This Yamaha was "rescued"
at the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival in 2006 for the sum of
$1,200. "Rescued" meaning that we found it at a booth and went
back to look at it later to make the purchase, only to find it
had been sold to another person. This said person was also a
vendor and we saw the bike again later in the day, at which time
the vendor told us he was going to "cut it up and make it into a
racing bike!" Not wanting to let this happen, it found its way
to Green Bay!
Ken Naef of Naef Cycle
handled the ground-up restoration, completed in July of 2009.
Chroming was sent out to Custom Plating Specialist and Terry
Meetz. Painting was also farmed out. Mikes XS, Speed and Sport
Yamaha, Rick Brett, and a number of other sources were helpful
in finding the necessary parts. Spence Industries handled the
powder coating. Visions Upholstery redid the seat. Foreign
Speedo handled the gauge repairs. Look for a future article in
the VJEMC Scrambler online magazine (accessible to VJEMC
members only!) about the project from start to finish!
The bike runs flawlessly
and on the first 20 mile ride, 4 different people on motorcycles
gave it the "thumbs up!" A $1,200 wreck is now a $10,000
showpiece! And it got 56 miles to the gallon on the first tank
of gas! Kudos to Ken and everyone involved!
