Yamaha RS100 – a long time Ago

Launched for the 1975 sales season (and lasting until the early 80's), Yamaha's RS100 was a low cost and unassuming 97cc single cylinder, air cooled two stroke benefitting from Yamaha's Autolube system that negated the need to mix two-stroke oil and fuel in the fuel tank.

yamaha rs100 giacomo agostini

Simple and reliable, urge was just north of 10 horsepower and – according to Yamaha – top speed was 70mph (112kph) while fuel economy was good… for a two stroke. Sadly, though worthy, the little “Yam” could easily be ignored.

So, how to raise the profile of the commendable commuter? Easy, just mate the little learner bike with a multiple World Champion. Leaving Italian racing giant, MV Agusta for Yamaha for the 1975 season, Giacomo Agostini had not only grown frustrated with the hierarchical way that Count Agusta ran the legendary racing marque but also knew the writing was on the wall for four strokes in Grand Prix racing – the era of two strokes had arrived.

“Ago” was not just an immediate asset to Yamaha – winning their first 500cc World Title on the OW23 in 1975 – but as a certified poster boy, his Latin looks and suave nature were soon employed by Yamaha’s marketeers. Like famous riders before him and since, Ago was asked to either ride or stand next to a variety of machines for photo shoots so that the glow of his fame could illuminate a variety of machines from those of magnitude to the mundane.

Whilst we cannot promise to have a huge inventory of OW23 components, at CMSNL we probably have one of the largest stocks of RS100 parts available anywhere. So, pull that old RS out of the shed. CMSNL is here to protect and preserve the legends of a long time Ago!