Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1545615
July 2026 35 As for the wake-up process, fortunately and incredibly, the piston was not stuck in the cylin- der and had great compression. As expected, the crank seals were toast and replaced with OEM Ya- maha seals and gaskets. Having dealt with delam- inated brake shoes in the past, new OEM Yamaha shoes were also installed along with new wheel bearings, res, and tubes. As for the fuel system, fortunately, the gas tank was clean and rust-free. A new petcock and fuel line, along with complete- ly disassembling the Mikuni carburetor and giving it a nice bath in the ultrasonic cleaning tank, did the trick. As for the air filter, it's s ll available right from Yamaha. As for the igni on system, it's so simple with just a set of points that were easily cleaned and gapped. With big fat spark and fresh fuel, the old CT-1 fired to life instantly as if it were just shut off yesterday, not 40 years ago! As men oned, I've owned this bike for a dozen years or so and have enjoyed it immensely. When I first woke it up, the speedo read just over 2,000 miles, and all the telltale signs of a low-mileage bike make it tough to doubt that number. Since then, I've logged about 1500 addi onal miles on the bike, exploring back roads and light trail use around our property here in Maine. For a 175, the li le CT-1 has a surprising amount of good usable torque and is quite the hoot to rip around town on. Of course, it doesn't have long legs, but it is fine cruising the pave- ment stretches at 50 mph. To be honest, I find it interes ng that a motorcycle pushing 60 years old can work so incredibly well. It's not a big bike by any means with 18" wheels front and rear, yet the ergonomics are perfect for this six- foot rider, and the suspension, what li le it offers, is sufficient for this 210 lb. rider. With a wide, comfort- able seat, it's easy to rack up the miles ge ng lost on the back roads. It's even more fun when you get a gang together on similar-sized bikes and tear up the town a bit! If you've been hankering for a vintage ride, don't pass up an old Yamaha, as they are about the easiest and cheapest of old bikes to resurrect! -Kurt