Yamaha TD
![]() Yamaha TD 1B (1966) |
|
Manufacturer | Yamaha engine |
Production period | 1962 to 1972 |
class | motorcycle |
Motor data | |
Two-stroke engine , air-cooled two-cylinder engine, inlet through piston edge control | |
Displacement (cm³) | 247 |
Power (kW / PS ) | 32-49 hp at 9,500-10,500 rpm |
Top speed ( km / h) | 225 |
drive | Chain |
Wheelbase (mm) | 1295-1315 |
Empty weight (kg) | 96-105 |
The Yamaha TD was a commercially available racing motorcycle from the Japanese manufacturer Yamaha , which was used among other things until 1972 in the motorcycle world championship in the class up to 250 cc. The basis was the Yamaha YDS2 series motorcycle, which was enhanced with a racing kit for private riders. Over 500 copies were made in the Yamaha TD series. It was the entry point for many private drivers into racing.
History and technology
The series engine (bore / stroke: 56 × 50 mm) with an output of 23 HP at 7500 rpm was used for the first series. Increased performance, but without rotary valve control like the factory machine (RD 56), the engine was built into a modified motorcycle frame with full fairing. Two Mikuni carburettors in the series size of 20 mm (later 30 mm diameter) provided the oil-fuel mixture, the twin was ignited with a magneto ignition. The power was transmitted to the rear wheel by means of a chain via a five-speed gearbox (from model TD 2 with six gears). The chassis consisted of a double-loop tubular frame with a telescopic fork and two spring struts on the rear swing arm . The TD had a duo-duplex brake at the front and a duplex brake at the rear . The tire size changed in the course of development from 2.50–18 to 2.75–18 at the front and from 2.75–18 to 3.00–18 at the rear. The petrol tank held 21, later 23 liters, the oil reserve was 1.5 liters.
Races and achievements
The first production racers from a Japanese manufacturer were initially only driven in national races. With the TD-2 models, the commercially available racer was also used successfully on an international level. During the motorcycle world championship in 1969, the Swedish racing driver Kent Andersson succeeded in winning a world championship run, the German Grand Prix, for the first time with a “racing machine from the shop counter” . The Yamaha TD 2 was then available to everyone for £ 900 . With a factory Yamaha, Rodney Gould won the motorcycle world championship in the class up to 250 cc in 1970 . In 1971 he was beaten by Phil Read , who won the title on a private Yamaha TD Production Racer tuned by Helmut Fath . The production racers Yamaha TD and Yamaha TR then sold like hot cakes. The air-cooled racing machines were replaced in 1973 by the production racers Yamaha TZ 250 and Yamaha TZ 350 .
Technical specifications
TD 1-TD 1A | TD 1B | TD 1C | TD 2 | TD 2B | TD 3 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Construction year | 1962-64 | 1965-66 | 1967-68 | 1969-70 | 1971 | 1972 |
Performance / at | 32 PS 9,500 min -1 |
35 hp 9,500 min -1 |
40 PS 10,500 min -1 |
44 PS 10,500 min -1 |
47 PS 11,000 min -1 |
49 PS 10,500 min -1 |
wheelbase | 1295 mm | 1290 mm | 1280 mm | 1315 mm | 1315 mm | 1300 mm |
Steering head angle in degrees |
62.5 | 62.5 | 62.5 | 62.5 | ||
Trail in mm |
75 | 90 | 90 | 90 | ||
Empty weight in kg | (111) 96 | 96 | 104 | 105 | 105 | 105 |
literature
- Collin MacKellar: Yamaha. All Factory and Production Road-Racing Two-Strokes from 1955 to 1993 . The Crowood Press, 1st edition 1995, ISBN 978-18522-3920-6 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Collin MacKellar: Yamaha ., P. 39.
- ^ Axel Koenigsbeck, Hans J. Schneider, Peter Abelmann: Yamaha. Schneider Text Editions LTD., 1st edition 2004, ISBN 0-9541746-0-7 , p. 376.
- ↑ Collin Mackellar: Yamaha , p.184..
- ↑ Collin MacKellar: Yamaha ., P. 55.
- ↑ Collin MacKellar: Yamaha ., P. 39.
- ↑ Collin Mackellar: Yamaha , p.184..