c1967 Yamaha AS1 125cc Race Bike

Description

A relative latecomer to the motorcycle market, Yamaha’s first bike – the YA-1 – was launched in 1955 and the company quickly established itself through competition success, both at home and abroad.  Announced in 1967, the AS1-D was Yamaha’s first 125cc twin-cylinder sports model, equipped with an air-cooled two-stroke engine employing race-developed five-port technology to improve exhaust efficiency.  Other features included the ‘Autolube’ separate oil supply system that used a throttle-controlled feed to the engine, twin carburettors and the bike was rated at 15 horsepower at 8500rpm.  Also sold in standard and scrambler versions, the AS-1 utilised a conventional tubular steel frame with the engine as a stressed member, while a five-speed gearbox managed to extract maximum performance from the relatively small engine.  Capable of hitting a genuine 75mph, the AS-1 was something of a pocket rocket and many found their way onto the track.  Indeed, due to the success of the 125cc Grand Prix class of road racing, Yamaha released a GYT racing kit for the AS-1 consisting of barrels, cylinder heads, longer pistons, rings, exhausts, racing magneto ignition, carburettors, con-rods and big end bearings.  Clip-on bars, racing grips and alternate gear ratios plus clutch plates were also supplied to convert a privateer’s standard AS-1 road bike into a track ready weapon.  Updated to become the AS-2 and finally AS-3 of 1973, riders like the legendary Swede Kent Andersson proved just how effective the Yamaha 125 was as a race bike, winning two world titles in 1973/74 aboard his liquid-cooled factory GP125 bike that shared many components with the road going versions.