Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125804
" ~ ri o rJl ;;; W Z W ..J U >- U That really nice rear brake. bike, it's hard not to get the idea that trials type riding is what Yamaha had in mind for the CT-S. First gear is very low; plonking low. It will climb most any hill the tire will dig into, if you can keep that front wheel down. It is nim.ble, even with the headlight and two instruments, and if you try to go too fast it's more than quick. It comes with trials universal tires which not only 'are a good street-dirt compromise, but work best for what the CT-S does best. The rear brake is great for street and dirt. It is progressive and has lots of feel. Bu!T'ps don't disturb it unduly. The front brake is just fine for dirt applications, but on the pavement was considerably less than confidence·inspiring. Lock.up was not a potential possibility, in fact it didn't come close enough to keep our pavemen t freaks happy. First gear is an unneeded accessory for around town. It starts easily in second gear. On the other end of the range the bike runs out of rpms at around 70-75 indicated mph. It could easily pull more. You can ask why you want to go mor< '>an 55 on a dirt bike, but there is a reason. The bike can go on the freeway and it would be a lot happier if it wasn't revving its insides out. First gear would stilJ be plenty low. Our particular bike came out of the factory jetted RJCH. In the first SOO miles it went through. a brace of spark plugs. One night we ran all out of Yamaha plugs and gave it a Ferrari racing plug_ That seemed to satisfy it thorough Iy and fouling problems ended. !). thorough testimony to the CT-S's reliability was demonstrated during those plug fouling times. Ten grand down a steep hill wi th the thro ttle closed and the gas turned off would usually clear it off. Even tually we got the jetting situation remedied and it was a completely different motorcycle. Great for climbing hills, but keep the weight forward. can't miss it. The numbers on the" instruments show up really well at night, however the needles are really hard to see. Our bike had tum indicators and there were mixed responses. One staffer said they got in the way of crashing, others like indicators on aily bike going on the street. In any event, the front indicators are those neat little numbers that attach to the bandle bars. They don't get crunched and are easy to remove if you like. The 175 looks like a Yamaha, with the addition of the motocross stripes on the fender and tank. The tan\< is a nifty gold color. Unfortunately, that tank holds only 1.8 gallons. With the jetting as it was, that meant about 65 miles to a tank. Smiles were not prevaJent when the reserve tank gave up in five more miles. There should be lots more mileage available when it's set up correctly. Oil consumption through the injection system was minimal. It used so little that we can't say what the mileage is, but a rough guess would be at least 500 miles per .tank. The kind of thing that the CT-S is fun for is a Sunday afternoon jaunt down the freeway up to Mulholland Drive, taking in the asphalt and dirt. Then bop on down to the valley, do a few wheel;es on Van Nuys Blvd., cut back to Ventura and motor around up in Topanga Canyon. Next weekend you can lash it to the front of the camper and take it along as a plaything in the woods and for local transportation. It's reliable, boy is it reliable, and if it falls over and breaks a lever, it won'l set you back an arm and a leg. I t offers you freeway accessibility (not available on a 125), but doesn't charge you the size or price of a 250. Riding the CT-S in the dirt is a kick as long as you don't try to go too fast. The fron t forks work reasonably at all bu t the hij(hest speed, keeping the front wheel in contact will. the ground a maximum amount of time. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the rear shocks. Actually we're not so sure that there is anything wrong with the shocks as the springs were so stiff that it was hard to tell.·If was fortunate that the seat was very comfortable. Sliding was fun but, as usual, only at . low speeds. Towards the top of second gear it got that Japanese, "I'm gonna swap ends feeling." Donu ts are fun. It may be a standard thing to say" but a 21" front wheel would help. Smaller people will like the bike. The standing position would be about right for someone of about five feet and six iIlches. The con trois (foot) are righ t where they should be and the transmission is one of the best made (on any side of any ocean). We can't think of a complaint about the shifting, clutch or no clutch. The biggest bone to pick with Yamaha, and probably the only one of major concern, is the exhaust system. No two ways about it. It is too loud. People tum their heads when you ride down the street and it is very fatiguing to the rider. 'Yamaha, it's got to be quieter! Nothing on the bike went pop, poof, or crack during the time we had it un less it was persuaded to do so by one of our staff members. The head light wa, good, for what the bike is, but it didn't come on until engine was running. We've ridden lots of 120 mph rockets with worse. The taillight is big; CT-3 SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE . _ BORE AND STROKE HORSEPOWER (CLAIMED) WHEELBASE _ IGNITION LE CAPACiTy : I"EIGHT (NET CLAIMED) PRICE _ _ f.'y The 175 is nice for trials tYpe riding, such as riding on a log. _ 2 stroke, single reed valve 66mm X SO~m (173c~,( 16 HI" SO.8 in magneto 1.85 gal 221 Ibs NIP<