To be more specific, her1986 Yamaha SRX600 single, which she rode at Brainerd International Raceway near Brainerd, Minnesota for the '88, '89, and '90 seasons. She rode it in the Central Roadracing Association's Ultralight Class.
After the 1990 season, she stopped racing and in 1991, she sold the bike to an acquaintance of my older brother in St. Paul, and except for reports from him that he would occasionally see the bike tearing up and down Lyndale Avenue in South Minneapolis on its rear wheel, that was the last we knew of it.
Until today.
My brother still stays in touch with 'Eric', who bought the bike from my wife three decades ago this year, he still owns the Yamaha, and it is currently sitting in a barn near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, about 535 miles away.
'Eric' is willing to sell her former race bike back to us if we would like to have it back. It has been neglected for some years, and we would expect to put quite a bit of work and money into getting it back on the road, but the appeal in having it in our garage again is undeniable. I think his price is...ok?, but the bike does hold a special place with us, so I'd be more than willing to buy it back for what he's asking.
Although produced until 1997 in Japan, as both a 400 and 600, it was only sold in the US for one year, 1986, so finding many parts for it would be a challenge.
The owner of the BMW/Yamaha/Suzuki dealership up in Sturgis, loves these old singles, collects various old Japanese machines from this period, and would be very helpful in getting it back in the road, which is a BIG help in dealing with this sort of thing.
Nothing has been definitely decided yet, but my vote is to get the bike back.
After the 1990 season, she stopped racing and in 1991, she sold the bike to an acquaintance of my older brother in St. Paul, and except for reports from him that he would occasionally see the bike tearing up and down Lyndale Avenue in South Minneapolis on its rear wheel, that was the last we knew of it.
Until today.
My brother still stays in touch with 'Eric', who bought the bike from my wife three decades ago this year, he still owns the Yamaha, and it is currently sitting in a barn near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, about 535 miles away.
'Eric' is willing to sell her former race bike back to us if we would like to have it back. It has been neglected for some years, and we would expect to put quite a bit of work and money into getting it back on the road, but the appeal in having it in our garage again is undeniable. I think his price is...ok?, but the bike does hold a special place with us, so I'd be more than willing to buy it back for what he's asking.
Although produced until 1997 in Japan, as both a 400 and 600, it was only sold in the US for one year, 1986, so finding many parts for it would be a challenge.
The owner of the BMW/Yamaha/Suzuki dealership up in Sturgis, loves these old singles, collects various old Japanese machines from this period, and would be very helpful in getting it back in the road, which is a BIG help in dealing with this sort of thing.
Nothing has been definitely decided yet, but my vote is to get the bike back.
