The seller of this 1967 Yamaha YR1 Grand Prix 350 says this isn’t a parts bike, despite its somewhat rugged looks. This is a fairly rare one, but in order to do it justice, it really needs a full cosmetic restoration, as it’s been painted green rather than its original red. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Humble, Texas, and there is an untouched opening bid suggestion of $1,967. Thanks to NW Iowa Kevin for the tip!
1967 was the first year for the YR1 Grand Prix 350. In fact, as far as the name goes, it was the only year. After that, they were the YR2, YR3, etc. It’s hard to believe, but this was Yamaha’s biggest displacement motorcycle in 1967. They offered this series until 1972, when they were known as the YR5. As the company’s first 350-cc twin-cylinder bike, it was the grandfather of many famous 350 Yamaha models, including the iconic RZ350.
Gloss Black is reported to be the rarest color, but they were also available in Candy Blue and Candy Red, as this example was originally. The seller states that their father bought this one from the original owner, their neighbor, back in 1987, and it had already been repainted this green color with an added “BH” on the top of the gas tank, the original owner’s initials. The seller has included a ton of great photos, and you can see that if a person were into original spec, it could use a cosmetic restoration, including lots of chrome work that isn’t inexpensive.
Yamaha referred to this all-new bike as their entry in the “Ultra High-Performance Class.” That’s hard to believe now, but we hadn’t even landed on the moon when this thing came out, so times have changed quite a bit in the last 59 years. I think a person could do a nice cosmetic restoration on this 350 without sending everything out for professional work, such as painting the tank, side covers, headlight bucket, and other parts, and working on the chrome with whatever method you find works best, etc. It already has new tires and has had a ton of mechanical and other maintenance work done. You can see the original red paint in this photo showing the gauge.
The engine was professionally rebuilt by a shop in Houston, and it’s Yamaha’s 348-cc two-stroke oil-injected parallel-twin, rated at 36 horsepower and 24 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s backed by a 5-speed transmission, and everything is said to work as it should. With that engine rebuild, a serviced oil pump, a new headlight, a new Yamaha ignition and key, a new battery, a new seat and seat pan, and more, it’s ready to go. Hagerty is at $3,200 on the low end as far as value goes, and I’m not sure how to rate this one. I’m most likely in the minority on this, but I would want it to look much nicer than it does, and that would take a lot of work and money. Would you worry about how this 350 looks, or just keep it maintained and ride it as is?
Good pick, Scotty G. and NW Iowa Kevin. Interesting that the price is the same as the year of the bike..
With all the recent engine rebuild/all the new stuff, some of us would just get on and ride. At 38HP-twice that of a Fiat 500 of the era-it’ll move along just fine around town and on the 2 lanes especially in the canyons. Gotta be tough to sell a bike like this considering the connection but it’s better to go to someone who can appreciate it as he appears to have done.
GLWTA
By all rights, if you knew the author like I do, this should, nay, must be in his collection. It only shows to go, we’re all getting old, and pricing motorized wheelchairs instead. The fact it isn’t on its way to his place, must show the restraint.
To understand the significance of this bike, we must go back to the mid 60s. The only big bikes were Harleys, or British twins, and Asian bikes were pretty much relegated to smoky 2 cycle ring dings, that didn’t amount to much. Hondas big bike was the 305 Super Hawk, and was the king of speed,,until these came out. Seems 350 was about as big as it got for 2 stroke twins, this bike could leave them all in a cloud of smoke. It was considered the 1st of the Superbikes to follow. With 1/4 mile times of about 14.1 at about 85mph, boasting a top speed of just over 100, it was definitely a bike to hang on to. Cost was about $800 new, or $100 more than the SuperHawk, but a faster bike. Sales numbers aren’t available, but not many were sold compared to the Honda. Great find.
NOW, something bothers me whenever motorcycle posts are listed, someone always has to make note of someone they knew that died on a motorcycle. While my heart goes out to them, in a stern lecture, they shouldn’t have been on a motorcycle to begin with. Motorcycles are very intimidating, and little room for error, as some find out the hard way. Taking a shower can be dangerous too, so it’s all relative to how you operate any machine. While my biking days are over, I can say with no question, motorcycling was the most fun of all my transportation who-has, and I miss it dearly.
You meet the nicest people on a Yamaha 350.