7/9/23. My first wheels after VietNam in '70. Thought it was an RT-2, but could be wrong. In fall '72 lit out on an Outlaw-Journey from Denton, TX aiming for Patagonia (prob 10k miles one way) to southern Argentina. In Panama shipped it to Peru and rode the Andes to the Altiplano in Bolivia. There, my brother contracted encephalitis and we were forced to abort the trip. Lucky to be alive, The bike made it home to Telluride,CO and lived it's final days climbing the mtns until it expired in '81. Today, at 75 years of age, and losing eyesight, the sound and visuals you provided brought tears of joy.. thank you..
I bought one from a Vietnam vet in about 1975 when I was 15 years old and weighed about 125 lbs. It was a 1971 black with red pin stripes. Great bike. That spare plug was replaced with a compression release. Greetings from Buena Vista Colorado.
I have that bike, it is an RT1B . It says it is a 1971 model but it has the flip up cap like yours, no side badges, when some 1971 models I see have the screw on cap and side badges. Maybe they changed the tanks mid 1971 year, not sure. I remember they have a sleeve on the flywheel that has a spring advance, it is suppose to advance the spark as the revs go up. Maybe the spring got weak but it would spark too soon sometimes and kick back almost breaking your foot , the reason it came with a compression release I suppose, mine did not have bought used, One time it kicked back breaking the hard sole of my boot, next time I kicked it, put it in gear and it went backwards. The flywheel key sheared just enough to fire before top dead center, yes these engines will run backwards. Had to change the flywheel key to fix it.
Using expensive full synthetic 2T lube non of my autolube yamahas smoked either...even when cold and with the pump correctly adjusted as per shop manual.
