Nick's 1972 Yamaha 360
We saw this crusty Yamaha at a recent Greenfield Dirt Track practice and wanted to share some photos we snapped of it. We sent the owner, Nick Rock, a few questions and this is the info he sent back.
I'm a motor mechanic from Chesterfield, I'm 45 years old and I've been riding flat track at Scunthorpe since the 1st Dirt Diggers event [2018], initially in the mx class on my modern KTM enduro bike, then decided to buy this bike and ride the vintage class.
The bike's a Yamaha RT2 360MX, so it's really the precursor to the YZ series. I've always ridden larger two-strokes and this bike really does it for me. It has a look that's just right and, as it's piston ported and I've put a larger flywheel on it, has a lovely torque curve.
I guess it's an import from California as it has some sort of reg tag on the back mudguard
It's standard apart from a 19in front rim, some Pro Taper flat track bars and a Rex Speed Shop ignition to try and keep reliability.
The bike came up for sale on eBay, near me in Matlock, and I made a low offer as I'm notoriously tight!
I use a trials tyre on the rear that I cut with an angle grinder, I've had this on about four years, and a free used rear speedway tyre on the front.
I did about 10 years of hare and hound enduro racing before flat track and found the closeness of the racing a real buzz. I love the feeling of sliding a bike that I brought across from the flat grassy corners of enduro, but without the need for a 3hr fitness level. I also like entering the flat track class and getting in the mix with the 450s.
I tend to ride track days on my R6 with my pals through the summer, so try my best to do all the winter series at Scunny to keep me riding. It's a great distraction from the monotony of work in a British winter time and the people at the track are great. It's a good community who help each other out and try and keep each other riding.
I bought a champion frame which I intended to swap the parts into but just can't bring myself to strip it so I have future plans for the champ and hope to ride both.
Photo: Braking Point Images.
The appeal of the Yamaha 360s from the early 1970s lay in their very "retro" look: the fuel tank and frame had a classic feel, the two-stroke engine gave it a distinctive mechanical feel, and the overall look was quite rugged and individualistic. bing maps
There’s something truly special about seeing a vintage machine like Nick’s Yamaha being pushed to its limits on the track instead of just collecting dust. It captures the raw spirit of grassroots racing perfectly. I actually transcribed his interview while listening to a podcast about classic builds using an mp3 text converter, and his passion for the sport is incredibly contagious. Thanks for sharing this piece; it's a great reminder that you don’t need the latest technology to have a blast on the dirt.
Awesome vintage Yamaha, Nick! It's cool to see these old bikes still tearing up the track. It makes me think about how tech changes over time. By the way, if you're into comparing specs, check out price per tb calculator to find the best storage deals per terabyte.
This 1972 Yamaha 360 is a true classic. Reminds me of exploring the world of Mortal Shell II – both have a gritty, immersive feel. For anyone wanting to dive deeper, check out Mortal Shell II Guide
Nice post! It reminds me of games like animedle where you try to guess characters with limited clues.