MGL1123 DK / 1015 - Yamaha RD 125 cc Productie Racer Naked - 1972 – Japan

Yamaha YZ 125 cc - 1972 Yamaha YZ623A – 2 stroke watercooled engine – 125 cc – 32 hp. Approx.. at 14.000 rpm. - 6 speed - Drum brakes – 1972 Japan From 1970 Yamaha raced primarily in the 250 and 350 cc classes, the factory racing team didn’t appear in the 125 cc class anymore. Still Yamaha delivered to clients the YZ 623 factory production racer. It wasn’t as elaborate as the former 4 cylinder factory team 125 cc racers, now with a 2 cylinder 2 stroke engine. In the early days of 1969 the 125YZ was still aircooled and has gradually been developed, adding watercooling and becoming more and more poweful resulting into 40 hp. at 14.500 rpm. in 1975. Skilled tuners where able to bring these machines to even higher levels of output. Needles to say at costs of high maintenance and frequent overhauling of parts as crankshafts after a few hours of racing. These production racers where a success with private and serious racers all over the world. Interesting was that in essence this machine was a development as a racing bike of the successful YAS 1 street bike becoming the RD 125 in 1974. A powerful 2 stoke street bike with a little shortcoming in stopping power, especially when tuned. With the same engine, highly tuned, finetuned and developed this little bike became a very effective racer. So effective that Kent Anderson became worldchampion in the 125 cc class with it in 1973 and 1974. This makes this Yamaha the only road based machine in the modern era to ever take a world title. In 1975 this Yamaha still raced in the 125 cc. class but was by then overpowered by the competition. By then it’s great reputation was already established to this day. Making it an important part of motorcycle heritage and history.

Collectie Dijkstra Classics Heerde.nl / Heerde – Netherlands