-
u
175
..
by Dave Schoonmaker
and the CN Staff
There was a time when 250 & larger
dual purpose bikes were the rage.
Everybody wanted to be able to cruise
the freeways and then sidetrack up the
local riretrail. Times have changed.
Riders discovered that their dual
purpose bikes did both. bu t neither very
well. Even a 250 can be a handful in the
dirt. So, the advent of the street bike
and the dirt bike as separate entities.
Seldom will you see an "enduro" in a
motocross or a scrambler on a roadrace
course these days. Most people would
enjoy having a specialty machine for
each kind of riding, but many could not
afford it. This population is the target
for dual purpose bikes, especially small
ones. The guy with a 1,400 dollar
motocrosser not only can't afford a
street bike and enduro bike but
probably isn't interested in another
fire-breathing monster in a dual-purpose
bike.
Thus a new displacement favorite,
the 175. It can venture on both
freeways and travel in the dirt. All of
the Japanese manufacturers make a 175
now and for some it is almost a
It may nOt be prudent but temptation will out.
A pleasant change. rational and
re~nable
instruments.
Nice engine, but major offender, the muffler.
mainstay in sales.
Yamaba has previously depended on
their 250 to capture the dual purpose
market and one can't help but notice
the effect this has had on their 175. The
1973 Yamaha CT-3 is basically a
punched out 125: The only part of the
bike that really has its own identity is
the engine. Not because it is technically
different, but because it puts out great
heaving amounts of power and torque
fora175.
The first impression when riding the
bike is that it is an AT-3 (125) with a
full load of nitro. The wheelbase of the
bike is short. After a few miles were on
the engine the front wheel lifted almost
frigh teningly in first gear. A great
wheelie bike ...blocks and blocks ...as
long as you can hang on.
Of course those wheelies can have a
function other than display if you're
using the bike for what it does best,
trailing. It's almost a trials bike. The
bike inspires one to ride over curbs,
logs, walls, cars, anything in the way.
Those wheelies will start from the very
depths of the RPM range, thanks to the
reed valves.
With the gearing & wheelbase on the
