Yamaha Scramblers from 1968

[Rizingson]

Here's a couple of my current projects, both somewhat rare Scramblers from 1968 when they first became available. Models are YCS1C and YAS1C which are variations from the street versions first appearing in 1967.

My YCS1C, in it's original rare black & white scheme, nearing finish, but a few more items left to attend to.


My YAS1C in the rare special edition color scheme. Anxious to get started on it after the New Year.


From the January edition of Yamaha News introducing the two new Scramblers. Note the YAS1C has the standard color design with pearl white painted side panels instead of black.


I found this Japanese text mentioning the Black side panels. My research has indicated that approx 200 were made in the reverse design and were designated only one per dealership. I've only seen one other than mine in original condition. Some have been restored but have been incorrectly IMHO, given black head light buckets and fork ears.

[m in sc]

man those are cool 

[Simoniz]

Always liked the stye of the YAS1C. That reminds me of the one I picked up from the back yard of the BMW dealers in Atlanta about 20 years ago for $20 and a 6 pack of beer. Never could get it to run, so sold it as project a few years later, but now I wish I'd kept it. Looking forward to seeing yours up and running in the new year.

[Simmons1]

Nice bikes!They look like fun projects.

[RDnuTZ]

I once acquired what I was told was a 1969 version of the 125 scrambler. It was lovingly stored in a backyard shed with a cover over it. Hadn't been ridden in years- so they sold it to me for $50.00. Mine had a solid Red tank with knee rubbers and matching side panels. I don't remember if it had those MX style handlebars shown here and don't remember a Silver air cleaner either. It took almost no effort to get it running: flushed the gas tank, checked/cleaned carbs & plugs and fresh fluids and it fired on like 2nd kick.

I was either a sophomore or Junior in high school (74 or 75) and made some chambers for it with enclosed stingers in metal shop. I used cone dimensions from a friend's JT-1 mini enduro with aftermarket pipe figuring the 60cc bike was roughly 1/2 the 125 displacement. Didn't compare bore or stroke -just winged it. I used the chrome header pipes from the stock exhausts. No packing in the cans either.

The thing was hella loud and sounded like a pack of angry bumble bees but went like stink and revved to the moon. Good times...

[1976RD400C]

When I still had a minibike the big kid next door bought a brand new 305 Big Bear scrambler. I would go over there and watch him service it and listen to his stories. "I shifted in high and looked down and I was going 100"!

[X-Man]

Super cool bikes. Those remind me of my '65 Big Bear 250 YDS3C?

Lots of fun to be had with those bikes.

[Rizingson]

Super cool bikes. Those remind me of my '65 Big Bear 250 YDS3C?

Lots of fun to be had with those bikes.

Funny you should relate them to the Big Bear. I have a '66 YDS3C which I did a complete nut & bolt restoration back in 2016. They were always a model I was fascinated with, largely in part due to the sound when I was a 15 yr old kid. I'll share a pic of it here. It actually has been a show winner at a few shows around the country!

[X-Man]

Thats an amazing bike! Very nice! Yes the sound they make is so rad. The transmissions on them are funky. I paid $50 for it. Spent a grand and was able to ride it once down the street. Never should've let that one go. I'll see if I can dig up a photo of mine.

[Rizingson]

Likely the last ride of the year here with snow in the forecast. What can I say about this 1968 Yamaha after attempting a decent refurbishment...other than it's been the most frustrating, self-inflicted money pit I've ever been involved with in my 20 years of restoring and putting vintage Japanese bikes back on the road. Plus there is still much to do, as every time I look at it I see another $100 bill fly out of my pocket. 😕 I won't even begin to start a list of the parts required to get it to this point. However here's a few pics I took while riding it for it's first time with less than a mile on the top end and only a couple of good heat cycles. Sorry no WOT bursts with this ride due to the break-in regimen. Here's a link to the approx 2 mile ride today. Here's a link to the finished YCS1C posted from above. It is the first ride on this 180cc twin two stroke scrambler I noticed the pictures I put up are gone. I guess it would help if I knew how to link the photos directly from my computer rather than a URL that expires.

[Rizingson]

A couple of shots of the finished YCS1C

[SoCal250]

A couple of shots of the finished YCS1C

really nice!