The One That Got Away :'(
Bugger...I missed out on it. This is the classic example of the one that got away. I was told of this bike on Sunday, given the guys phone # but didn't call him until after my BBQ guests had left after the Bathurst race had ended. I spoke to him, he told me that there was a "half hearted" bid in for $1000 from a mate (
or his bro, I didn't quite hear him) but he didn't think he would go through with it. To sweeten my chances I offered "$1200 or $200 more than the next best offer" to which he replied that he liked that and reckoned I'd probably end up with it.
Well, that didn't happen. I got a call from him at 8am this morning to tell me that his mate had decided to take the bike as as he had first dibs it was only fair that he got first shot. The cynic in me thinks that some do gooder got to him with one of those "
Youre selling it too cheap". Keep an eye on eBay to see if I'm right.
The owner seems a really nice bloke who had no idea of vintage MX as he's just come back from 20 years in Canada. He'd moved back into his mums and was selling up his old bikes to "raise a quid" after a messy divorce. The bike had been in his possession for "as long as he could remember" and came with a couple of piston kits, a bunch of NOS engine spares and gaskets and he'd fitted new tyres because the originals had rotted. The bike was a runner and apparently only needed a throttle, new handlebars and a good clean up.
A month ago I was offered a one owner MX400B in great nick for $1000 and fellow good 'ol boy Yamaico is now the proud owner. Then came this YZ so if it's true that things come in threes, there might be another bargain around the next corner. I live in hope.
Below: The missed YZ250-B in its glory. I reckon it's a 4-5k bike, purely on its condition which is apparently much better than the photos (taken with a phone) show.