Newest addition to my motorbike family
 

I worked out a deal with a very nice fellow Pelican (he'll reveal his identity if he wants to) on a Yamaha TA125. The first part of the bike has arrived - other parts are on their way. Initially, I was going to do a full restoration, but the more I look at the tank and tail, the more I appreciate the race history and the non-perfect nature of it as a race bike. I'm sure this little thing has seen some great action. So, I think I'll leave them alone. I'll order a new fairing from AirTech (these bikes didn't ship with a fairing from Yamaha when new), and I'll have it pro painted in period correct colors.

A buddy and I have been talking about taking it to the big AHRMA Historic race in October at Barber later this year. I guess we're getting old if we're talking about Vintage racing!

Here is the bike as it arrived a few days ago. My lovely wife has agreed to give me a space inside our Montana shack to work on it as pieces start arriving. Looking forward to this project.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1454688442.jpg

It'll look like this when finished.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1454688570.jpg

Great addition to the collection! I plan on being down at Barber this year. Let me know if you end up going.

I'll be at Barber this spring for a trackday, and if I don't do the GNF, I may head down for the Vintage Days.

Just wow...

I live only about 2 hours from Barber. Can't think of a better excuse to pay a visit than a Pelican gathering for some vintage bike racing. If it comes together, count me in.

The "finished" will look great! Makes me want to get a bike again, a small bike.

Beautiful machine.....good to see it going to someone who will care for it and keep it for posterity. We all had Yams in high school in the early 70's but none of us had one of these!

SWEET!

Its a plan!

More parts have arrived. Not pictured are forks and exhaust. I'm going to do a bit of work on them with respect to paint before they find their way onto the bike. I have a nice little workspace in the house claimed. Wheels are coming next week.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1455057192.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1455057243.jpg

Good use for a chafing pan. lol

Nice workspace!

I'm glad my wife keeps me in line with this stuff. No telling what the house would look like, otherwise. She did make me swap out the Bostrom 998S for another bike by our bedroom, though, because it reeked of fuel. Women.

that is such a cool bike!

I like the OG paint

RD?

We'll, my wife is glad that it is gone. Me, not so much ;)

The project stalled on me because after stripping and repainting the frame, and cleaning up some of the other parts that had been sprayed multi colours to look like a box of chicklets, I wrestled with the same decision that motion is up against.

I wanted to paint it like his sample picture so badly, but every time I put the tank and seat on the bike the bike's history called to me and I couldn't do it.

It was the last one in my collection (125, 250, 500, spread across three eras)

I've been trying to convince myself that I no longer need to collect things and just focus on using my 911 instead. I find with it when I put a wheel off in the dirt I don't tend to smack my head on the ground as much

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1455127119.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1455127132.jpg

P.S.
I'm having second thoughts on shipping the wheels until we can work out some details on an arrive and drive program. You need a rider with patina. Someone as old and banged up as that bike to do it justice at that vintage event.;)

...ok, ok, I'm heading to the garage to get my skill saw and some plywood.:(