History of the Yamaha YZ465 1980-1981 / DirtBikeDudeZ
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- The History of the Yamaha YZ465 from 1980 to 1981
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History:
The Yamaha YZ465 is a motocross bike produced by Yamaha from 1980 to 1981.
It´s succesor is the Yamaha YZ490, which was released in 1982.
In the annals of Yamaha history, few bikes have been as celebrated as the YZ465. Only produced for two years in the early 80’s, the 465’s combination of abundant power, supple suspension, and tight handling, made it the Japanese bike to beat. Even today, YZ465’s are treasured classic racers.
1980:
The new YZ465G would be an instant success with both the riders and press, taking home the honor of best Open bike of 1980.
The 1980 YZ465G marked the third generation of Yamaha’s groundbreaking “Monocross” rear suspension system.
Originally based on the designs of Belgian engineer Lucien Tilkens, (who had offered the idea to Suzuki first, but had been turned down) the first production “monoshock” debuted on the limited-production 1974 YZ250B and YZ360B. Overnight, Yamaha doubled the available travel on their motocross bikes and dominated the suspension rankings. The monoshock was a revolution in suspension design at the time of its introduction and became the impetus for the suspension arms race that defined late seventies motocross.
Over the course of their history, Yamaha’s Open class YZ’s had slowly grown in engine size to suit the fashion of the times.
From the 351cc of the original YZ360B, Yamaha bumped the displacement up to 397cc in the YZ400C, then to 465cc in the YZ465G and eventually 487cc in the YZ490K. As the motors grew to suit the taste of the times, so did the power characteristics on the big Yammers.
1981:
For ’81, Yamaha tried to smooth out the ‘80 model’s massive midrange hit and make the 465 easier to manage.
In tinkering with the power, Yamaha boosted the previously lethargic low end, but neutered the mid and top.
This made the bike easier to ride, but took away from the holeshot-ripping horsepower that had made the ’80
model so popular.
For 1981, Yamaha would make a few important refinements to the flying four-sixty-five. The new bike would feature a major upgrade in the front suspension, as well as fine-tuning to the motor and chassis. The question would be- would these refinements be enough to hold off a slew of all new competition from Europe and Japan?
One of the improvements made to the ’81 YZ465 was the addition of a folding shift lever. Prior to this, a simple tip over could easily result in a broken engine case or shift shaft.
The new ’81 YZ’s were the first Yamaha’s to come standard with a side-pull “whirlpool” style throttle.
These had been popular aftermarket additions for years with companies like Gunner Gasser becoming household (in motocross households anyway) names. Yamaha was so proud of their new toy that they actually saw fit to add a clear top to the throttle so you could see the cam thingy spin around.
At 43 horsepower, the ’81 YZ465 fell behind the mega-motored German and Austrian competition in ’81.
The new KTM 495 and Maico 490 both cranked out close to 50 horsepower, and waxed the floor in any race to the first turn.
By ’82, the rest of the manufactures would join the Euro’s in bumping up their motors to nearly 500cc.
Ironically, this quest for bigger and bigger motors (and scarier and scarier bikes) probably led to the eventual demise of the class.
!!!KEEP ON BRAAAAPIN!!!
DirtBikeDudeZ
Fastest bike I ever owned. A pure beast. Bought the first one 1980 from Washington Yamaha in Pgh. I would love to get another ride on that beast, Even at my age of 67...
Thanks for sharing I hope one day you get to ride one again
The thing would wheelie in every gear, so the front tyre never wore out! It was also very light. An amazing bike for the time.
So great to go down memory lane with the original literature, once again being able to see the reveal of the 465 in all of its glory. Thanks for the history lesson too!
loved mine so much, rock chucker on the power line trails in MO.
Marty Moates made this bike famous. 1980 usgp winner.
we put a 465 on a micro sprint we ran in sedalia mo. bored the jug to where it was almost a chinese lantern,fed it alcohal and kicked ass. then sold the car and i put it back on the bike......on alcohal. white knuckle,sack shriveling power.
I remember these things putting fear on faces when they showed up!
I had a 1980 and truly miss it. Beautify trail bike, had a Wasco swing-arm with a 530 rear tire with a huge knobby every five inches. I climbed hills others wouldn't dare, bouncing up and down in a wheelie like a rototiller all the way to the top. I don't ever remember stalling that beast. I'd sure like to have swapped riding a '85 CR500 to been able to compare the two.
Behold, The Air Hammer!!!!!!!
...PING.....
Funny how the big 2 stroke became less popular in the late 80’s .I think this was the turning point when real men became a dying breed and poofs and weak arse boys found the Big bore bikes too much like old grandpa and not like sweet aunty may.Moral of my comment is “You want to have big balls then why ride a mouse”
Probably because they started getting over 40 hp out of 250s
When mighty dinosaurs roamed motocross tracks!
I had one of the first 1980 YZ465 with a build number under 200. I bought it from a guy that ordered it a year in advance and rode it once and ended up in the hospital and his wife made him sell it. I sold it to my friend a couple years ago as I am disabled and cannot start it anymore. I have a bad right leg and herniated discs in my lower back. I raced the bike for several years in the hair scramble series in Michigan. I also raced snowmobiles and IMSA in my younger days thats why I am disabled. Would not change my past for anything
you are disabled in the head also
@@carlcrow5990 someday youll find yourself like him.
A wiser fellow than myself once said, "sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar, well, he eats you."
You stay cool homey 😎👍🙋
yammies best an animal
History is short. From best in class in 80 to also ran in 81.
Are the white ones more rare or for certain parts of the world only?
Yamaha bikes were yellow in the US until 86. Overseas they were white and red.
1981 one year white in the USA
@@mattmiles9779 USA YZs were yellow up to and including the 1984 model year. 1985 was the first white and red YZs.
@@frankpicha6118 You're thinking of the Yamaha ITs, the off-road bikes based on the YZs. There were no white and red YZ465s sold in the USA - Canada, Japan, Europe.
Dt