Finished my last '81. Yamahas are done

MarteV wrote:

Bought the first one (250) over twenty years ago from a friend's brother that had been a local bike all its life.  A little bit after...

Bought the first one (250) over twenty years ago from a friend's brother that had been a local bike all its life.  A little bit after - came across the 60 and got it to have a big/little brother combo.  Around covid time, got the itch to do a bike project and came across the 125 that was in sad shape and proceeded to bring it back and things kind of snowballed from there.  Thought I'd like to to have the yz family lineup for the 81 year and started watching for others to come up.  It's been about 4 years of picking away finding bikes, parts etc and restoring them.  Finished the last restoration this year and they're done.  All have fresh bottom ends, top ends, clutches, carb rebuilds, bearings, tires, and so on.  Most of the plastics are original yamaha that I restored with some aftermarket where I couldn't find o.e.

bonseff wrote:

Holy smokes! Elaborate on the journey, how long to find em and build them? What an accomplishment!

MarteV wrote:

Bought the first one (250) over twenty years ago from a friend's brother that had been a local bike all its life.  A little bit after...

Bought the first one (250) over twenty years ago from a friend's brother that had been a local bike all its life.  A little bit after - came across the 60 and got it to have a big/little brother combo.  Around covid time, got the itch to do a bike project and came across the 125 that was in sad shape and proceeded to bring it back and things kind of snowballed from there.  Thought I'd like to to have the yz family lineup for the 81 year and started watching for others to come up.  It's been about 4 years of picking away finding bikes, parts etc and restoring them.  Finished the last restoration this year and they're done.  All have fresh bottom ends, top ends, clutches, carb rebuilds, bearings, tires, and so on.  Most of the plastics are original yamaha that I restored with some aftermarket where I couldn't find o.e.

bonseff wrote:

Holy smokes! Elaborate on the journey, how long to find em and build them? What an accomplishment!

MarteV wrote:

Bought the first one (250) over twenty years ago from a friend's brother that had been a local bike all its life.  A little bit after...

Bought the first one (250) over twenty years ago from a friend's brother that had been a local bike all its life.  A little bit after - came across the 60 and got it to have a big/little brother combo.  Around covid time, got the itch to do a bike project and came across the 125 that was in sad shape and proceeded to bring it back and things kind of snowballed from there.  Thought I'd like to to have the yz family lineup for the 81 year and started watching for others to come up.  It's been about 4 years of picking away finding bikes, parts etc and restoring them.  Finished the last restoration this year and they're done.  All have fresh bottom ends, top ends, clutches, carb rebuilds, bearings, tires, and so on.  Most of the plastics are original yamaha that I restored with some aftermarket where I couldn't find o.e.

bonseff wrote:

Thanks for the story. I feel you on the bug, currently have the 1996 CR 80, 125, and 250 in the garage. 

TooOld4WFO wrote:

Insanely ambitious. Great effort. Outstanding job on the image taking.I added some of my non abundant photo edit skills to try and make the gold rims...

Insanely ambitious. Great effort. Outstanding job on the image taking.

I added some of my non abundant photo edit skills to try and make the gold rims pop…

Seriously you have done an amazing series of restores. Few are willing to go down that road. Bikes from the 80’s are so very difficult to find parts for. 
Most anyone can feel and see the passion you so obviously have …. Thank you for sharing.

MarteV wrote:

Can't take credit for the image taking.  Had someone who knows what they're doing take the pictures.  These are the first proof, low resolution, unedited photos