1979 IT175 vs PE175?

[Nathan S]

Which is/was the better bike and why?

[cyclegod]

My recollection is that, while the PE was lighter and handled better it was down a little on power compared to the IT

[Graeme M]

Not *quite* the same I know, but I owned an IT175G and a PE175 Floater (an X?). I loved the IT - great looks, nice power, good handler etc. The PE was good too but always felt bigger and more clumsy. It had better suspension for sure, but I'd take the IT every time.

[caps 999]

i think that can almost be put down to the lower center of gravity on the it175s behalf

[LWC82PE]

in the 80-81 period it was the  KDX, then PE then IT and when the 82 full floater came out they jumped ahead of the KDX. well thats what all the artilces said.

im sure i would have a test between the 79 PE and IT

for me i would say there is no great difference. at the end of the day it would come down to the rider ability, bike preparation and maintenance skills that would ensure a good result.

[Mick]

Off the subject here, but i just brought a IT 175 G and i am looking for aftermarket fork boots-gators like the ones on this IT, could anyone steer me as to were to by some of these, my local Yamaha shop can get gen ones but the price 

[LWC82PE]

Pro Accessories in queensland sell Cemoto brand fork boots. several vintage styles to choose from

http://www.proaccessories.com.au/products/cemoto/fork.htm

http://www.cemoto.it/prodotti.php?act=3&id=23

i would recommend #CEFB2321.02 - Black for both the IT and PE. they are the closest ones available for the discontinued PE ones.

i have got these #CEFB2420.02 - Black, for one of my modified PE's as i wanted the slightly larger OD boot with more rings so that they look like the boots as fitted to the period aftermarket KYB forks that were available back then

also try daystar fork boots
http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/tpl/cmn/prodlist.jsp?store=Main&catId=113&np=&brandId=189

also Polisport do a smaller fork boot that would look good on a bikes like these.
http://www.polisport.com/produtos.php?ID_Familia=142&ID=791&ID_ORG=791
these ones should still fit 36mm legs. i had some and they are pretty stretchy. got them from Ballards offroad
you should also find them here
http://www.cykel.com.au/Moreproducts.htm

[Mick]

Thanks for your help there LWC3077 i have now found a couple of other bits i needed why'll i was looking through all those sites you gave out, i'm new at all this again after 20 odd years out and really i have little idea as were to look for half of what i need, if i can buy it in OZ i would rather as it just makes it all so much easier, only wish i could get the plastics for the IT i need here in OZ.

Cheers Mick.

[shortshifter]

I would agree with Graeme and Caps,although the it and pe Ive ridden were later models,the it felt generally tighter  and moore solid(lower centre of gravity)with a bit more poke at the throttle.

[cyclegod]

Thanks for your help there LWC3077 i have now found a couple of other bits i needed why'll i was looking through all those sites you gave out, i'm new at all this again after 20 odd years out and really i have little idea as were to look for half of what i need, if i can buy it in OZ i would rather as it just makes it all so much easier, only wish i could get the plastics for the IT i need here in OZ.

Cheers Mick.

What plastics are you chasing?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/YAMAHA-IT175-IT175G-H-J-K-Rear-Guard-3R6-21610-10_W0QQitemZ370099845800QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item370099845800&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A1%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-1980-1981-YAMAHA-ENDURO-IT-175-SIDE-PANELS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35584QQihZ005QQitemZ150138045619

[Mick]

Yes i have seen that rear guard on ebay cyclegod, but it is the wrong colour, i need a white one, i can get new white front guard from Yamaha for a very nice price $55.00 but for the rest of plastics its over to the US or UK and im not to keen sending my money over seas through any means, so i might just have to clean the ones i have up the best i can for now, but if anyone imports or makes them here in OZ then i will be in the line up for them and for some 80 PE rear guards and headlight shrouds for both bikes, i can buy PE side covers and front guard from Suzuki which put a smile on my face but then i can only get crap looking yellow aftermarket rear guard and headlight shroud, well from what i have found so far anyway..

[LWC82PE]

PE headlight shell you can get from overseas (UK) about $145 i think? (cant exactly remember) i will have one in a few weeks to report on quality but they are suposed to be as close to NOS as you can get. This took about 3 years to get done but the first batch of 10 has been made and sold. A new batch will be made. They are injection moulded and the tooling costs was well over 1000 pounds. You can not get them in Australia. 2 places are making repro fibre glass rear fenders. one in belgium and one in australia. i can not think of the name of the australian mob but the guy sold on ebay under the name desmoduke, but i think the business has been sold now to someone else. Any way these 2 fibreglass ones are kinda OK colour wise but they are not making them with the rib around the edge i have passed on feedback to someone dealing with the australian fibre glass mob to get them to make them with the rib around the edge. the belguim guy says 'its too hard to do the rib' the previous guy was leaving the underside of of the guards black but the new owner is making the undersides yellow now which is good.
you also have a vacume formed jobby from DC plastics in an almost fluroecent safey yellow (yuck) so i doubt you would like that, but there is an option of painting it the correct yellow. They are making the number plates in the correct yellow but not the rear fenders. why i dont know. you can probably get the DC rear fender from Vintage Plastics in australia.

if your can be prepared to buy stuff overseas it will make it a lot easier to restore a PE.

and if you want to know more about PE's and where to get parts for them then drop in here
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PEmotorcycles/

just worked out the name of the fibre glass mob - Prixhistoric Fibreglass

few bits here

http://au.babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fpureenduro.free.fr%2Fpieces.html&lp=fr_en&.intl=au&fr=yfp-t-501

as you can see the fender looks ok, but is missing edge ribbing

[oldfart]

LWC3077    spot on old mate .  The 79 -  PE & IT  models where very close indeed, bike preperation and skills played a big part in winning on the day.
PE 175 went well will a few port mods, change the jetting to suit - tweak the timming a bit  and it became a better bike to ride .
The PE  80 model had far better suspension and reved harder -  the yammys  where out classed that year         ( talking from experience )

[Tony T]

I'm just amazed that you'd consider something other than the Yamaha, Nathan.   

[Nathan S]

I've got heaps of non-Yamahas!
I own two TS185s, two TC100s, a KDX200, a G4TR, a KTM250, a couple of XL175s, a SL100, and a CR125, along with my Euro "moderns"... and (for the time being) there's also a CZ250 and a 79 PE175 just outside the back door....

And yes, there's an IT175F here too. Gotta say that the IT-F isn't the prettiest bike I can think of, but comapred to the pommy spec PE, its a glamour - talk about hitting every branch when falling out of the ugly tree!

Thanks for the info so far guys.