In the middle 60s English singles dominated the European racing world. 125, 250, 350, and 500 class were ruled by English singles. Several Italian manufacturers took a run at the 125 and 250 CC classes, and in 1968 Yamaha brought out the TD1 a 250 class two stroke twin. The two stroke was light and blazingly fast, but had some longevity issues. If they ran to the end of a race they usually finished on the podium. In 1969 the TD2 was dominant in the 250 and 350 class (they could be overbored to 251 CC) and the English singles were on their way to the dust bin of history. 1969 was a particularly interesting year as Yamaha did not have a factory team due to a disagreement with the rules. All the Yamaha TD2s were run as privateers in ‘69. Most were sponsored by dealers, and there were a lot of different race winners. Yamaha also introduced the TR2 in 1969, a 350 class racer that could be overbored to make the 500 class. All the English singles were effectively done.
The 1969 Yamaha TD2 used a 250 CC air cooled two stroke parallel twin that produced 44 HP (at 10,000 RPM) pushed through a 5 speed transmission for a top speed of 144 MPH. Dual shocks at both ends and a weight of only 231 LBS made for great handling and braking. The TD2 was never meant to be anything but a race bike.
As a teaser, here’s what it could look like when done:
This particular 1969 Yamaha TD2 (VIN # 900285) is in Woodinville, Washington and is listed as a disassembled and partially restored motorcycle. The restorer had health issues and could not finish the build. There is a large list of parts and processes that have been done and the numbers do confirm that it is a real TD2. Bike is offered with a $10,500 Buy It Now price