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New project. 100 twin (YL1'e'. Twin Jet)

m in sc

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Feb 2, 2021
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2,434
Location
Rockhill, SC
Impulse buy, grabbed this friday after work. 70 yl1. I had a 90cc twin (hs1) and missed it, so found this and stoked. basically same bike but w a pressed steel frame. these date back to 1966 in this configuration. this is a late one, 1970. 1 owner, came with title and zero rust.

Project time!

seats horrid, need to find a pan. (yes this is not going back on).










for size comparison, this is it next to a 73 RD350. (we were working on that sunday)




side note, it takes the same size tires as the trail. so, theres options.

got it running saturday. motor sounds great.
 

Thepen

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Jun 23, 2022
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Sarasota, FL
That's so cool! Never even knew that these little twins existed. What's the plan, restoration? Seat kind of looks like that double seat you can get for the trail lol :p Not my glass of whiskey as well.
 

m in sc

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Feb 2, 2021
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Location
Rockhill, SC
Yeah, they made lots of small twins. the yamaha HS1 was actually the smallest twin made, basically the same motor. I had one (see pics). they are a blast.

I'll probably give this one the same treatment as the yellow bike, which i never intended to sell. However, a guy from Australia saw it at the bull city rumble a few years ago, had to have it, and offered me (literally) 10x what i had paid for it, and over double what i had in it. Thats being said, i know its is in AUS leading a very pampered life so I'm ok w that.

This one will def be kept, i already had a few offers to buy it. I'll def resto it, not a show bike, because i do ride them. they will max out at 60-sh, can cruise at 50 . (sound familiar?)

this is what its supposed to look like, and will again:
https://www.rideapart.com/features/429724/1967-yamaha-tl1-for-sale/

however, he didn't put the autolube decal back on the RH side, and he has a painted fender model, mine is the optional chrome front fender, apparently somewhat rare?


heres the HS1 i had:
 

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m in sc

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thanks. yeah... I have a 67 kaw like that and my t500 have 'external' springs, the other 2 have gaiters covering them though. I do like my 2 strokes. I currently have 9 ;)
 

m in sc

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Feb 2, 2021
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Rockhill, SC
repairs continue:




combo generator/starter.

pre cleanup:











yes, 2 different size bearings for the steering neck, smaller up top. this is stock.



temporary seat until i can find a decent saveable stock pan or make one.

 

m in sc

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few more updates. had to repair some broken baffle plates int he exhaust. could i have just gotten new pipes? sure. but this was more fun. repairs are down and on the inside. not easy to weld when the inside is literally on fire. lol.

Yes, the welds look kinda shitty, but, then again, to do it right would have required hot tanking the pipes, which would then lead to a rechrome. then they would have been tig welded, not mig welded, and not a detectable repair. for this, this is fine. They dont leak and the plates are int he right place. somebody in the past just hammered the baffles in w a BFH and this was the result.

also rebuilt the forks and got some new rear shocks, that are actually able to dampen and hold up an adult.











298674062_5905964599431884_8373904845481878038_n.jpg

298704143_5905964906098520_3658182264596423924_n.jpg

and for size comparison again, this is it next to the chromoly framed RD lightweight. bike to rh has about 50 HP. :devilish:

299379969_5905964832765194_4962779257933330069_n.jpg
 

m in sc

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Rockhill, SC
initial testride went well, performance is actually a bit better than the trail in stock form. lol.

seat is a temporary situation until the stock one gets redone.

 

m in sc

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i'll probably do a ride video at some point. fresh pistons/rings though. heres the 3rd run w new topend in shop w e-start.








 

m in sc

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So yesterday i did the 1st test-ride w the new top end. buzzed around neighborhood, then hit a secondary road for what i thought was going to be a 2 mile round trip, 1 up, one back. however, 1 mile up, they were doing flow tests on the fire hydrants, and the way back was closed and detoured. so wound up doing an unintentional longer test ride for about 15 miles, some of it in heavy traffic. :oops: It did better than expected but id say shes good to go. keep in mind, the trail looks really big compared to this, so i def got some weird looks rolling down a 6 lane road back home on this thru traffic. lol. was able to maintain 50-55 pretty easy w out beating it up.
 

m in sc

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Feb 2, 2021
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Rockhill, SC
Thanks, it sbeen really good. finally sourced a stock airbox, rare as hens teeth to find one complete for the right year. Made a good improvement on what little bottom end the bike has, so overall much better. there are subtle differences in them from year to year and sub models, and things like the controls, cables, etc. found a -correct- nos RH control as well, plus a top throttle cable, etc. mechanically shes been solid.

so, i decided to add the 'optional' turn signals, and stock ones are complete unobtanium, i improvised. also had to make the back sub harness from scratch since there wasnt one.

Next up is the seat pan rebuild and then off to my upholstery guy to get the seat foam made. (i have a correct cover for it already, new)

Tidied up the paint on the back half as well, need to address the tail light housing next.

stock airbox pre cleanup.



mini turn signals. ebay. takes conventional style instrument bulb.







 

m in sc

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Feb 2, 2021
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slight update: sourced a chaingaurd, finally,. cleaned it up and painted it. also decided to get some shock covers for the rear, long story, but had t use 2 different sets, these are for girling shocks for nortons/bsa's. not 'correct' but i dig them, knocks back the 'too modern' look of the shocks i put on.

seat pan was repaired, and is at the upholstery guy being done as we speak, ready by end of week.

next thing is a retrofit of a dyna-s electronic ignition. then, dare i say, im finished.






roughing in of the seat pan repair... i wire wheeled and smoothed all this out, finished the welding and painted it before sending it out. yes, the front had been cut off.

 
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