OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Bike Talk => Topic started by: firko on October 13, 2007, 09:31:14 am
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At the risk of inciting yet another firestorm, I'll repeat to all that "there are still plenty of bikes out there". Some of them are genuinely interesting bikes as well, like my latest "find", a genuine and rare as shit Cheney Yamaha 360. I first spotted the bike on Mark Holloways Swapmeet site in April and emailed Paul the owner. He got straight back to me, saying that he'd changed his mind and had decided to keep it. "Oh well" thought I and forgot about it until a few days ago when I recieved another email from Paul telling me that he'd had another rethink and had realised that he wouldn't have the time to restore it, so he offered it to me. How much you ask? How about $1500us, the same he was asking in April. It's now on it's way to OZ.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/chyam.jpg)
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Nice buy :) Darcy
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Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
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Firko. I had not seen a Cheney Yamaha, but always wanted to have that 360 engine in a chassis that handled like a Maico. Now I see it had already been done. Very Cool-and great buy.
James
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nA YOU CANT COUNT THAT IT HAS TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY , to fit under " bikes still out their catagory".
Nice bike though.
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nA YOU CANT COUNT THAT IT HAS TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY , to fit under " bikes still out their catagory".
Nice bike though.
Certainly a nice find but I agree with freaky, had you found it IN Australia it would count but since it will be an
import from the "land of plenty" I say no way :P
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The boys have a point firko Im sure you see it. The Good Ol US of A is spoilt for fine machinery. Rickmans and other fine chassis are a dime a dozen.
Still damn nice find and it is a rare bike even n the US.. Look forward to seeing its progress pics.
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I like the NIce gusset work too, would be a very stable frame. And no need to find a pesky YZ airbox either. Are they steel DT rims ???
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While I agree that it is indeed from the USA, who said a bargain bike has to be in this country? My point is that at the price I got the Cheney for was pretty accesible to many folks who are looking for something different in a project. I've had the same access as anybody else to the rare bikes that I've recently bought from the USA so what's wrong with looking outside the circle? I found the Hindall Ducati on eBay with no bids and 15 minutes to go and got it for $1000 and as I described earlier I got the Cheney off Mark Holloways site for a song at $1500.
Freakshow, you can't talk. You've been going on and on about getting a flat tracker and myself and others have pointed you in the direction of a number of cheap bikes or frames in the USA that would cost you three or four times the amount if you could find one here in Australia but you haven't followed up on any of them. I don't bother passing them along any more. By looking outside of the local circle some incredibly cheap bikes can be found. You'd be blown away if you saw some of the bikes that are coming in from Sweden, Denmark and the USA right at this moment, all of them rare race bikes at bargain basement prices.
Pokeys statement that Rickmans and Cheneys are a "dime a dozen" is a little rich. They're still reasonably expensive but they're a hell of a lot cheaper than what you'd pay here but they don't come up as often as you'd think. I know that because Jonsey and myself have been scanning eBay and other sites looking for the rare and unusual bikes or parts for a couple of years .
The point I've tried to make is that there are still plenty of good usable bikes available in Australia, and will there be for a while yet. I'm also pointing out that you can easily look outside of the comfort zone and buy bikes from overseas that you'd have a hell of a time finding here. It's not an elitest thing or is it a rich guy thing. Anybody can do it. With the dollar at a long time high and shipping being cheap and easy these days buying overseas makes sense. I have no intention of this becoming a slagging match as I'm still burning from the last one :P. All I'm doing is demonstrating that there are a shitload of bikes out there if you look outside of the circle.
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i like the way you think firko,
take any basket case, buy a few parts and try and make something of it
and how much have we spent?
and then to refurbish it? how much extra?
honesty here folks...
i think she looks the goods and i really dig them engines too.
the world is open to us all, no limits.
my 360 is a stator rewind off-of goingk!
and looking forward to it.
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Freakshow, you can't talk. You've been going on and on about getting a flat tracker and myself and others have pointed you in the direction of a number of cheap bikes or frames in the USA that would cost you three or four times the amount if you could find one here in Australia but you haven't followed up on any of them. I don't bother passing them along any more.
I cant talk? WTF - what am i talking about now ? im just saying you cant count non Au bikes as that was the winge before " all the good bikes are gone" how does that translate to having a go at me ???
Yes you are correct that there are still bikes out there, i have never said there aint, but NO your very wrong on the other point, How exactly would you know what i have or havent done ?
No offence but the bikes you and the other have shown regarding that post ( where i go on and on and on apparently) are just that other bikes, not one has been worth purchasing - so shoot me. i already have my own US bikes, probally the most historic YZa flat tracker in this country i know of and the other KR framed beast and i still have some over there, you have no idea what i got. Im not simply after bikes - But what im after in this instance is specific, as you would appriciate, i just need to get a joe average for the project i have in mind i would rather get in Aust if someone in the forum has access to one.
I have found all my bikes myself so its a little bit rich from what i feel your saying is im not looking at the stuff your posting, no offence but most of it bar 1 i had already looked into and investigated and the others where simply shit or built for the wrong motors, im prity clear in what i need, what i dont want is another roller frame, for something i wont ever use or is for a motor i dont have and ill be stuffed if ill be modding a nickel frame to take what i do have. I have followed up everything you have posted but NONE were suitable, ( like the US ebay 63 model, i had that thing on the radar the time before you even posted it and knew the motor wasnt a 63 any thing it was a 76 YZ in a shitful frame, its a $1500 junker, did you buy it like you said you were ? :P
nor am i not in the market for the 125 and At1 frames either which was the other champion frames you pointed out, or any other old obscure ones. im not a museum. ::)
I have past up another YZa too recently, because it wasnt what i wanted today, nice bike and all that but for all the rooting around with transport and $$ it would still not be any good for what i want it for. IF im not interested in bike leads you shouldnt be getting the shits up with me because im not jumping on the bikes posted, if they arent right, there not right, so you shouldn't just stop posting them because of that, thats crazy Talk?
Can we focus for one minute --> My point was really the comment on the old "bikes out there" and i stand buy it, yes there are heaps of bikes in the US, but the Wave of comments from the forum etc previously was specifically to availability in AU, and i still stand by that, i never remember it being about global bargin bikes, more so about finding them here in australia, well thats the way i remember the feeling going in the old forum.
I agree with you, there are some great buys overseas, and if your looking for somthing in particular you have a good chance of finding it over there.
Again I agree with you, there are bikes out there, but we all agreed the $500 specials are fewer, but even then again a bargin is in the idividuals eyes and always has been. ( just ask my girlfreind - she still thinks they are old junkers she would give away)
the post stands - bikes out there ment AU, you wont get any arguement that there are bikes out there around the worldwide thats a given.
PS - lay off the freaky. :P
FwIW - this is a bargin too but its not a frame i can use. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220157916328&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=012
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I accept that I may have got it wrong with your flat track bikes and apologise but if you were being so specific you don't say that in your original post. Twin downtube 2 stroke Champion Redline or C&J seems to be all you asked for.
Who said there were rules as to what and where the good finds were? I don't give a flying fork if a bike is in Afganistan of in Adelaide. A good find is a good find and I'd love to know who made it a contest with rules? All I'm doing is showing my new find and explaining that you can get bikes out there be looking ouside of the local circle. You're the one limiting the field. And then you say you're buying bikes from America too. So what are YOU on about?
Why is it that every time I post something like this I end up the forking bad guy? Stick it. I don't know why I bother.
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I dont know why you get upset ? Post the bike ? we like the bike.............
We never said there where rules. A good find is a good find. The only person who has been Pushing the stop whining there are bikes out there post thing has been you ? and when did i every say i wasnt buying o/S ? you ve lost me with that comment. In my original frame post i am testing the water for an 'early 2 stroke 250 yamaha motor A/m frame' thats the simple specifics.
any how lets Focus - we were only going by the spirit of old arguement, I cant give too hoots where the bargins comes from either, but you have to admit your talking about a higher level of bargin here right ? 8)
think about it, the original forums "firestorm" you where giving the point "Normal Bargain bikes where out there still" your average VMXer is after a bargain Yamaha or Kwaka or suzi in a Normal MX trim he can put back on the track, those posts related to finding normal Sub $1500 bikes, whereas that $$ would just cover the O/s shipping on the special stuff. Most of those folks or "newbies as you call us" wouldnt Know a DMR from a KR or a Maicoletta from a 440. we are talking about 2 differtant things here
Some times Firko you read way too much into stuff, got to remember every one is working at differant levels here and nothing ever gets personal. and Who says your the bad guy ???
Why do you bother ? cause at the end of the day you like the rest of us have an opinion and something valuable to Share ;)
thank you for sharing your new 432 bike with us..... ( but i still think it goes in the O/S bargin group ok ) ;D
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-72-Yamaha-RT2MX-RT2-MX-AHRMA-360-before-YZ_W0QQitemZ130161556256QQihZ003QQcategoryZ6718QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Not a Trackmaster, Champion or Cheney, and you likely wouldn't want to pull the engine for a FT project, but still fairly rare, very cool-a great price and in California-i know no title, but maybe it could be broken down-tank wheels etc.?
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This is crazy. All I did was post my new find and once again say there are still plenty of bikes out there. The post on the old forum wasn't about sub $1500 bikes. One bike was a rare OSSA Phantom and the other was a C&J framed XL that were found cheap. If they are sub $1500 bikes you need to have another look at your costing factors.
What I can't understand is people arcing up every time I say that there are plenty of bikes out there. It's true and I'm gobsmacked that people would rather cause an argument ove my wording than agree. Maybe I'm too sensitive and I leave myself open to be wound up, I dunno. Just like in the last thread, I didn't come on here looking for a blue. I came on here happy with my new find, hoping to show it off. As in both threads, others have read something into my posts that genuinely aren't there and weren't intended. Once again, I'm blown away and I'm not going to let this turn into a shitfight like the other thread. I'm out of here.
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firko a good find is a good find ,just out off interest that yammaha that james posted seems to have holes in the swing arm for rear pegs is that right on a mx version.
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good pick paul,
my guess is it's from a DT 'A' 250/360. if thats the case it should measure up the same as the RT2MXer with the footpeg mounts and different chain guide brackets being the only real difference
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Yeah, well spotted Paul. It appears to have a DT250/360 swingarm. Below is a photo of (I think) YZ360As unmolested DT2MX which quite clearly shows no footpeg mounts. Other than the forks, swingarm and shocks the bike appears fairly original. The DT2MX and RT2MX are rapidly becoming the big item for Yamaha collectors. I'm not certain of production numbers but I'd guess that they're near as rare as the YZA models. If I was a Yamaha fan looking for a future classic, not neccasarily a race bike, I'd be buying one of these before the prices reach YZ proportions or more.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/dt2mx.jpg)
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I couldn't agree more about the RT2MX and DT2MX being desirable. I recently got a DT2MX from the US that's currently on the water. Grab them while you can, from anywhere you can.
Firko, I have a feeling that this dope is trying to wind you up for some sport. The Cheney is a great find and your post is totally kosher as far as I'm concerned. Freaky, like usual you are missing the main point being made. I think you can be a bit to abrupt for your own good. A good example is your reply to MaicoJames on the Introductions page. It was rude and unthinking. Firko makes a perfectly valid point that you decide breaks some sort of Freaky rule. Wake up pal.
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That guy seems to build a few bikes and lists them on ebay. Im guessing he buys them and then does them up with what he has in his spare time or as a sideline. HE sold a YZa, MXA and a few other yamahas over time, and although there is something always not right about them they are always well presented.
When i fisrt saw it the only thing that i couldnt get my head around was the front end, but he always writes up a good Sales page, which usually tells you whats going on with it.
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I couldn't agree more about the RT2MX and DT2MX being desirable. I recently got a DT2MX from the US that's currently on the water. Grab them while you can, from anywhere you can.
Firko, I have a feeling that this dope is trying to wind you up for some sport. The Cheney is a great find and your post is totally kosher as far as I'm concerned. Freaky, like usual you are missing the main point being made. I think you can be a bit to abrupt for your own good. A good example is your reply to MaicoJames on the Introductions page. It was rude and unthinking. Firko makes a perfectly valid point that you decide breaks some sort of Freaky rule. Wake up pal.
Ahh it was only a matter of time before some "old schooler weighed in" what are you talking about ? read back the post fool. MY only crime was to say this wasnt in the spirit of the previous "dig at blokes saying the bikes where hard to find. Infact 2 other sane people agreed with me, its no freaky rule, it was the spirit of the old post. You need to look at what this started out as Firko just showing off his bike - the rest of this post diteriated based on opinion nothing more. Infact it was a fair debate, but as always some numnuts always comes in at the end, usually with a hit from another post, that has no relevence to this one and then ramps it up with a personal attack, (im sure maico james took that for what it was, an introduction)
i 'wake up' every morning but im thinking you need to 'grow up'. what a totally stupid post ::)
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That's just so funny Freaky. You're all over the shop mate, contradicting yourself at every turn. I bet the big blokes pissing himself laughing over this. I don't think his cred is in any trouble over this but yours may be open for debate. I'm going to give this a miss from here on. It's not worth the hassle.
Good on you Paul going the hard yards for your dream bike. Sitting at home hoping they will come to you ain't going to cut it is it mate? Two 490 Maicos is a nice little collection. What ever happened to the 80 model 440 you were doing up?
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I SOLD THE 440 AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS TO BUY THESE 2
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C'mon guys, Freaky just made a tongue in cheek comment, the sort of throw away line that if it was in person would have been taken in the spirit it was meant. He was just saying that the old story that good bikes for cheap prices are still out there should only be claimed for bikes in Australia, which is a fair point. He DID also say he thought the Cheney Yammy is a great find, and he did agree that buying OS is a very viable option nowadays. And of course, every one of Firko's points are valid. No big deal, just another example of how this online thing is not always as easy as real life.
All I can say is I wish I had a decent fund of spare cash to use scouring eBay for such great buys. Still, I really LIKE hearing stories about good bikes being found in someone's backyard and being got for a case of beer! I wonder about every farmhouse I pass out in the mulga... don't all those sheds in the backyeard just LOOK like they are full of exotica waiting for you to find them?
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Just to clarify, no offense was taken by me, hell I am a manager-must be thick skin ;D ;D-actually don't take a whole ton of crap these days as I.."am not in a compensatory position to engage in this activity" -how's that for PC? ;D
Anyway, I see the points by everyone, though I missed the DT swingarm( those non Maico bikes all look the same to me), just thought it was cool-very cool to me as an RT2was Dad's first mx bike. When folks split in 72, I got to visit Dad in Louisiana-and he had an RT2 360.
Also, I did not post earlier that, in fact I built up my former 77 AW due to no 75-77 Open bikes being for sale....Well I tried from mid 2002 until mid 2004. I was looking for a decent raceable bike, expecting to pay 2400-4500, and expecting to change tires, shocks, and small preference items. What was I looking for? 76-77 AW400-440 of course, or 76-77 RM370, 76 YZ400, 76-77 Bultaco 370 Pursang, 76-77 KTM/Penton MC5 400, 77-78 Montesa 360VB , or even 76-77 RM250( have one now), 76-77 KTM MC5 250, or 77 Bultaco 250 Pursang (192).
I searched e-bay relentlessly, post wanted on every message board I could find, asked every one I knew-nothing and I mean nothing-zip nada..so I built up my AW(no regrets).
The first race day on the AW, what is for sale at the track, why a very stout, somewhat patinaed 77 RM370-for $1800 looking all the worls like it was 2k away from being a stunner.
Shit happens, period.
I did though pick up my RM250 on Craig's list-happened to see the ad first on a Wed night- It was listed as an 80 RM250, I had to call right then, and talk the guy into letting me pick it up that night( he missed church). When I got there( hauling both my 14 mo old boy and 7 yr old girl)-4 others had called, but he held it for me for an hour..and it is a 76 RM250.
This is the only great find I have had in doing this for 16 yrs( excusing what parts bikes Bultacos I found cheap in 88-90, and let go cheap or gave away). So, I doubt many have a worse "score record" than I.
Freaky, I can keep a lookout for Yamaha parts, but not sure exactly what you are looking for.
I saw the Champion frame in Florida, I guess the mounts are wrong for your application, in which case it is a lot of $ for a frame you have to modify, and then re-nickel. You may not want to modify a Champion frame( and damn that nickel looks decent too), and even if it is right, it looks like the reserve is upwards of $500. I assume from what I have been told that shipping would likely be another $500 or so for a frame. I know of an outfit in Illinois, Framecrafters who builds frames. I think it is near 1500 US. I wonder does GMC or any outfit in OZ build custom frames? Also, what specific two-stroke Yamaha engines?
I am guessing DT, RT, MX, and early YZ(74-75). I do think some DT, and RT engines can be found as they were made in mass, and Yamahas were the most popular Asian bike in my area at the time. Obviously, the early YZ stuff is unobtanium, and even the 73-74 MX 250-360s are seldom sold as "just an old dirt bike".
Firko, one of my friends whom I raced modern with-and vintage owned a few MX360s. We were always looking for aftermarket frames, studying how we could put in a KTM, or Maico chassis. Just never had the luck to find a frame of chassis at the time. Then I found this thing called a Maico-it already handled great, and was lighter ;D ;D
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That's just so funny Freaky. You're all over the shop mate, contradicting yourself at every turn. I bet the big blokes pissing himself laughing over this. I'm going to give this a miss from here on. It's not worth the hassle.
Nope you lost me, i dont see how you even got involved in the first place anyway. the post was dead. But you couldnt help yourself weighing in LATE with sokme piss poor shot at me, and i dont ewven know you ? i suggest you grow up and spend less time typing and more time Re read the post from the start, which you obviously didnt, maybe then you will pull your head in and act like man not a boy. Kapish ?.
me, nathan and Firko seem to have these debates all the time, you dont see any of us chuking a spas and getting all wound up. The post is dead. leave it alone FFS.
Dont make me come back in here.
P.S Maico james - ill drop you a PM some time, seems its safer than getting the girls upset here. it was really more to do with are you interested in offering advise if you where near a unit or had inside info on cheaper cross state transporter ? you live there it was more a locals perspective on if we are going about this the right way, ill keep you posted later. cheers mate .
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James. The Yamaha engine is a good thing, in fact I think it's a better motor than the 250 Maico. My mate Peter Rowland who coincidentally built the Bultaco Astro for his daughter Kristy that's featured in the latest VMX, built a 250 Yamaha powered Maico back in the early nineties. It's quite a formidable weapon and features a lot of tricky home built parts, as usual with all of Petes projects. In the crappy photo below it's in dirt track trim although Pete sometimes uses it for motocross as well.
(http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-8/1062154/[email protected])
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Nice pipe. got a lot of belly on it. heck actually a nice bike.
Is that a normal yz head ?
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Highly cool....yes the Yamaha 250 is the 250-much more transfer area tha a radial Maico.
Thanks for the pic of that bike-very cool. I wonder how well that Cheney Yamaha 360 will handle-I bet is's a blast. For a fat boy like me the Yamaha is a favorite 250 engine, along with the 74-79 KTM 250 engine. I am hoping my 76 RM 250 is a screamer too.
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That's correct Oldschool, it's a 74 250 mx engine with some serious work done to it. The outer cases are indeed from a later engine, not sure of the model. Pete is an Aussie but he works in Ohio running a big paint factory for its Aussie owners. He get's back here fairly regularly, in fact he was in the Kevlar Kompound at CD4. The Yamaco, as it's known, is a work of art and so are the rest of his bikes. So true James about those great Yamaha engines. I've got a real soft spot for them and have raced a couple in the early years. They respond really well to sensible porting, modern reeds, a nice tapered header fat pipe and methanol. If you know your shit you can add 10hp to them pretty easily. They're a much better base engine than a Maico 250 or even an Elsinore motor.
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Struth, what happened here? ??? ??? ??? Move on, nothing to see...
Anyway, How does one go about getting a bike from the Ewe Ess Aigh to Oz? How many times have we all salivated at the bikes sold or not even bid on at FleaBay? I felt like lying on the floor and stabbing knitting needles in my eye in despondency when a 1982 cr250 husky went for 1100 bucks USD.
Where is the best place to start enquiries? Has this been covered in another thread?
FBC
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Bloody top find FIRKO.
This will come up a real treat.
And good buy the way the dollar is.
I don't care where they come from I admire that you get off your arse and go for it and go out of your way even if they are in the Usa.
Good things come to those who wait.
Hey I have to check out those Yammie wheels for you aswell.
I just getting over a Huge 5 days at Phillip Island. Go Casey Go.
Also Cheneys are rare I don't care where thay are in the world thay are forkin RARE AS.
Cya Adam
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Thanks a lot Adam. The Cheney sure is a rarity. I'm going to use the trick GYT RT1 engine that was intended for my #1 Hindall. That frame now goes onto the reserve bench while I do the Cheney and the Ducati Hindall. I managed to get another ACK head, this one for the DT1 engine that's going back into the DT1 from Hell. Don't worry about the Yam wheels right now, they've been put on the backburner because I'm going to use Rickman hubs on both bikes. I'm looking for a DT2MX/RT2MX pipe though, if you or anyone else has got one.