help identifying an old (60s?) yamaha

[itjstagame]

I just acquired what I think is an awesome bike. It seems quite rare to me as I've never seen many like it and reading about 60s yamahas it's pretty amazing stuff, with things like Autolube why'd they have to force so hard for 4 cycle... oh well.

Anyway pictures speak louder than words:

If this disappears again here's a direct link that should always work:

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2286111 ... 4206ZlUrJo

Honestly it looks exactly like and reading about options sounds just like the YDS-3:

But I clearly have only ONE cylinder, spark plug and exhaust pipe. I also have no frame in front of the engine so then I really started to lean toward the YG-1: But this model does not mention Autolube. Also my cylinder head looks quite a bit bigger than the YG-1s and it feels like it weighs closer to the YDS-3s 300lbs and not the YG-1s 180lbs. Were there any 125cc or 100cc models?

So were there YDS-3 or other similar bikes that had smaller engine sizes? I think mines clearly from the 60s based on the rubber pads on the tank, did they have a revival model of this in the 70s? Is it possible that my engine has been swapped or autolube added to a YG-1?

Also where is the ignition switch for these bikes? I see a very small key slot in the headlight itself, is this the ignition? How can I remove the headlight cluster to pop out this cylinder (I need to have a key made to it, bike came with no key)?

As for identification help, I haven't written down the VIN yet (number on the triple clamp/steering head) because I have not found any sites that show a VIN range or VIN lookup or list of VINs for certain models like I've found for other bikes, can I use it in some way and is the VIN or just something else? Because I want to know which I'll list when I try to register.

There's also a number on the top of the headlight, YHA-3, but searching it looks like this is just the headlight case/shell's part number?

Thanks a lot, I'm just very curious and want to verify that it most likely never had a title before I try to register it and I want to know what I'm buying parts for, are there any suppliers for bikes this old, things like carb or petcock rebuild kits? My tank and I'm sure everything else in the fuel system is VERY disgusting. Everything looks quite solid on this bike besides some surface corrosion and I can't wait to try to kick it over. 1620 miles on it.[/img]

[ceemes]

What you may have there is a 1964 Yamaha YA6 Santa Barbara.



From the Yamaha History Page

Santa Barbara

This motorcycle introduced the innovative Yamaha "Autolube" oil injection system, which eliminated premixing two-cycle oil and gasoline. The YA-6 was a 125cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, streetbike. Yamaha was the first motorcycle manufacturer to use oil injection. Later in '64, Yamaha was recognized for this innovation when Auto & Motor Sport Magazine gave Yamaha their "Safety & Engineering Award."

[itjstagame]

Hrrm, why'd my picture disappear.

Anyway, that's an amazingly quick response for such an obscure question. I think you're right that looks EXACTLY like my bike, right down to the steel/chrome tank with no words just the Yamaha symbol in front of the rubber knee pad. I couldn't find any bike on their site with no words on the tank and just the symbol. The only difference is that mine has a 2up seat and rear pegs (actually I guess that one has rear pegs too looking at the picture).

What does the Santa Barbara designate and do you know anything else about the history of this model? Like what years they were made or VINs?

Also for these old bikes, is the ignition in the headlight assembly?

Thanks! Amazing!

[itjstagame]

Hrmm the YA6 wasn't nearly as rare I see lots of parts, thanks!

Any idea what years they were produced, looks like '64-'72 but I can't be sure, any idea how to tell what year mine is?

Also according to this site: http://www.3cyl.com/~mraxl/gt/specs/yamspecs.htm They were electric start but I definatelly have a kick starter (haven't checked for electric starter yet).

[Brackstone]

What you may have there is a 1964 Yamaha YA6 Santa Barbara.



From the Yamaha History Page

Santa Barbara

This motorcycle introduced the innovative Yamaha "Autolube" oil injection system, which eliminated premixing two-cycle oil and gasoline. The YA-6 was a 125cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, streetbike. Yamaha was the first motorcycle manufacturer to use oil injection. Later in '64, Yamaha was recognized for this innovation when Auto & Motor Sport Magazine gave Yamaha their "Safety & Engineering Award."

Damn Ceemes nice call.

[ceemes]

What you may have there is a 1964 Yamaha YA6 Santa Barbara.



From the Yamaha History Page

Santa Barbara

This motorcycle introduced the innovative Yamaha "Autolube" oil injection system, which eliminated premixing two-cycle oil and gasoline. The YA-6 was a 125cc, single cylinder, 2-stroke, streetbike. Yamaha was the first motorcycle manufacturer to use oil injection. Later in '64, Yamaha was recognized for this innovation when Auto & Motor Sport Magazine gave Yamaha their "Safety & Engineering Award."

Damn Ceemes nice call.

I do have my moments

[ckilpatrick1]

Yes the ignition switch is in the headlamp. There are keys available on ebay. I don't know how to get the right key number however. I have a 65 YM1. I don't think my key is even unique anymore. The switch is a simple rotary switch that yamaha used for almost all their bikes.

On ebay I searched for "yamaha key ya6" and that brings up a seller with keys for 6.95.

For at least some old yamaha bikes, the first part of the VIN number is the model number. Look at the vin on the steering stem. For the YM and YDS series the vin starts with the model, followed by a dash then some more numbers.

[125willy400]

I think I have the same bike as itjstagame. I'll try and put some pictures up on this forum when I can. I'm new to this and am just trying to figure out what kind of bike I have. It looks identical to itjstagame's.