My First Motorcycle.

My first motorcycle.  The above image is a cropped scan of a Polaroid photo taken in January of 1980.  I'm astride my new 1979 Yamaha DT100 Enduro, and yes that's a smoke bubble visor.  The photo was taken at my grandparents farm. I would have been 11 years old, just a month shy of 12.  If not for this little green motorcycle, you probably wouldn't be reading this blog.  My father was responsible for me getting my first and second motorcycles.

I came to find this photo and many more while cleaning out my childhood home this past weekend.  My father passed away 2 days before Thanksgiving, he was only 67 years old.  I would like to tell you more about him, but for the moment it will have to wait.  I'm searching for a photo of him on a brand new Honda 305 Dream, when I find it I will tell you more about him.

GAW

1986 Yamaha SRX6, one more kick start fantasy.

This bike is the one that really gets me down deep.  Although it was produced from 1985-1997, It was only imported to the U.S. for one year, 1986 (for more info see WIKI).  Yamaha states that 19,000 SRX6's were sold in the U.S.  That means there has to be one out there with my name on it, right?

This particular bike listed on Cycle Trader is located in Chicago, just a short plane, train or car ride from home.  It has only 1900 miles on the clock, that's equivalent to one oil change...  The asking price of $2800 is probably not far from the original sticker price.  They claim the bike has not been modified in any way and still has the owners manual and original two keys.  If I had $2800 stashed away I would be making the trip to Chicago this weekend.

If only I was out riding what I have instead of sitting in front of a computer lusting after forbidden fruit! Arrrrrgh!  Only 3...I don't know, just to many weeks until two wheels.

See you on the road.
GAW

No, seriously this one really has me ready to pick the apple and accept the consequences.  How bad can it be?  It's all because my first bike was a Yamaha.

1980 Yamaha XT 500

I have wanted one of these bikes since I first saw them in the 1981 James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only.  The one pictured above is listed on eBay and will end in 2 days time.  Do you think my wife would notice, if I parked it in the corner?  Currently the price is $1200 and the reserve has not been met, so luckily if it sells it will be more than I would be willing to pay.  If all the parts were there and it was just a little better condition...

Some of the evil henchmen rode XT500's of this very color scheme but they had one inch studs in the tires and the turn signals would flip around to become machine guns.  You can see the XT in the upper right of the movie poster.

See you on the road.
GAW

UPDATE 7/2/10:

The final bid was for $1274.  The seller lowered the reserve price on the last day.  $1274 is probably not a bad price, still more than enough to put me in the dog house for the rest of the year.

Bike EXIF

In some intricately spun web of the interwebs I came across this site.  It is well worth checking out, the link below guide you to a beautifully minimulest motorcycle, that I wish was in my garage. 
Yamaha SR500 tracker

My first couple of bikes were Yamaha's and though I don't ride one at the moment I do have deep down compulsion to own one again someday.  A nice SR500, XT500 or a SRX6 would be most satisfying.

See you on the road.

GAW

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