Yamaha TZ750
The Yamaha TZ750 was a series production two-stroke race motorcycle built by Yamaha to compete in the Formula 750 class in the 1970s. Motorcyclist called it "the most notorious and successful roadracing motorcycle of the 1970s".[1] Another journal called it the dominant motorcycle of the era, noting its nine consecutive Daytona 200 wins, starting in 1974.[2] It was rated by journalist Kevin Cameron as one of the five most influential motorcycle designs: its monoshock suspension, high-strength frame and wide tires were necessary to handle the high engine output, and became standard for sportbikes.[3]
Twin TZ750 engines powered the Silver Bird motorcycle land-speed record setting streamliner motorcycle, the first to break 300 miles per hour (480 km/h).
Specifications
TZ 750 A | TZ 750 B | TZ 750 C | TZ 750 D | TZ 750 E | TZ 750 F | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
Displacement | 694 cm³ | 747 cm³ | 747 cm³ | 747 cm³ | 747 cm³ | 747 cm³ |
Bore/stroke | 64 × 54 mm | 66,4 × 54 mm | 66,4 × 54 mm | 66,4 × 54 mm | 66,4 × 54 mm | 66,4 × 54 mm |
Power | 90 PS (89 hp) @ 10,500 RPM |
90 PS (89 hp) @ 10,500 RPM |
90 PS (89 hp) @ 10,500 RPM |
120 PS (120 hp) @ 10,500 RPM |
120 PS (120 hp) @ 11,000 RPM |
120 PS (120 hp) @ 11,000 RPM |
Wheelbase | 1407 mm | 1407 mm | 1407 mm | 1390 mm | 1390 mm | 1390 mm |
Steering angle (grad) |
63 | 63 | 63 | 64 | 64 | 64 |
Trail in mm |
97 | 97 | 97 | |||
Dry weight in kg | 157 | 157 | 157 | 152 | 152 | 152 |
Production (units) | 213 | 46 | 40 | 30 | 162 | 76 |
Museum examples
A 1974 example is displayed in the Yamaha Communication Plaza in Iwata, Japan.[5] Another 1974 TZ750A is at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Alabama.[6]
References
- ↑ Mitch Boehm (February 23, 2009), "Yamaha TZ750: Meeting The Monster", Motorcyclist
- ↑ Kel Carruthers. "Yamaha's TZ750: Where Legends Began". superbikeplanet.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010.
- ↑ Kevin Cameron (January 19, 2012), "Yamaha TZ750 - The FIVE GREATEST", Cycle World
- ↑ MacKellar 1995, p. 188.
- ↑ Communication Plaza Collection items - 1974 TZ750, Yamaha Corporation
- ↑ Phil Aynsley (March 31, 2017), "Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum", mcnews.com.au
Sources
- MacKellar, Collin (1995), Yamaha. All Factory and Production Road-Racing Two-Strokes from 1955 to 1993 (First ed.), Crowood Press, ISBN 978-18522-3920-6
Further reading
- Frank Melling (April 21, 2014), "Memorable Motorcycle: Yamaha TZ750A", Motorcycle USA
- Kevin Cameron, "Yamaha TZ750 Engine Development & Analysis", Cycle World
External links
Media related to Yamaha TZ750 at Wikimedia Commons