Hello, I just bought a Gold Dust fuel tank CT1 (CT3?) but the VIN does not match with the list I read. My VIN is *CT1-300715* or according to the VIN table, there is nothing after number 144920..... Is it a problem of country ?
Thanks for your help.
Olivier

Yes, the "*" at the ends of the numbers have been seen on several examples sold in European countries. I believe those "star" stamps were a requirement in some countries to help prevent VIN altering.

The bad news is most of the VIN (and parts) information available on the Internet is for USA models. The good news is that Yamaha has always been very good about sharing parts among similar models and continuing to use some of the same parts for many years,

The challenge is figuring out which "USA" model your "CT1" most closely resembles. Posting pictures would help us help you identify.

Almost certainly it is not too similar to a US "CT1".. It could be similar to a US 1973 CT3 or it's possibly similar to a 1974-75 US DT175 as the UK VIN numbers shown in the Tech Library says it might be a 1974 model.

(Yamaha changed the USA 175 model significantly in 1974 so the differences between a 1973 CT3 and a 1974 DT175 are fairly significant)

Link to "unofficial" UK VIN list: yamaha-enduros.com/index.php/uk-vin-information

Either model is a fantastic little bike... perhaps the best model Yamaha ever built.

Thanks a lot, I will post picture of the monster soon.
Good day.

I agree with all MarkT says (as usual!).

If the Yamaha date of manufacture plate is still on the frame, then this might give a clue as to the model year. The year of manufacture is often (but not always - that would make life too easy!) the year before the model was introduced.

Also, if you can find a European model Service Manual, then these sometimes have VIN number details in them.

There are often differences in the wiring between US and European models.

I look forward to seeing the photos!

pix

The makings of a nice bike there. Shame about the seat though!

What are your plans for it?

I want to rebuild it as an original one. I found a lot of spare parts on the web but for the moment, I don't know if it's a CT3 from 1973 or a DT of 1975... I tried to contact Yamaha France but the vintage division is closed today. I sent an E-Mail but no answer. Wait and see...

That looks like the 1973 USA CT3 model. Might be exactly the same.

One key difference between the 1973 and the 74 or 75 model 175 is the lower rear engine mount.

On a 1973, the mount hangs low... like this:



When Yamaha redesigned the 175 starting with the 1974 model year the rear engine mount was made a lot shorter like this:



Another difference is in 1973 the clutch cable went down to an actuator hidden inside the left side cover. In 1974, the clutch actuator lever was moved outside to the top of the engine.

You definitely have the earlier "CT3" style model as sold in the US. It could have been sold as a different year model in France... Since the parts lists are pretty much "USA" models... you'll want to pretend it's a 1973 CT3 even if Yamaha France says it's a different year.

Also, there's a good chance it originally came with a longer seat than the US models were supplied with. It seems the US got a shorter seat while the rest of the world got the longer "Japanese model" seat as required in Japan... it was longer for two people and had a "grab strap" for the passenger.

P.S. I find the longer seats kind of ugly... look too long for the bike. That might be why someone shortened yours. The shorter US seat looks much better in my opinion.

Thanks for your explanations. Waiting now for Yamaha France to give me more informations......