I have not posted in a while on this project. To many other priorities seem to delay progress. I did get the engine parts vapor Blasted. I think I am will be leaving them virgin aluminum, it just looks clean and also different then OEM and what many others do.

 

At times there are downsides to using a spare bedroom for a complete ground up rebuild. .....









But I did get the tank decal I am going to use.






An ad picture from the vendor

 

Man that Yammy would bore holes in the ground by just idling in one spot. Nice work.

 

Looking like the star that it is! Great job so far. 🥲

You better double bag the groceries. I wonder how long it will take 'em to replace the railroad ties that you tear out? 😃

 

Valves, you say? It first, I was going to ask if you put the flapper valves on the air intake like we did in pre-historic times to pep up our 2-stroke engine performance. Alley-oop!
I rebuilt my '71 Yam 175 Enduro in my kitchen in ME. The weather was too messed up to ride anyway. But, the 2-stroke was an easier cleanup and reinstall than yours.
Lusted after a Hodaka Wombat or Super Wombat but never even sat on one.
Bent one shock perfecting my jumps. Went to a motocross race on Edwards AFB where I got to see the REAL old historic bikes run. Montessa, Bultaco Pur Sang, and more I don't recall. Those were interesting times. Some huge thumper 1 cylinder bikes raced there.
In '72-73 I remember being able to see in the distance, enduros run north on a route east of 395 in the desert. I could see them on the east side of 395 from our radar station that was north of CA 58 on 395. I think the start of the race route was Barstow.
IIRC, there were bikes that looked like yours, Callisto, but they may have not been Yamahas.

 

You just aged yourself.... But then again, I will by saying I owned a few of the other bikes your mentioned. LOL My list in the 70-80s would have numbers into the 40 to 50 bikes personally owned at one time or another. Most of the time I always had about 5-8 in the back room of my parts store and a couple at home. These day I only have 5 bikes.
As for early Yamaha dirty bikes, had a 70 mini enduro, MX125,YZ 175 & 250 in the 70's. Loved them all . Oh and the sound of coming up on a turn at full throttle and grabbing brakes and compression release is and was music to my ears.

 

Well, I don't remember the '70s but if you have ever seen the film "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" it did in fact start in Barstow. I knew that from north carolina. 😉

 

That’s a cool project, and it’s great to see people putting real effort into their bikes whether it’s a first build or a long-term restoration. Tackling a motorcycle project teaches you a lot about mechanical thinking and patience, and it feels awesome when you see it come together. Don’t be afraid to reach out here for specific part advice or tips — this community has seen a lot of different setups. What’s the first upgrade or fix you’re planning to dive into?

 

I just can't wait to see some port timing techniques Callisto. 🤪 No rush....

 

This is more or less a thread I started about a side project on one of my bikes.
Did you look at this thread from the start. generally, people come to me for advice and some aspect of upgrading ?