What year is this? And questions...

[JSGAuto]

Hi everyone,
I am new here. I have been riding streetbikes for a while and decided to get a dirtbike for a lttle more fun. Anyway, I just got this Yamaha 175 MX. The carb was just rebuilt, new plug, wire, and fuel valve. The only thing it needs is a clutch. But I don't know what year the bike is. :(
What year do you think it is? (I tried to post a pic, but it wouldn't let me. How can I post a pic?)
Where is the best place to get a clutch?
I have never replaced a clutch in a bike, but I am mechanicly inclined. Where can I get a good service manual for this bike.

Thanks!!
Jim

 

[gwcrim]

A 175 mx bike? Never heard of one. There was an IT175. They're blue and yellow, if I recall. What kind of rear suspesion does it have?

 

[JSGAuto]

...

Emailed ypu a pic. :)
No idea what the different suspensuions are called, I am new to this.
Thanks
Jim

 

[mtk]

Yamaha did make an MX175 for quite a few years. Think of how the XR's relate to the CR line and you have an idea of how the MX line related to the YZ line. Or maybe a better comparison is an IT minus the lights. It's a two-stroke, but tuned more mellow than the YZ machines. They had both dual shock and monoshock bikes, with the MX line getting the single-shock treatment a year or two after the YZs. Can you tell there was a Yamaha shop near my house when I was growing up? ;)

I believe the MX175 morphed into the RT180 that Yamaha sold for a few years in the late '90s.

 

[gwcrim]

I was a pretty big Yamaha fan back then. Guess my memory is going away.

I've attached the photo. Must be late 70s or early 80s. Didn't the monoshock hit the YZ line in 76 or 77?

Even after looking at it, it just doesn't ring a bell.

 

[Oregon Trail]

Just my guess looks like an 81, they made them monoshock between 79-81. The TT500 of that year look similar but with duel shocks, but same paint and fender themes. Use this to look for part, Yamaha parts, you can also check what years they made the MX175. Also the first 3 digits of the Yamaha usually tell what it is. What's the serial number? Try this page Speed & Sport

 

[JSGAuto]

Thanks

Thanks for the help!
Any idea how hard it is to do a clutch on these things? Do I need any special tools?
i took it for a ride, it was tricky without the clutch, but it is a fun bike, lots of power!

Thanks
Jim

 

[billtx]

Looks more like a 75-76 model than an '81 to me. Does this have a steel tank? Also the swingarms changed to aluminum in 77 - at least on the YZ line. I had a '77 YZ125D. Looks closer to my friends '74 MX100, except no monoshock. They used to have a 175 class when I raced back then with Yam 175's and Can Am's.

Should not be hard to rebuild the clutch, probably can still get a clymer manual.

 

[PE175]

Give me the first 3 digits of the VIN and I'll tell you exactly what year and model it is.

 

[Oregon Trail]

billtx, the 'MX' line stayed twin shock for a while after the 'YZ' went to monoshock. The 75 had a white tank or yellow tank available, but no MX175 in 1976, just the only year YZ175. Look up the 1981 MX175H and look at the tank picture.
1981 MX175H tank vs the 1980 MX175G tank

 

[BadgerMan]

billtx, the 'MX' line stayed twin shock for a while after the 'YZ' went to monoshock. The 75 had a white tank or yellow tank available, but no MX175 in 1976, just the only year YZ175. [/URL]

Sounds right. I remember the '74 MX175 having a yellow and black tank while the '75 MX175 had a white w/blue tank. The later "MX175" (like the one pictured) was basically a DT model with the street legal stuff removed.

 

[billtx]

I looked at some other sites and think you guys are right. It is an 81 or so. The MX175's back them were yellow. Could not remember them coming in white.

 

[JSGAuto]

...

Wow, thanks guys.
I will get that serial number next weekend. I have the bike stashed up at my bosses house so I have room to ride. I won't be able to get up there until next weekend :(.
What would it take to make the bike street legal? It would be nice to be legal to ride down the road to trails.

Thanks everyone!!
Jim

 

[JSGAuto]

Figures it out..

Hey everyone I got the frame number and did a yahoo search.
It is a 1981 MX175H
Some stats I found;

2 stroke (I had no idea :) )
171cc
Capacitor discharge ignition
Kick start
6 speed
52.8" wheel base
Telescopic fork
monoshock

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!