417 replies to this topic

[Merv29]

A couple of 3 wheelers for you

 

 

 

[Yendor]

Rode this in 1973. It was imported new from USA by Steve Ellis for me to ride. Never really got it to handle but it was exciting . Picture taken at Wroughton airfield circuit. Couldn't push start it on my own so had to start from the back with a pusher, a very young Nigel Everett who went on to spanner for Mick Grant and now restores classic racers.

 

[Yendor]

The same bike at Paul Ricard circuit.

 

[Hydroleo]

Nice early twinshock TZ

 

The wreck I recently purchased is also an early 1973 production TZ750A.

It has forward inclined rear shocks, that was a normal upgrade in those days.

The guy I bought it from had purchased it some 25 years ago from Milledge, the Yamaha and Indian distributor in Victoria.

According to him this chassis came together with a complete TZ750 he bought there.

I have to ask him more about the history, but I am almost sure that it was later used with an Indian V-Twin engine on the salt flats there.

The changes to the frame and bottom of the fuel tank all pointed in that direction.

And under the seat an aluminum oil tank was fitted.

The former owner is racing Indians also on the flats.

The front engine supports where completely grinded of, so I had to make new ones with some cases fitted.

I have already done a lot of work on the frame and other parts, it is on its wheels again for a little mock up now.

I hope to get it ready this year!

 

Regards and best wishes,

Leo.

Edited by Hydroleo, 03 January 2016 - 11:37.

[Paul Collins]

Nice work Leo, please keep us posted as it comes together.

[Hydroleo]

Thanks Paul,

 

I will keep posting some photos of the project.

Hopefully I will learn something about the history of this former team Milledge Bike, before I start the paint job.

Here are some photo's of last weeks work.

 

[Paul Collins]

Very nice, I remember spending a year restoring my TZ750 back in the late 1980's, it was hard work, and difficult to find some of the parts even back then.

Edited by Paul Collins, 06 January 2016 - 19:47.

[Hydroleo]

I had contact with a former Milledge rider, Robbie Phillis...

Robby had a TZ750F in Marlboro colors in the 70's.

He said that this bike probably has belonged to Bob Rosenthal, who rode a TZ750A in the Milledge team.

I have been trying to find pictures, but that seems to be difficult

[timbo]

TZ's at the Barry Sheene Festival of Speed, Sydney Motorsport Park (Eastern Creek), March 19/20 2016.

 

[philippe7]

n° 29 ridden for the occasion by the man who was the first to win an international race on a 750 TZ ...... yes, a few weeks before Agostini at Daytona . John Boote, from New Zealand, whose exploits have been already discussed at length on this forum. There's even a dedicated thread by his name .....

[Hydroleo]

I have found the complete history of the wreck I purchased last December in Melbourne.

Like I said before it had Team Milledge decals on the fork legs, so it must have been I bike of the Victorian agents team.

Through NATS member Lech Budniak I came in contact with Bob Rosenthal, who still races a Norton Manx and a Matchless G50.

He recognized the changed rear shocks and some other details immediately.

The rear shock position and the changes on the frame where done by Rod Tingate .

Rod had been racing in Europe in 1972 and worked for Colin Seeley in GB, where he learned building frames.

But when his good friend Kim Newcombe died at Silverstone, Rod was very sad and lost his interest in racing the continental circus.

He went back to Australia and was offered a job at Milledge as a mechanic.

 

This was the bike Bob purchased new in 1974 and raced two years for team Milledge with great success.

He send me some photos of him and the bike in action.

I decided to restore the bike like it was when Bob rode it.

 

Bob told me a lot about the technical changes that he had made to the bike.

One of them was a 4 in 2 exhaust purchased by his brother in law in the US, made by Kevin Cameron.

Kevin had made this type of exhaust first time for Jim Evans bike to make it finish in the 1974 Daytona 200.

The original flat pipes where not fit to last the race as they all exploded.

Ago won the 1974 Daytona but his bike sounded like a tractor at the end.

 

I contacted Kevin Cameron, who is now technical editor at Cycle World.

We talked about the TZ750 and I told him my plans with the ex Bob Rosenthal TZ750A.

Some days later he had found all the dimensions of these 4 in 2 system in his old note book.

With his on line help I started to make these exhausts for my bike.

It took me some time and the one of the first down pipes was thrown in the dust bin.

 

 

So now I am a very happy guy, and the bike has come to life again.

Most details will be the same as in 1974, decals of Team Milledge are being made for me and the others I already have.

At this moment I have painted the frame black again and the final rebuild has started

 

Edited by Hydroleo, 17 May 2016 - 18:15.

[billlawrence]

I have found the complete history of the wreck I purchased last December in Melbourne.

Like I said before it had Team Milledge decals on the fork legs, so it must have been I bike of the Victorian agents team.

Through NATS member Lech Budniak I came in contact with Bob Rosenthal, who still races a Norton Manx and a Matchless G50.

He recognized the changed rear shocks and some other details immediately.

The rear shock position and the changes on the frame where done by Rod Tingate .

Rod had been racing in Europe in 1972 and worked for Colin Seeley in GB, where he learned building frames.

But when his good friend Kim Newcombe died at Silverstone, Rod was very sad and lost his interest in racing the continental circus.

He went back to Australia and was offered a job at Milledge as a mechanic.

 

This was the bike Bob purchased new in 1974 and raced two years for team Milledge with great success.

He send me some photos of him and the bike in action.

I decided to restore the bike like it was when Bob rode it.

 

 

Bob told me a lot about the technical changes that he had made to the bike.

One of them was a 4 in 2 exhaust purchased by his brother in law in the US, made by Kevin Cameron.

Kevin had made this type of exhaust first time for Jim Evans bike to make it finish in the 1974 Daytona 200.

The original flat pipes where not fit to last the race as they all exploded.

Ago won the 1974 Daytona but his bike sounded like a tractor at the end.

 

I contacted Kevin Cameron, who is now technical editor at Cycle World.

We talked about the TZ750 and I told him my plans with the ex Bob Rosenthal TZ750A.

Some days later he had found all the dimensions of these 4 in 2 system in his old note book.

With his on line help I started to make these exhausts for my bike.

It took me some time and the one of the first down pipes was thrown in the dust bin.

 

 

So now I am a very happy guy, and the bike has come to life again.

Most details will be the same as in 1974, decals of Team Milledge are being made for me and the others I already have.

At this moment I have painted the frame black again and the final rebuild has started

 

 

Bike looks great all credit to you     Bill Lawrence

[GTPRacing]

Yes credit where it is due, the amount of effort, time and attention to detail that has gone into this bike is amazing! Good luck with the rest of the build and I hope that you enjoy riding and displaying the bike. Exceptional Job, well done!

[Hydroleo]

I have made a little progress on the bike lately.

 

 

[Macca]

For sale in a huge auction of a giant but apparently neglected collection in Italy:

 

http://www.rmsotheby...-tz750c/1087504

 

http://www.rmsotheby...orcycle/1087500

 

Also several smaller TZ's and an RG.

 

Paul M

[Paul Collins]

Good find Paul!!

Although they are a little out with those guide prices, I reckon you can multiply those prices by at least 3 and in some cases probably more.

If not, I'll definitely have both the big Yams, the RG and the Desmosedici for my garage!!

[fastfitter]

Dear Santa. I've been a very good boy this year ........

http://www.rmsotheby...orcycle/1087500

[tonyed]

I don't know who at Sotherbys does the price estimates but he probably is not a race bike expert or more likely as they were being sold without reserve flying a kite.