So now it's nearing the end of February and I've been out in the garage working . After the fiasco with my wife's car I was left out of funds to go travel with this coming summer .I used it all on her car and keeping us going while it was being fixed.During that time I just burned thru my savings and with no work happening I decided I need to get some bikes together to sell and build up the Arizona fund .So with this in mind I went out into the shop and dove into this bike , a 1966 Yamaha YM1 305 cc 2 stroke twin.
I bought this fine machine way back in 1988 when I was 39 years old ! She was rough but complete and I set out to bring her back to life.I wanted a replica of the bike I crossed the country on back in 1969 when I was 20 but couldn't find one so I settled on this.It was close , a year newer,a 305 rather than a 250 cc , blue rather than red but it was cool and the price was right.This bike set off a whole chain of events that are still going on in my life.It brought me into the world of motorcycle restoration .I dove in and got her running . Called Yamaha International out in LA and they laughed at me and told me to buy a new Yamaha then handed me off to their PR person.She told me about this guy she heard about in PA named Keith Baker.He goes around buying up old parts for these kinds of bikes and here is his phone number.Well this opened the door.He told me about the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club and an event he was hosting that was billed as their national meet. I joined,went to the meet and bought all sorts of parts,two parts bikes,and met all sorts of people.That club was good and I became very active.I ended up in the management after a while and then the politics of it got ugly and I moved on but that was 10 years down the road and after I had made all sorts of friends and connections.The White Rose Japanese Meet I go to grew out of this first little show Keith put on. Been going to that for 30 years now ! So,this was the bike that led me down the rabbit hole into vintage bike wonderland. As time went on I did get the bike I first set out looking for,that was in 1990 and I also found many others.Parts rained down on me and now at this end of life it's time to put some of this good fortune to work for me. I decided to put the original motor back into this bike and sell her.You see, I pulled it out to save it for just this time.I had a good spare so I used it all these years.This post is about getting her prepped for selling and now I'm in the end stages of this job.
After giving the crank new seals I honed the cylinders , gave the pistons new rings,wrist pins and clips ,fitted new gaskets and had a good top end on the original motor. Painted up the outer engine cases and installed the motor in the frame. There was nothing wrong with the spare motor so she sits waiting for another project to power.I just wanted to bring this bike back to original with the matching numbers on the engine and the frame.I always prefer to have them match when possible.
Yesterday I got the oil pump installed in the clutch cover and mounted it on the engine,hooked up the feed and delivery lines,the clutch cable , and did the oil pump bleed . At the end of the day I painted the side cover for the generator side and this morning I shot the clear coat on it. Today I'll hook up the carbs and get them all adjusted properly .The timing is all set,I just have to do some little things like the carbs,exhaust,gas tank ,and seat and she's ready to run again.I'll also do a complete polishing and cleaning before the test rides begin.Then she's on the market for $5200 dollars and I move forward to this one.
This bike is basically finished.She had something fall on her in the garage and the battery side cover got damaged so I have to paint up another one . Then it's just gas her up and fire her for the first time. This one is also getting sold , price to be determined . The Blue YM1 has come a long way since she entered my life in 1988.This is what she looked like when I first brought her home.
This is what she looked like after I first restored her.I had to learn how to paint before I could do this bike . I also had to get the equipment .I went for the HVLP turbine system and never regretted that decision . I painted so many motorcycles and cars using it and here I an 30 years down the road still using it. I shot the orange bike above with it.That was my very first proper motorcycle paint job. By the time I shot the blue one I had already painted many motorcycles for guys from all over the country.They used to ship me the parts and I'd send them back in like new condition.This was practice for me to get ready to restore my 1965 Barracuda pictured here.I painted this car,did all the body work too and all the mechanical stuff as well. I'm a motorhead !
The YM1 after the restoration. This was my very first restoration !
The Barracuda !
So,there will be one more bike being built for sale as well this Spring.I have this 1970 Yamaha R5 350cc 2 stroke twin I bought way back in the early 90's sometime . The frame is all painted,the parts are all gathered ,and she waits as I get this blue YM1 and this orange DS6C completed .If all goes well and I get these three bikes sold.I'll be able to go on that trip out west on my 1988 BMW K 100 RS and my house in the desert fund will be back in good shape .It's a fucking dance but somehow it makes sense in my mind anyway.Well,time is marching on so this is being declared FINISHED ! Time to head out into the garage and build a bike.
An Update November 2019 :
The YM1 fix up went well.I got her up and running .Put it on Craigslist but there is really no action there for anything nice.The only bikes that sell there are cheap shit or new stuff. So,I still have her in my garage , running ,all legal ,and used. Haven't gotten to the Orange DS6C to finish it or the 70 R5 , life got in the way . Perhaps this winter ( 2019 - 2020 ) I will make progress and come spring I will get some bikes sold. Had much to do up at my camp in the Adirondacks and the BMW & the Moto Guzzi both needed major servicing .It's all behind me now so keeping my fingers crossed that this winter and spring will be productive and profitable so we can get the hell out of New York . I just want to get out to Arizona and RIDE !
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