1972 Yamaha YDS7 250 

Beautiful 1972 YDS7! I owned two in my early years of riding. My first was off the dealers floor back in November 1971, my second was in the Spring of 1975. The second one had 400 miles on it and was in perfect condition. I still, to this day, love the looks of these bikes and wished I could have one today, but I'm not about to pay the price one would cost...LOL BTW, the one thing I noticed about this restoration, is the mufflers are from a 1970/71 R5A/B, not a 1972 YDS7 or R5C. The 1972 mufflers did not have a seam down the top/bottom. Otherwise the restoration looks great!

It is impossible to actual go back in time; these bikes are the next best thing to that time when Japanese bikes where in abundance. So many of these bikes that you have been filming are as close to flawless as can be. Thanks for sharing and keeping them going!!

You are right, Ken. Those big Kawas are great but a small two-stroke has a special charisma.

My ride 1973-74, and a very cool outcome from a deep resto project. Even with my faltering eyesight, I think I spot the squidgy RD era bar grips...? FAB-OLA!!! ❤

I just bought a nice unrestored example. I cant wait to ride the wheels off of it & test the top speed as often as possible.

When I was 16 I went out and bought a 1975 RD350. I was only about 110 pounds at the time so the bike fit me perfect. One of the funnest bikes I've ever ridden. I put some chrome expansion chambers on it and it looked really cool. Also put some Mulholland rear shocks on it. Back then I could beat Harleys with it.

I had the smaller brother of this, the RD200A in the same colour but with different tank graphics. It was a little flyer, and I spent 3 years on it, and put close to 18000 miles on it. Great Times, wish I still had it. You can tell from my spelling I'm from the UK.

My first bike in 71.great joy of riding and really fast in that time

The long toss a flashback from the past. I had a pull over on the highway to write this comment that's how excited I was about it!

My first bike in Jan of 77, seventeenth birthday. Now at 62I just got another one same color black and gold and, maybe nicer than the one I got 45 years ago, just clean. I got lucky at $2900.00. Love it. Thanks for the video.

proud to be in the same state as you. God bless America. and keep up the good work

Bike looks awesome, switched plenty of these to 350cc back in the day. Took 2hrs at the most to do upgrade. Of all the 2 cylinder bikes these overall were the fastest through the twisties !

The smell of Yamalube in the morning! I had a 1976 RD 400. Nice bike there.

Absolutely stunning bike ! Love the sounds too. It would be nice to ride but I think at this point it’s too nice 🤪👍👍

Another cracking vintage yamaha 2 stroke.. Love em.. Bike is 3 years older than me... And in a lot better condition, lol.

Gorgeous Bike, Ken! Gotta love those old 2 stroke streetbikes. They were screamers!

I bloody love your channel..

I loved this bike. My first real motorcycle :0) back in 1976. Use to runs circles round my mates who had BSA Barracuda 250s and BSA Batam 175s, oh, and a NSU Quickly Moped! 😄Thanks for the video

You know what would be absolutely amazing? Is if there was a cartoon about the prequel life of one young Ken senior and all the shenanigans he and his buddies got into in the seventies and eighties! I still can't get the visual of 4 hubcaps going past your car car from the other story that would be funny to see

Yamahaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!💣💣💣💣💣💣💣😍🤙😍😍😍🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

I want to get one of this so bad I will get one eventually

Rode one of those back in the day. Ragged the *rse off it as we say in the UK!!

The chrome trim is missing running around the bottom of the seat. But s great looking bike.

I have one that needs a full restoration in my shed, but its the smaller CS5 200 electric model, white and purple

awesome sound

Beautiful!!!!

I have 2 of these bikes, all original. ..... $780 for a seat that doesn't look anything like the original? They said it was embarrassing ..... I agree. It gives a very amateurish look to a mostly excellent restoration. also as someone noted earlier, the exhaust pipes are not original as claimed in the video. they are from a '70 or '71 R5,350 not a '72 DS7. Shiny gloss black engine side cases not correct either. From the factory they had more of a semi gloss black look. Beautiful bike but for the kind of money you're talking about, one should expect better!

Had the exact bike. Not my favorite at all. RD350 was much better but not near the bike my next one was.... Suzuki GS550. That was 1980....so many have come & gone since. Thanks for the memory, but I really don't relish another ride on that one. Cheers

What a beauty

My first street was a RD250 at 16 it was brown in color,and had a sissy bar and would stand on end when I had a chick on the back,I even had a coat from Yamaha,thanks,

The steering damper is missing.

Beautiful bike and sr is right it takes a lot of time and money

Bought the same model and colour in 1972 , unfortunately it expired a couple of months later against the side of a car. It cost a little over £250 in Britain and the 350cc cost a little over £350.

Kaplan cycles 🥇🇺🇸👊🏻💪🏻👍🙏🙏❤️🇫🇷

Aqui no 🇧🇷 essa moto e conhecida como VIUVA NEGRA, por na época acelerar muito e freia pouco, aí galera si matava.

Do you have any Yamaha for the 1972 ds7 250 for the gas tank

Damn sure looks like an RD

"i'm not gonna cut that out" "what ever"

Nice bike for sure but to bad the seat is all wrong. makes the bike look funny or odd. These old YDS's and RD have a certain look with the original good seats.

I see a 12 volt battery, is that stock or was it a 6 volt?

Is Howard's bike still available the Yamaha ds7 250

Very nice Yamaha but not a yds7 it is a DS7 American model with wrong exhausts from a 1970s model. Not an original seat. Ok.but lots of details are wrong.

Mine was

10k restoration.... Hellllllll nah...

This guy is the epitome of "rolling in the grave" idiocy. "A hallmark of 2-strokes having more torque than 4-stokes". Ya... O.K. Buddy... lmao.... This guy has been blowing hot air out his behind for decades. No clue what he's talking about, EVER. His subscriber count speaks for itself. So sad to see such historic vehicles in the hands of these fools.

My first street was a RD250 at 16 it was brown in color,and had a sissy bar and would stand on end when I had a chick on the back,I even had a coat from Yamaha,thanks,