New (to me) ride - '81 Yamaha IT250

Dads_FJ · October 18, 2016, 08:06:34 AM

Picked this "turn-key" survivor up for $800. Clark fuel tank, DG pipe, very well maintained and only three years older than my FJ

Full test this weekend when I bring it up north to go trail riding with the family.

TexasDave · October 18, 2016, 08:24:07 AM

I very nice example of the two stroke enduros that Yamaha used to make. Great deal for the price. Seeing the compression release on the bars brings back memories. Take the UNI stickers off--people might think they stand for University of Northern Iowa in that neck of the woods.

Dave

rlucas · October 18, 2016, 12:31:36 PM

Nice find. I spent a substantial part of my early motorcycle life on a Yamaha DT250A, and I always lusted after the IT series.

Dads_FJ · October 18, 2016, 12:37:41 PM

My initial ride around the yard indicates this thing is a hoot! It came with new tires, chain, sprockets, throttle cable too.

The ad is still up.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/mcy/5819174316.html

charleygofast · October 23, 2016, 07:07:45 AM

Very nice! Torquey two stroke woods maddness! Have fun with that! Charley.

Dads_FJ · October 23, 2016, 07:16:19 PM

100 miles of this:

I hope I linkded that right...

If not:

Dads_FJ · November 30, 2016, 02:59:14 PM

"Winterized' the bike last night. I don't care if it snows, I just want cold to make ice!

charleygofast · December 03, 2016, 10:11:55 AM

Yee Haw!!! Have you done much ice riding? The traction is simply amazing!!! Power slides, wheelies it's a friggin blast! This setup works pretty good on icey gravel and dirt roads too! Stay off the pavement though, unless its totally ice covered...and make some tire covers for movin around and transport. Old inner tubes work pretty good for that. You might allready know about all of this, living where you do. Have fun man! Charley

Dads_FJ · December 03, 2016, 06:02:56 PM

Quote from: charleygofast on December 03, 2016, 10:11:55 AM
Yee Haw!!! Have you done much ice riding? The traction is simply amazing!!! Power slides, wheelies it's a friggin blast! This setup works pretty good on icey gravel and dirt roads too! Stay off the pavement though, unless its totally ice covered...and make some tire covers for movin around and transport. Old inner tubes work pretty good for that. You might allready know about all of this, living where you do. Have fun man! Charley

I've done a little in the past but not with this bike. But you're right, it's a hoot isn't it?! One other thing I need to do is jet it for the colder weather. You seem to have some knowledge of the awesome traction, done much ice riding yourself Charley?

charleygofast · December 05, 2016, 07:44:49 PM

I ice raced in '93 and '94 open class on my 85 sp600 Suzuki, and our BSA a65 and 441 victor, trackmaster framed short track racers. The ice is a trip!!! Hardly any wheel spin it just hooks up like nothing else! Smooth glazed ice works best. Think ice rink. If you live near any lakes. you're in business. I highly recommend you take it to a ice track if you can for the full effect, and as I said before it goes pretty good on dirt and icy gravel roads! My son is thinking of setting up his 2001 WR426 for the ice. I hope he does he lives right on lake Delton. Have a blast!

charleygofast · December 21, 2016, 06:19:42 AM

Hi John, how about an update on your ice riding adventure

Merry Christmas! Charley

Dads_FJ · December 21, 2016, 08:19:22 AM

Quote from: charleygofast on December 21, 2016, 06:19:42 AM
Hi John, how about an update on your ice riding adventure Merry Christmas! Charley

Bike is ready but I'm not sure the lake is yet! The -25 degrees we had last week helped but now it's suppose to be 30's today so we might loose some ice. I was hoping to check this weekend or Monday.

giantkiller · December 21, 2016, 11:41:42 AM

Quote from: charleygofast on December 05, 2016, 07:44:49 PM
I ice raced in '93 and '94 open class on my 85 sp600 Suzuki, and our BSA a65 and 441 victor, trackmaster framed short track racers. The ice is a trip!!! Hardly any wheel spin it just hooks up like nothing else! Smooth glazed ice works best. Think ice rink. If you live near any lakes. you're in business. I highly recommend you take it to a ice track if you can for the full effect, and as I said before it goes pretty good on dirt and icy gravel roads! My son is thinking of setting up his 2001 WR426 for the ice. I hope he does he lives right on lake Delton. Have a blast!

Friend of mine is the world champion unstuded ice racer. I think he said for five years straight. He said don't be too impressed there's only eight of us... I've watched him wheelie out of the corners unstuded.
He said it's all in the grooves you put in the tires.

Dads_FJ · December 28, 2016, 06:55:39 AM

It's not cold enough to make good ice - which also means it's warm enough to spend some other time with my new steed. I've got a mild case of moditise and installed some ProTaper fat-bars. It sure brings a certain amount of pleasure freshening up a bike by cleaning & painting the little bits and personalizing it with items like said fat-bars & billet clamps. But then I'm probably preaching to the choir...

Dads_FJ · January 05, 2017, 10:25:50 PM

Took it out for a spin New Years Eve. What a gas.

Then we went 'tubing'

Video here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-9BH2Xocnt_VjZNVlh1WC1RVXJoVk13WXA5cGJnVXpRcGt3/view?usp=sharing

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New (to me) ride - '81 Yamaha IT250