1977 Yamaha IT250
As a kid, I loved Yamahas - they were my favorite bikes. I learned to ride on my mom's 1966 Yamaha YL1-90. My father owned a new 1968 DT250 and a 1970 RT1-360MX - the first real Japanese motocross bike. So, when I find a nice, vintage Yamaha, I have a hard time turning it away.
A few years back, my brother served as the president of the Florida Trail Riders Association. He wanted me to join him racing in the vintage class. About the same time I ran across a nice pair of one-owner ITs. I thought the IT250 would be great for restarting my racing career (ha!) and I planned on giving my sons the other bike.
So this rebuild wasn't a restoration, more like a much needed, 40-year-old race-prep. I didn't care about the cosmetic flaws, but the bike had to run and ride like new - and it did. Wisely, I decided to leave my racing days behind and I sold the bike to another old fart who wanted to make his AHRMA enduro debut.
Still, the ITs were wonderful bikes that were, at the time, the best competition the Europeans had seen in the enduro world. I did have a chance to ride the bike pretty hard and it wasn't all that bad for a bike that was built when gasoline in my hometown was selling for 50 cents a gallon.
A few years back, my brother served as the president of the Florida Trail Riders Association. He wanted me to join him racing in the vintage class. About the same time I ran across a nice pair of one-owner ITs. I thought the IT250 would be great for restarting my racing career (ha!) and I planned on giving my sons the other bike.
So this rebuild wasn't a restoration, more like a much needed, 40-year-old race-prep. I didn't care about the cosmetic flaws, but the bike had to run and ride like new - and it did. Wisely, I decided to leave my racing days behind and I sold the bike to another old fart who wanted to make his AHRMA enduro debut.
Still, the ITs were wonderful bikes that were, at the time, the best competition the Europeans had seen in the enduro world. I did have a chance to ride the bike pretty hard and it wasn't all that bad for a bike that was built when gasoline in my hometown was selling for 50 cents a gallon.
