The Passion of Restoration!

From the Shop of Chuck Davis #40

These bikes are 1970 and 71 Yamaha DT1 and RT1 MX's, DT 250cc and RT 360 cc first years of Yamaha's Motocross models. The differences in enduro’s are 21 inch front wheels, knobby tires, high front fenders, front number plate, expansion chambers w/o any mufflers, different air boxes, cylinder porting, bigger carbs, higher compression heads and closer transmission ratios.

I started with two bikes and while chasing parts. I located others and decided to complete them all at the same time as an assembly line and take pictures as I went along. Pipes and front fenders were the tough pieces to find along with the air boxes.

I started in July 07 and finished May 08, all are ground up restorations, powder coated frames, complete engine teardown, new spokes, rims, tires, seat covers/foams, all leavers, handlebars, cables, grips, new, repainted fenders, tanks, both oil and gas.

They were very pipey, handled well on flat surfaces, and brakes did not work very well. Other than that get them going on a straight line and have fun, many broken rear fenders from flipping over, the aluminum front fenders all broke from vibration and were replaced with plastic Preston Petty’s (make finding originals very hard. I have a company that will remake them @ $300.00 a pop!!) The pipes’ heat shields all broke or got dented, when they crashed, the bars bent or broke.

To me, the restoration process is pure passion.

Cheers,
Chuck Davis