Yamaha TD2 is an air-cooled road racing motorcycle made by Yamaha produced between 1969 and 1970. The equivalent 350cc version was called TR2
Development
The TD1 bikes had a significant impact on British 250cc class racing in the middle-1960s which was historically contested by single-cylinder engines, some with ageing designs. Some TD1s were overbored to 251cc, thus being eligible for the 350cc class Building on the TD1 successes, the arrival of TD2 together with the TR2 350cc version which could be overbored to around 352cc, making it eligible for the 500cc class, announced the 'death knell' of the traditional 350cc and 500cc class single-cylinder four stroke engines manufactured to 1950s designs The new over-the-counter Yamahas were smaller, lighter with greater maneuverability and consequently easier braking. The engines were simpler to build - but not significantly easier to maintain as four-stroke singles potentially lasted an entire season - offering a small compact unit without the height associated with overhead valves and camshafts. Rod Gould's appearance on the European racing scene with TD2 and TR2 machines secured after a business trip to US was a major factor in the change to two-stroke domination. Gould learned his craft initially by campaigning ageing Manx Nortons around the UKshort circuits, with 1960s Bultacos and Aermacchis for the smaller classes.
Racing success
Great Britain’s Rodney Gould won the 1970 250 cc World Championship on a TD2, with Australian, Kel Carruthers coming in second, also riding a TD2. Gould won six races in the 1970 Grand Prix Motorcycle season, clinching the title at the Nations Grand Prix, Monza. Yamaha Factory racing had withdrawn from the championship over revised competition rules in 1969. “Privateer” racing with many dealer-backed racing efforts competed against factory teams for the World Championship. Kel Carruthers won the Isle of Man TT Lightweight 250 cc class in 1970, with a time of 2:21.19 The cost of a TD2 in 1970 was $1,800.
Yamaha TD3
The TD2 was replaced at the beginning of the 1970s by the Yamaha TD3 model.
