Post Sale Update: This TY350 sold for $3,149 after 32 bids on eBay in Lowell, Massachusetts.
In the late 60s, Yamaha made its first entry in a European trial championship in France with their 250 DT, a bike better suited for dual sporting. In 1970, the sales manager of a French Yamaha dealership was contacted by the current French trial champion and asked to develop a Yamaha trials bike. That creation eventually led to the Yamaha TY series – TY literally stood for “Trial Yamaha”.
Yamaha had a range of the TY’s, going from 50cc to 350cc. The 350 was designed with Americans in mind – most markets were happy with the TY250 but the US historically had a “bigger is better” attitude with motorcycles so Yamaha obliged us. The resulting creation had a dry weight of 189 pounds. In period advertising, Yamaha said “there is probably no more demanding form of motorcycle riding than trials. it requires the utmost in concentration and control. Indeed, so specialised is this sport and the equipment for it that few makers have attempted to build trials motorcycles…much less equipment capable of winning.” Want to learn more about this or any other of the TY Series? By far the best resource on the web is Yamaha Trial.
This example (VIN: JYA46Y006FA000985) has just 86 miles, and it was recently serviced with a rebuilt/cleaned carb and several new parts: air filter, petcock, spark plug, chain slider, chain rollers, and chain. It’s also equipped with period-correct Oury grips. It’s offered on a bill of sale and the seller says that it’s now ready to ride.
Find this TY for sale in Lowell, Massachusetts with bidding up to $1,945 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay.