Description
Please Note: Iconic Motorbikes has shipped hundreds of motorcycles around the world, including several containers worth from South Africa to the United States. We have worked with this seller on numerous transactions, all of which went wonderfully smooth. The seller is happy to work with Iconic Transport to assist with crating, shipping, and other post-sale needs.
Walkaround Video:
Please Note: We do not have a cold start video of this bike. Per the seller, “the bike is dry stored as a display. The motor gets turned regularly, but it would have no problem firing up if it is commissioned again, meaning adding the fluids and fuel mixture. The bike has done very few hours since the bike was restored and as mentioned and documented, it has only paraded on occasion in the years since restoration, never raced again.”
Additional photos of this Yamaha TZ750 are available here for your perusal.
Yamaha’s TZ750 is one of the most iconic motorcycles ever built – Kevin Cameron called the Yamaha TZ750 one of the five most influential motorcycles of all time. “Suddenly, change—hated and feared—became acceptable. Long suspension travel. Triangulated chassis bays. Wide, round-profile slick tires. Suspension that was actually track-tested and continuously improved. A revolution.”
Mitch Boehm of Motorcyclist magazine called it “one of the most legendary racing motorcycles of all time, the bike that struck fear deep in the heart of every manufacturer with large-bore roadracing intentions during the middle and late 1970s. If you had the balls and a decent racing resume, and wanted a real chance at winning, even big-time, world-class winning, well then, mister, it was a Yamaha TZ750 or nothing.”
The TZ750 was introduced in 1974 as the “A” model, an example of which is on display at Yamaha’s headquarters in Japan. It was built to compete in Formula 750 racing and was developed alongside the YZR500 Grand Prix racer. Two TZ350 engines came together to form a 700cc in-line 4 which was surrounded by a double cradle steel frame. Its debut race was the 1974 Daytona 200, where it was piloted to victory by Giacomo Agostini – the TZ750 would end up winning the Daytona 200 nine consecutive times. The engine was bored out to 747cc in 1975, and the successor “C” model was launched in 1976, though it was basically unchanged from the previous year. Just 40 examples of the TZ750C were produced.
This example is VIN: 409100157.
There is no odometer, true mileage is unknown.
The history of the bike is as follows, per the seller:
“This 1976 TZ750C of which only 40 were produced is a Yamaha South Africa Works Racer.
It was delivered new in 1976 in Paris, France and uncrated for the Formula F750 Championship. Johan Boshoff rode this bike for that season along side great names such as: Cecotto, Roberts, Romero, Agostini, and Victor Palomo. The bike was returned back to South Africa and completed the rest of the SA season. Shortly after that Johan Boshoff was offered the chance by Yamaha South Africa to ride Johnny Cecotto’s 0W31. It was at this time he died tragically on the 0W31 bike of Johnny Cecotto at Kyalami race circuit. That 0W31 was returned to Japan shortly after the tragic incident and I’m not sure if it exists today.
This original TZ750C of Boshoff’s went into storage and was all but forgotten until almost 20 years later. When it was discovered in an aeroplane hangar quite by chance. The famous motorcycle was purchased and then undertaken to be restored by a collaboration of experts together with the original sponsors of the time. These were: Yamaha SA, Dunlop, Castrol, and Champion.
This project was headed up by expert restorer and owner Ken Read. This with assistance of Ofie Howard of Yamaha Technical in Pinetown, South Africa. All parts were either restored to original or replaced and sourced by Yamaha South Africa in the mid 90’s through their worldwide dealer network. Without the help of Yamaha at the time (1990’s), sourcing these rare NOS parts would have been near impossible then and totally impossible today.
Since it was rediscovered in the 90’s, this bike has been featured in numerous articles in various publications and magazines detailing the process and progress of the restoration and the debut of when it was first unveiled and the subsequent parades. The seller has provided several examples and we are including all of them as we believe they help provide important details on the work that was performed and show how important this bike was to the local community of enthusiasts:
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Example 10: (Yamaha’s internal news publication from May 1997):
Since its restoration the bike has been nursed and kept in cotton wool and paraded only on special occasions at prestigious events mostly at the famous Kyalami race circuit.
Interestingly it has even been ridden and signed by the six-times World Champion Jim Redman in 2002.
The bike presents in a near concourse condition with the exception of only some patina from being paraded on occasion.
This bike would be best described as being in the condition of one of the best original and unmodified examples left in the world today. It is truly piece of history sitting here today resting in its glory.”
Inside of the tank:
Currently located in Johannesburg, South Africa, this Yamaha is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any TZ750 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
