So we went to Rice-O-Rama Sunday - my three brothers and me. Brother Ward arrived on the lookout for a 1972 Yamaha R5. These lightweight forefathers of the sportbike share the honor of being the first crotch-rockets with Kawasaki triples, except the Yamahas would actually turn when you told them to. I've lost count of how many R5s and variations have been in my family (I had one) but Ward currently has maybe a half-dozen, including the original, first-year 1970 model owned by our late brother Art. But no '72.
There was one at the show but the owner wouldn't budge from his $350 asking-price. The thing was a rust-bucket, but he could have sold it for $325. But no, he preferred to take it home.
I couldn't find a brake pedal. I looked at one I thought I might be able to bend to clear the aftermarket-exhaust on my 1972 XS2 650 Yamaha, but that "seller" wouldn't budge from $15. I bet that guy took that home, too. Ironically, it came off an R5.
And a big strikeout on the seat and gas tank for the under-restoration '71 Yamaha 125 motocrosser I raced years ago. The closest we got was another ratty bike, a 175 woodsbike that utilized the same tank. But it had no seat, and again, the "seller" wouldn't dicker. These guys must like loading stuff.
Unfortunately, none of you were there to lead me away from the dirty white-batwing fairing on one blanket. I'd warned you I was looking for a white fairing and saddlebags of 1970s-vintage to put on the XS2. I found one, marked down from $50 to $20. As soon a I stopped to check it out the guy told me I could have it for $10. Actually, he let me have the metal-flake blue one next to it - all for the $10. Clearly he wasn't into loading stuff. I'd already found a brand-new windshield for $5 that will go on the bike if the fairing proves too tacky.
There was one at the show but the owner wouldn't budge from his $350 asking-price. The thing was a rust-bucket, but he could have sold it for $325. But no, he preferred to take it home.
I couldn't find a brake pedal. I looked at one I thought I might be able to bend to clear the aftermarket-exhaust on my 1972 XS2 650 Yamaha, but that "seller" wouldn't budge from $15. I bet that guy took that home, too. Ironically, it came off an R5.
And a big strikeout on the seat and gas tank for the under-restoration '71 Yamaha 125 motocrosser I raced years ago. The closest we got was another ratty bike, a 175 woodsbike that utilized the same tank. But it had no seat, and again, the "seller" wouldn't dicker. These guys must like loading stuff.
Unfortunately, none of you were there to lead me away from the dirty white-batwing fairing on one blanket. I'd warned you I was looking for a white fairing and saddlebags of 1970s-vintage to put on the XS2. I found one, marked down from $50 to $20. As soon a I stopped to check it out the guy told me I could have it for $10. Actually, he let me have the metal-flake blue one next to it - all for the $10. Clearly he wasn't into loading stuff. I'd already found a brand-new windshield for $5 that will go on the bike if the fairing proves too tacky.