Vintage MX restoration Q's (yz80)

bmxcurator
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bmxcurator
Edited Date/Time 5/6/2015 9:54pm
I will finally be getting to my '78 YZ 80 later this summer for a full resto. I know there are a few sources for big bikes (yz,rm,cr, etc) like plastics, seat covers, decals...what about the minicycles? I mainly want a NOS or mint rear fender, a seat cover specifically for a 1978 YZ 80 (yamaha stencils on the side) The '78 was the first year for the mono-shock on the 80, I have seen plenty of 79-80 rear fenders...shouldn't they fit? The bike didn't change much until like '81 or '82 when it got h20, but for the most part that rear fender with the hole for the rear shock should be close?

Also looking for a DG finned head and a swingarm. I know someone was reproducing the DG swingarm for the XR75's, any leads on others?
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captmoto
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captmoto 5/5/2011 10:56am
5/5/2011 10:56am
Check out bikebandit and start cross referrencing numbers. Also register at vintagemx.us swapmeet. those guys have a lot of info for everything.
Bret
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Bret 5/5/2011 11:09am
5/5/2011 11:09am
The largest inventory of NOS Yamaha parts can be found here: Speed & Sport
newmann
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newmann 5/5/2011 11:52am
5/5/2011 11:52am
Keep an eye on Ebay unfortunately. That seems to be a pretty good source for that year model bike. I gave up a nos DG head and Mototek CDI for the 78-79 YZ80 quite a few years ago. I picked up a nos Luft remote reservoir monoshock for the 78 model a few years back for one of my PK monoshock frame XR75 projects. I've seen a few aluminum arms for the 78-79 model over the last year or so and they will bring upwards of $350.00. I'll see if I can find the link to a neat accessory for the 78 YZ80, a factory gusset kit that Yamaha required be welded in place on the replacement frames they warranted out. Seems that first year monoshock frame was constructed from peanut brittle, I know mine was and there were 140 broken ones ahead of me!

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project racer 5/5/2011 5:08pm
5/5/2011 5:08pm
I think I still have a couple of those frame gusseting kits here somewhere. The E-F YZ80 shared the same fenders. They were different for '80-'81.
krazee1
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krazee1 5/5/2011 5:59pm
5/5/2011 5:59pm
The DG parts are really hard to find lately, but they are out there. Here is my 78 YZ80.







bmxcurator
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bmxcurator 5/6/2011 1:26am
5/6/2011 1:26am
WOW! That 78 is SICK!
Racer92
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Racer92 5/6/2011 5:36am
5/6/2011 5:36am
Oh man, that '78 would have been considered the Grail of bikes back when I was a kid.

Are those NOS Oury grips?

Sweet YZ80 !
krazee1
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krazee1 5/6/2011 2:59pm
5/6/2011 2:59pm
Racer92 wrote:
Oh man, that '78 would have been considered the Grail of bikes back when I was a kid.

Are those NOS Oury grips?

Sweet YZ80 !
Yeah when I was a kid I always would drool over the DG ads in the mags and wish I had one...And yes those are Nos Oury's.
bmxcurator
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bmxcurator 5/6/2011 4:11pm
5/6/2011 4:11pm
Thanks for all the suggestions. My fenders are not broken or tweaked, but I did buy some plastic ReNew. There is some fade and oxidation on them, so their 3 stage refinishing and final coating should bring them back to new condition (although I hear if it gets bent , that coating can crackle and splinter off)
My YZ had an aftermarket plastic tank, so I bought a used metal '78 that will need stripping and repainting. Also got some NOS Oakley 2 grips in yellow. (there was a 2 page ad back in the day for DG showcasing a killer DG YZ, much like the one above, that had yellow oakley 2's...sweetness)
I also have a twin shock XR75 at my folks house in Havasu that I have been compiling parts for a resto as well. Would love to find a Bassini (sp?) pipe for it!

I drooled over this '78 til I saw Krazee's:
(

AZMIKE has a website with a ton of cool vintage bikes...pricy, but way cool
Beavis
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Beavis 5/6/2011 10:00pm
5/6/2011 10:00pm
Racer92 wrote:
Oh man, that '78 would have been considered the Grail of bikes back when I was a kid.

Are those NOS Oury grips?

Sweet YZ80 !
krazee1 wrote:
Yeah when I was a kid I always would drool over the DG ads in the mags and wish I had one...And yes those are Nos...
Yeah when I was a kid I always would drool over the DG ads in the mags and wish I had one...And yes those are Nos Oury's.
Nice looking '78! Is the '83 Honda in the background a 60 or 80? My first bike was an '83 CR 60. Still have it in the garage. Hoping to fix it up if I ever get the time.
newmann
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newmann 5/7/2011 5:55am
5/7/2011 5:55am
Wayback machine, 1978. Terry fork kit and a S&W monoshock in the rear for a whopping 7 inches of travel. DG seat kit and fork skins. That's all I had.

Mike P.
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Mike P. 5/6/2015 1:46pm
5/6/2015 1:46pm
Newmann,

I was looking for something and came across the above photo of your 78 YZ80E. I had that same bike with those same parts. The only thing different was I had a Curnutt rear shock and a skateboard wheel chain tensioner. I have a couple of new Mototek CD's for this bike and down the road I would like to build one, thanks for the memories. Mike
Wasatch Rider 5/6/2015 2:13pm
5/6/2015 2:13pm
krazee1 wrote:
The DG parts are really hard to find lately, but they are out there. Here is my 78 YZ80. [IMG]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d49/krazeewheels/yz80top.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d49/krazeewheels/yz80shock.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d49/krazeewheels/yz80hannah.jpg[/IMG]
The DG parts are really hard to find lately, but they are out there. Here is my 78 YZ80.







THAT is what got me into this sport. Todays stuff isnt all that trick for the times.
Advancements died about Mid 1980's when all bikes had disc brakes.

That right there is bad ass and it's almost 40 years old for technology.

Those swingarm welds.......nice.
hellion
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hellion 5/6/2015 6:35pm
5/6/2015 6:35pm
Newman, every time one of these discussions pops up I'm shocked how much our early bikes were similar. My 78 YZ had the exact same setup. Except for the EC Birt chain rotor guard that I needed to keep the chain on because the swingarm flexed so much, never mind the fact that the frame was probably already broken. Can you imagine a manufacturer sending out new frames to everyone these days?
Mike P.
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Mike P. 5/6/2015 6:40pm
5/6/2015 6:40pm
I agree as we gave up works bikes for production based works bikes that the average guy can almost replicate these days. Back in the day a guy could put a DG head, a swingarm and set of gold rims on his bike it and it really stood out. These days all the bikes look the same whether works or stock (they all look the same to me). But, if it were not for the production rule these kids today would not have the bikes they have now, so I suppose there was something gained when the full blown works bikes went away.
gt80rider
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gt80rider 5/6/2015 6:41pm
5/6/2015 6:41pm
krazee1 wrote:
The DG parts are really hard to find lately, but they are out there. Here is my 78 YZ80. [IMG]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d49/krazeewheels/yz80top.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d49/krazeewheels/yz80shock.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d49/krazeewheels/yz80hannah.jpg[/IMG]
The DG parts are really hard to find lately, but they are out there. Here is my 78 YZ80.







Now that is freakn trick... Big props..

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PFitzG38
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PFitzG38 5/6/2015 7:35pm
5/6/2015 7:35pm
Cool photos. My bro had the 80E. I had the 100E.

For the 80 we put on a CrossUp swingarm, Luft Shock Reservoir from White Bros., and a Terrycable fork kit, Overstuffed seat and opaque number plates. Good to go for NMA stock and modified. Oh yeah forgot the Boyesen reeds and I think later a DG Head.

This bike was light years ahead of the JWRP/Harrys Cycles XR75 that it replaced.
Mike P.
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Mike P. 5/6/2015 7:43pm
5/6/2015 7:43pm
I remember the XR's, they were basically play bikes back in 78. My YZ80E with a mildly modified motor ran circles around this kid that had a 78 XR75 that year.
#991
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#991 5/6/2015 8:47pm
5/6/2015 8:47pm Edited Date/Time 5/6/2015 8:49pm
Mike P. wrote:
I remember the XR's, they were basically play bikes back in 78. My YZ80E with a mildly modified motor ran circles around this kid that had...
I remember the XR's, they were basically play bikes back in 78. My YZ80E with a mildly modified motor ran circles around this kid that had a 78 XR75 that year.
I had a worked XR75 with DG pipe etc. Mate on his 81 model YZ 60H used to flog me around the track Blush .
Coincidently, my first 2T was a YZ80H.
Mike P.
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Mike P. 5/6/2015 9:54pm
5/6/2015 9:54pm
The YZ60 was a potent little thing. I had heard the stories about how fast they were but until I recently restored one for my 7yr old, I had no idea. It took it down to bare frame and restored it, but the guy I got it from had just went through the motor and he mentioned it was ported and that it would do around 55-60mph. I laughed at the notion until i got the bike restored and took it for a spin down the street. Needless to say, I bought my 7yr old a PW50 and the YZ60 sits as it does the day I restored it in tact (see below photos). I'm hoping my 7yr old takes to it on the PW50, but he would have walked away from the YZ60 after one ride...I'm 175lbs and the little bugger pulled me hard.



sgtbilco
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sgtbilco 11/12/2016 5:11pm
11/12/2016 5:11pm
krazee1 wrote:
The DG parts are really hard to find lately, but they are out there. Here is my 78 YZ80. [IMG]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d49/krazeewheels/yz80top.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d49/krazeewheels/yz80shock.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d49/krazeewheels/yz80hannah.jpg[/IMG]
The DG parts are really hard to find lately, but they are out there. Here is my 78 YZ80.









Old DG racers are so cool way ahead of there time
here is a pic of my old 1982 DG YZ80J being brought back to its former glory
added a V force reed to the engine
will be racing it in the Vintage Viper Series here in Australia
lots of old blokes like me on Pre 95 back to Pre 78 moto cross bikes
they even have a class for the minis like XR75s and the YZ80s

newmann
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newmann 11/12/2016 6:33pm
11/12/2016 6:33pm
Funny that a 1978 YZ80 thread got revived today. Look what I just had delivered to Rio...

1979 model up front belongs to my brother, 78 will be a childhood resto one day. Good times.

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