Yamaha’s TZ750 is one of the legends of factory and privateer motorcycle racing. Cycle World called it one of the six greatest motorcycles of all time, and part of that honor came from the fact that a TZ750 won the Daytona 200 nine years in a row. Here’s one that “was purposefully built to compete in speed contests and to be driven on the street” and has been on display at the Kansas Motorcycle Museum.
Per the seller, “the engine is one of the Yamaha spare motors that was available from 1974-1979 for specialized applications. This particular motor was sourced from a sidecar racer in Australia. I purchased the bike from a gentleman who had over 200 2-stroke motorcycles, in Yerington, Nevada in 2001. When I bought it, it had Suzuki racing style skins with a headlight, taillight and turn signals, utilizing a total loss battery setup. After I purchased the bike I took it all apart, and put it back together utilizing repro skins and painted similar to Kenny Roberts TZ750 road bike. I left the wiring in place for the headlight and the brake light, utilizing a total loss system. The rear brake will activate the light, although the new skins have no light fitted. There is a switch to turn on the headlight, although no light as been fitted to the new skins.”
This build utilizes a monoshock Spondon frame from 2000, paired with Brembo brakes, custom exhaust, and aftermarket gauges. The seller says that it weighs 300 pounds and adds, “I rode it on the street several times, when I lived in Carmel Valley, California circa 2001-2003. Thursday night was Hot Chilli Nights at Baja Cantina on Carmel Valley Road, so 4 or 5 of us would gather and I would ride in the middle with the Kawasaki license plate from my H2. Did I mention the bike is loud? Hot rods and motorcycles. One time, there were real racers at the Baja Cantina, for a gathering, as they had an AMA event at Laguna Seca that weekend. Wow did they look up when I got on the throttle! In late 2006 I was moving to Hawaii and knew the salty humid air would not be the right place for a bike of this caliber. I got a spot to display the TZ750 at the Kansas Motorcycle Museum, in Marquette Kansas, along with my 100 point restored Kawasaki H2, where they have both been ever since. They keep the temperature and humidity appropriate for a museum of motorcycles.” No comment is made about the current running state of the bike.
Find this TZ for sale in Marquette, Kansas for $25,000 or best offer here on eBay.