1966 Yamaha YDS3-C 250cc "Big Bear" Street Scrambler

[passat47]

Bridgeman11, what a wonderful find! Your story about the original owner was very touching and remind me of my having to leave my first new motorcycle ( Honda Sport 50 ) I purchased May, 1966. I avoided the draft by enlisting in the USAF July, 1966, I returned but so many never made it back.

[Nancytube2]

The 305 was the Big Bear, the 250 was the Little Bear. The difference was due to licencing requirements in Japan where you had a different license for bikes with engines bigger than 250cc.

[stuntflix]

just bought one of these, but doesn't look even close to as good as yours does, any tips on finding parts for it? I've checked ebay and google, and haven't been able to find much.

[bridgeman11]

@stuntflix There are usually lots of small parts available on ebay, but large parts like the mufflers or fenders or new seats are hard to come by. Most people are resigned to rechroming, repainting, recovering, etc. There is one NOS Yamaha parts specialist called Speed and Sport, Inc. A google search should find them. When you search for parts on ebay use "YDS3", "YDS3C" or "YDS3-C". Good luck.

[Scootertuner1000]

THat is absolutely stunning. I always prefer the sound of the high pipes on the 1960 street scramblers, both the Suzukis and the Yamahas.

[DougCameraMan]

Thanks for posting this. Seems like most of the videos you get when you do a search for "Yamaha big bear" are some newer four wheeler ATVs...not the classic mid 60's motorcycles like this. I love these old bikes with the big rounded tanks and rubber knee padding. The Honda's of similar vintage, the street scramblers, were also very cool. Nowadays, most of the new bikes are ninja crotch rockets... and the dirt bikes are no longer street legal like the old street scramblers used to be.

[lxddle]

A high school buddy had a red one. We dated sisters. He worked at the YMCA and while he worked he let me ride the bike. It was a blast. There was nothing like those two strokes when the came on the pipe. It was the first bike I spent any time to speak of on.

[LightbenderStudio]

Brings back memories for me. I had a '67 305 Big Bear Scrambler. My first bike, bought a demo from a dealer for $700 (had about 500 miles on it). Mine was blue and the tank was chrome where yours is white, and I didn't have the two tone seat. Rode it during my second year in college at U of GA in 1967. Not many bikes at all there back then and it was quick. Used to drag race it against new  Pontiac GTOs and it killed them that they couldn't beat me. Carb jet problems burned pistons, tho.

[bridgeman11]

@LightbenderStudio Yes, your's was a YM2-C, the 305cc version. That was the same era as my YDS5E, which you can see a video of. Same tank seat, etc., same bike really except for the 305 vice 250 and the up-pipes, skid plate, etc. YM2-C's are very cool and collectible.

[djdaedulus]

i have 4 of these bikes for sale if anyone is intrested in them, all original parts with them. carbs and gas caps are still there.

[jeffmoto72]

The story of the origional owner is sad...yet what a great history for such a nice bike. I hope he can see his bike running the streets again.

[ageingoldrocker]

Hi Bridgeman,

I have seen a "Ranch Model" for sale in Australia, but they were not generally sold here or in the UK where I am originally from. The sports model is the normal rather than the off road style. I am amazed at how many NOS bits there are for sale in North America, where do they all come from? Great for me doing up a YDS3, as long as the wife does not find out about the costs.

[ageingoldrocker]

Beautiful bike, I can see you know your way around these. Here in Australia YDS3's of any type are very rare, most must be in North America. I had a new one in the 60's in the UK and have just imported one from Canada. Hope I can get it looking at least something like yours. Please keep posting the videos, the slow careful close ups are great.

Cheers, Rick

[bridgeman11]

@ageingoldrocker I'm surprised to hear that there are no "Big Bears" in Australia. Yamaha prototyped the YDS3-C with a modified YDS2, called a "Ranch" model, that was very much like the YDS3-C, that was sold only in Australia. Do any of those survive?