Founded by Bill Van Tichelt, Van Tech ended up building aftermarket frames for small-displacement Japanese bikes like the Honda S90, Kawi 100/120, Bridgestone 90/100, and more. The main purpose was to reduce weight, but also give riders the ability to almost ‘hot swap’ engines and suspensions. As they claimed in one of their ads – you can “run a Hodaka this week- and a Yamaha next week – just by changing from one VanTech engine kit adapter to another.”
Van Tech became one of the first dirt bike manufacturers in the US, and these little bikes have become highly collectible over the years. Want to learn more? Check out Motocross Action Mag for a bit more on Van Tech and what they offered.
This example (VIN: LS2-006807) won the California state championship in 1971 and apparently still has dirt on it from Dade City Speedway when a rider named Clay took the championship – the seller has many period photos. This bike is claimed to run great and be race ready, and it even features the “Genuine Yamaha Tuning” (GYT) kit that cost $175 when bought new. The GYT kit usually included a upgraded cylinder, head, piston, carb, and expansion chamber, which increases power at the expense of narrowing the powerband.
Find this Van Tech Yamaha for sale in Ionia, Michigan with an unmet opening bid of $4,500 or a BIN of $6,000