I turned 50 last week and had a bit of a party here at my place last night (Saturday 20th dec). Although the invitations said no gifts I got two good ones.
Firstly, this from my older brother;
1975 Yamaha TY250B. My brother bought this bike new back in 75 and I actually started my open solo trials career riding this bike back in about 1977 or 78, before I turned to riding trials sidecars with the best mate as my passenger. The bike has sat unridden for at least the last 25 years in a variety of sheds and the nephew has had a go at getting it going but lost interest when he found it wasn't going to be an easy job. While talking to the brother on the phone a few weeks ago, he said he was thinking of selling it, and as a bit of a joke, I told him he should just give it to me. So he turns up last night, from Townsville with the bike in the trailer. Now thats brotherly love, not only to come from Townsville QLD to Clare SA for my birthday, but to tow a trailer with an old dirt bike that far.
And, this one from my best mate.
It's a 78 SR500E and its the 2nd time in my hands. Back in about 2000, I bought a trailer load of SR bits from another guy I know, and had the frame, which was bent professionally straightened and rebuilt an engine out of the bit. As the mate, who had an SR years ago, was looking for one to build a caf'e racer, and I already had four at that point in time, I gave it to him. Anyway it has sat around in his shed since then, and a few month ago I said he should give it back to me, if he wasn't going to get his act together and do something with it. So last night it became mine again, with a 5 year cavet, if I haven't made some thing out of it in 5 years I have to give it back to him. So, I thing it will be building a dirt tracker from it (its 500 Yammie number 12 or 13 in the collection, I need to go out to the shed a count how many there are!)
When I get over last night I now have two more toys in the shed to play with.
CJ