Looking brilliant in Brilliant Red, this nice-sized on/off-road bike is referred to as an “Enduro” by Yamaha, so I would think it’s safe to refer to this one as an Enduro. I guess we’ll find out in the comments section. This 1972 Yamaha 175 CT2 Enduro, or Trail, or On/Off… can be found listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, and they’re asking $1,650. Here is the original listing, and thanks to PRA4SNW for the tip!
This reminds me how much I need a motorcycle lift. Kneeling on the concrete floor to do something on a motorcycle is not good at any age, but it gets worse the older you get. Or maybe I need fewer motorcycles; that’s probably a better plan. Or to be a foot shorter. Here are the 1972 Yamahas along with some specs. Here is another page with some info.
Between 1969 and 1973, the CT175 offered riders a nice on/off motorcycle with more power than a 125, almost as much as a 250, but was lighter and easier to handle. This example looks nice in the photos, and kudos to the seller for providing actual horizontal photos and showing both sides with nice lighting. There is hope! You can put your sleeping bag and pup tent on the rear luggage rack and set out on the trail. Don’t forget to use hand signals, as this one was made before turn signals were required in all states. Or just skip it, like 99% of other drivers do.
I just looked, and you can get replacement decals for the gauges at Diablo Cycle, although it looks like only the tach is bad. I’d probably do both anyway as long as you have them. If anyone knows a company that might restore a single plastic gauge, please let me know. My ’71 Suzuki MT50 Trailhopper gauge is a bit weird. I’ve talked with a couple of companies that restore gauges, but they don’t do plastic ones. Back to this Yamaha, sorry. Hagerty is at $2,900 for a #3 good-condition bike, and $1,600 for a #4 fair-condition example of Yamaha’s 175 CT2.
I think that’s a dent on the left side cover, but maybe it can be massaged out and repainted. The engine is Yamaha’s 171-cc two-stroke single with 16 horsepower and 11.9 lb-ft of torque, and Yamaha’s Autolube oil-injection system. Power is sent through a 5-speed transmission, and this one has a kick start only. The seller says it has a new top end, and it looks like a really nice bike for the money. Let’s hear those small motorcycle stories!
Looks pretty good, and rates better than a#4 to some I’ll bet. Odd that the tach face is FUBAR’ed but the speedo face is fine🤔.
These were what we called an enduro in this time-if only because it had knobbies, a high pipe, high fenders and looked lean!
Comes a time when even a cheapo discount store bike rack is better than the aches and pains of getting up off our knees and/or being hunched over a bike all day, my friend.
Oh no, it’s happening all over again!!! No, no, I won’t pollute the post with tales of the macabre, even though now that I think of it, that guy that got killed, the bike was more like this. I always wondered too why one gauge got all spidery, and the other, nothing. You’ll notice, this person installed a “spare” plug in the other hole in the head,,,not what that was for. It was for a compression release, I believe and will foul a non-sparking plug. It should come as no surprise, I don’t care for these, they have their place, and probably would work for my 2 mile ride to Walmart, except Walmart closes at 10pm,, :)