swingarm. I need to remedy that before I ride it anymore. Also, remember the shift shaft finally took a poo. Rumor has it that some super swell guy is going to send me one someday. But, I think My next project will be the 83R Ice racer. I finally found a DG head for it, too, but I paid too much. What are you gonna do? its not like anyone makes this stuff anymore!

[bigred110]

Sweet ass 175 tri!!

What kind of rear hubs that are on it? Do you know if any 4 bolt yamaha hubs well work on my tri?

[jason85atc250r]

blaster hubs are the same splines as a tri moto. you could probably put a yamaha 225dx that would be alot better suspension and should bolt up real easy. put a 1 tooth bigger front sproket on it and it will bring the gearing close to normal. with it being ported you should be abe to smoke a blaster to problem :-D

[Yamahammer490]

That's an awesome Tri-Moto 175 Trikeaholic. Mine had a DG pipe too. It looks like yours is an 83, right? Mine was too. If I can dig up some old pictures I'll post them.

Forks from an old Tecate would be cool on yours because you could keep the wide front tire. You just sort of need the fat tire for the classic look.

I've heard that there's an ATV salvage yard on the western side of Wisconsin that I intend to check out one of these weekends. I'm hoping to pick up some parts and begin making some CAD drawings to figure out what I need and how it will all fit together.

[Dan Tenn]

Do you know the name and location of the junk yard in western wisconsin? Im pretty close to la crosse.

[bigred110]

Thanks jason and Trike for your help!!

Do you know if a different model exhaust well work on a tri-moto? like a blaster.

[Curtis-Tecate3]

Welcome to the board YamaHammer.
man, If you remember 3B then you must be in the mid 30's like me. I dont think I have ever seen anyone on this board mention the old 3B race team with those Yamahas. Thanks for the memory revival.

Curtis

[Yamahammer490]

Curtis - Yes, I'm in my mid-30s. 35 to be exact.

I was always a Yamaha fan and was always working on with an engine. I was a huge trike nut in the mid-80s.

Trikeaholic sent me an article about a Tri-Moto racer made by Dirt Wheels that brought back a lot of memories for me too. There was so much innovation in those days. Every model year brought giant leaps in engine and suspension technology.

I've got the bug again and am happy to find so many kindred spirits.

[Yamahammer490]

For Dan Tenn - the salvage yards I've located are:

ART'S SNOWMOBILE AND ATV SALVAGE
RR 2
Cornell, WI 54732
Phone: 715/288-6863
Fax: 715/288-5999

B&T SALES & SALVAGE
3218 Runway Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: 715/552-1479

MIDWEST MOTORSPORT SALVAGE
16820 50th Avenue
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Phone: 715-726-1555
Fax: 715-726-1565

I've only found them on the web and don't know anything about them.

[Dan Tenn]

thanks