cowpuc

If you owned one - please tell us a story about it!!! Our leader, Mr. Freebird, posted a recent thread asking to share about all the Yamaha's we have owned in the past (thanks Don, GREAT idea!!) - a bunch of us have been having a BLAST over on that thread - here is a link to it in case you missed it: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?117643-What-Yamaha-bikes-have-you-owned In that thread - @videoarizona, one of our members, wrote a short story about riding his AWESOME 1969 twin cylinder 250 Yam Street Scrambler back in the day - wayy cool.. While posting some pics of brochures of Yams from back in the day in that thread something occurred to me.. I said to myself: "why not start a thread with a pic of a an old scoot from my childhood brochures and see if one of you lop eared varmints actually owned one and could tell a story about it".. Also,, if you have a picture of bike that you have never owned and would like to hear first hand stories of what it would have been like to own one - feel free to post up a picture! Sound like fun? Since our Bossman's thread is all about Yamaha's - I think we should stay away from overlapping his thread and start off with something different,,, lets begin the journey with:

Right there with ya brother!! Personally, I would LOVE to have that 250 that you posted to just that David - WOWSERS would THAT be a BLAST!! :lightbulb:Just had an idea,, hope the Boss dont nail me for plagiarism or somethng but I think I will start a thread in the Water Hole,,, gonna snap a pic of one of these old scoots at a time and ask anyone who rode a bike like the picture to tell us a story like you did about your 250! I LOVE reading about others experiences from days gone by.. What do think? Should I blame it on you in case there are reprecussions for doing so?

,,, would you look at that @videoarizona David,,, look in the specs for your 250 under "performance" - never ever did see this before that I recall - Yamaha actually gives "Piston Speed" of 2615 FT/Min at 8 grand.. I have never seen Piston Speed stated before,,,,, ,,,, amazing!!

Found some of mine too...

OUTSTANDING!!!:dancefool::dancefool::clap2::clap2: ,,, just noticed something,,,, reading thru that story and noticed the 1/4 mile diggins for that lil ol 250 screamer,,,,, those numbers are pretty close to some modern V-Twin scoot times that have 5 times the displacement ,, check out the "list" price,,,, $655 bucks,,,

Hey @Trader,, sorry I missed this one... As long as you wiped off all the 2nd Gen oils and stuff, cleaned the new pin holder up really well with carb cleaner and then covered it with drain oil from the 1st Gen before you installed the sequencer all the while singing "You And Me Against The World" softly to that 1st Gen you should be ok...

Oh,, almost missed it,, you are more than welcome for the kind words David - I calls em as I see's em:thumbsup:

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about brother - YEEEEEHAWWWW!! So what year of scoot and what year/era were you riding that sweetheart around on the back wheel David? My pea brain is still stuck in the late 60's when a young gear head would actually see bikes like that ripping around - some amazing times back then.. I was one strange character back then (thankfully I grew out of it),, seems like all the normal kids were into collecting base ball cards and I was into going around to all the bike shops and collecting bike brochures.. ,,,, ,,, just dawned on me,,, I aint looked at my childhood bike brochures for many a moon.. Think I will meander downstairs and see if I can find my old collection... If I can find them I think I will snap some:photographing:'s of the Yamaha brochures and see if I can the Bosses thread here - that should make him ....

Now THERE is a lop eared hot dog eatin varmint who know's his road grub!!:clap2::dancefool: Thanks for the vote of confidence @Drews! Just thinking brother,, today's top food list on VR may very well be tomorrow's top food list of the world

I was always partial to those early model twin cylinder scramblers David.. They had the looks that made me and ohhhh that sweet sound of rat tat tat - especially at an idle - I could sit and listen to one idle for hours.. Seems like,, and I am just recalling from a memory that is only so so at best, the 125's of that model had some vertical chrome up right air cleaners so yours was probably not a 125? Jugs dont look big enough to be the 305/350 model.. Also seems like mom Yam made a 180 and/or a 200 model so I am gonna guess your's was a 200cc?? Either way,,, that one REALLY caught my eye - purdy scoot brother:bowdown:!!

This stuff does have something to do with your Genes Mike but not those kinda jeans:doh:... All started with a tiny little BB sized knot on my pinky right below the second knuckle on my right hand and progressed from there - closed that puppy right up.. Supposedly its hereditary so you probably dont have to worry to much about catching it when ya get older, wiser and better looking like me unless it runs in your family... Now stop staring at your hands and go play on your Honda!!

Hi Chaplain! Doing ok brother, healing up little by little - by the grace of God I should be ready to twist a throttle and chase down a Hot Dog or two by summer.. About another month or so and I will probably be in to get my south paw worked on - its not as bad as this one was with the disease so they probably wont have knife me up as bad - PRAISE GOD!! Your wife totaled her car? Glad to hear she is ok my friend - that stuff can be nasty - glad to hear the Lord brought her through it all safely! Please tell her she has our thoughts and prayers while looking for a replacement vehicle. Tips doing well and says howdy.. She has been taking really good care of us both - loves the Lord and loves me too,,, she's a keeper that Tip! Right back at cha on the Gambates and the Kudasai's brother!! Got to do it Chaplain cause we both know that the Son is shining His light on our paths! Love ya Dusty! Puc

Got it Trbl - thanks. After I read a little about them it dawned on me, I bumped into a number of those Star riders out in Oregon a couple years ago.. Fun bunch of varmints. One of them was a VIP with the organization, like a Chapter President or something.. Thinking it was her who had one of the prettiest Roadies I have ever seen - she had that puppy alllll dolled up!! Thinking that crazy @LoneEagle invited a few of em to attend the Rally to protect himself from getting picked on or to help him find his way to The Dalles... Yea,, that would be a BLAST to head to Cinci just to see all the bikes and make a few more new friends.. Good thread Trbl, thanks for the info!

:178:Dogbones:178: I didn't see nothin about no dogbones Steve,,,, care to repeat yourself and enlighten us?

anxious

,,, this sounds like fun Bossman!! Off the top of me head,,, lets see,,,,, my very first adventure onto a Motocross track was back in 69 and it was on board a 1968 Yamaha DT1 - good ol 250 Enduro that I had tramatized to the point that it thought it was a true MX bike - took a hard earned 2nd place on that ugly White DT and was hooked on MX.. I stayed "Yam" for my racing needs by converting a couple more DT's before I bought a brand new Honda CR250M Elsinore in 1973 from the dealership that I worked at. Had a 68 350 Grand Prix, a couple RD350's and an RD250 (still in basement). Bought a brand new Yamaha TY250 trials bike in 1974, was a little hard on it - broke the frame jumping it, traded it even up for a pretty little green 1973 DT250. Had a Blue 73 Yamaha TX650 that I rode out west a number of times back in the mid 70's - chopped that one out with an aftermarket Amen frame and Springer forks. Bought a brand new red Yam 650 Special in 1978 - won a brand new left over Harley Low Rider on a job site the following year and sold the Special to a friend. Picked up a 81 XS1100 the year after we got married.. Tip started popping out kids and then things really got out of hand cause I had to start thinking touring sized bikes PLUS, dirt bikes, minibikes, quads and all that stuff so they (the kids) could ride with me on the big bike plus have bikes of their own - tough job being a good Dad and keeping up with 4 kids.. Had several Mini-Enduro's, a 1970 Maverick (Yamaha) Mini Trail, a PW50, a YZ50, 3 - Big Wheel 80's, a TY80 mini-trials bike, a 125 Enduro, a Big Wheel 350 (fun bike), a couple Banshee's (liquid cooled RD350 motors), a pair of TTR225's, 2 - yellow Chappy's, a pair of Zuma mopeds (ever ride one? like a moped with a YZ motor - braaap), 2 XT350's, a couple YZ80's, an 87 YZ250, an XT600 and an 88 350 Warrior (quad) that my youngest daugher nicknamed "Herc" short for Hercules.. That era was also the beginning of my adventures with the Ventures.. Picked up a Blonde MK1 Royale in 87 out of an estate sale with a bad stator. Kids named it Big Girl, shortened to B.G. - shortended to "Beeg".. Kids and I rode Beeg out to terminal end and 3 other MK1's the same during the years before I picked up Tweeks a few years ago.. You can still see the original side covers off "Beeg" on Tweeks sides if ya look close enough (gotta look around the stickers). Those side covers (NOT TWEEKS) have over 1 million miles of our riding on them!! Oh,, almost forgot Crud - my V-Max.. He is my second V-Max,,, cant forget Crud,,, almost forgot Crud!!! Whoaa,,,, was looking for pics and ran across this video of my Daughter riding one of my Zuma's while she was home from college years ago... Probably pretty boring for all you fast paced lop eared varmints BUT - skip to 2:45 in the vid and watch what happens at about 2:50ish....

Possibly, quite possibly, cause I have been looking at 2nd Gens and............. :stirthepot::witch_brew::stickpoke:

"ROAD HAZZARD",,,,, something caught my eye about those two words ROAD HAZZARD:scratchchin: :lightbulb:Sky,, you may have just inadvertently named my next scoot for me,,,,, think I may just name her "Hazzy" ...

Oh,, just noticed your youngestes awesome in that picture!!! PLEASE tell her Puc and Tip bid a healthy right back that offspring of yours!! Nothing better on this planet than seeing a Dad and his kidlet out enjoying the open road like the two of you are doing brother - wayyyy cool and CONGRATS!!

STICKER,, DID SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING ABOUT A STICKER? DID SOMEONE SAY SOMETHING ABOUT A STICKER ON A MOTORCYCLE? :clap2::clap2::dancefool::dancefool: BEAUUUTEEEEFUL PIC AND STORY AZ - JUST GORGEOUS MY FRIEND!! YA DONE MADE MY DAY!! THANK YOU PUC

That Zag,, he be speakin my thoughts to a tee!! After reading time after time on here about people getting 8, 10, 15 even 20k out of a rear tire on their scoot I had long ago come to the conclusion that I had picked up a tire eating Gremlin somewhere in life.. I have tried pretty much all brands and configurations of tires thru the years and have yet to have one reach even 8k - that includes some fairly pricey name branders.. An example is the super high mileage (and rather expensive) Michelin that is on the back of Tweeks right now.. Came about it honestly, traveling and noticed the rear tire was getting down there - stopped at a bike shop, guy had Dunny 404's for 130 bucks, also had the Michelin on sale for 170.. Told him of my experience with 404's = 4kish per tire. He sold me on the design of the Michelin being one of of super high mileage - figured what da heck what da hay - worth a shot. After purchasing it and getting ready to head to the parking lot to put it on, the guy mentioned being careful in the twisties with the Michelin cause it was "harder rubber" that added the mileage and it may not be as good in the corners as the softer rubber 404's would be.. 6k later and the Michelin is done.. The above is just a current example.. Going all the way back into the 70's, riding my HD Shovel Low Rider from Michigan to the West Coast. Brand new Good Year Eagles on the scoot just before I pulled out.. While strapping my tent back onto the sissy bar in a place called Big Bear California I noticed my rear tire was down to wear bars. Got to Ventura California and had a rear blow out - rode the flat out to a stop - looked down and found I had rode it till the cords was showing and it went poof.. That incident started me on a "one rear tire to the coast and one rear tire to get me back to Michigan" lifetime routine and may very well be where/when I picked up that nasty tire eating Gremlin.. The End

EXACTLY!!!!:clap2::dancefool::big-grin-emoticon: As my dear friend @StarFan Jonas from Iceland would say: WE DA MAN!!!! :scared:,,,,,,,, THAT'S IT JOE!!:thumbsup:,,, gotta tell you brother,,, if you EVER get up that way you gotta check that joint out - that place was AWESOME way back then - I can only imagine what it is now!! ,, probably best to see if we got any VR members who live up that way that could verify that before ya set sail from the suthen states and chase the front wheel in that derection.. what am saying ya lop eared varmint,,, our house is right on the way up there,,, you folks could make a double dip of the trip and stop here first - I KNOW we have the BEST Hot Dogs anywhere in the country that I would LOVE to introduce you to!!:guitarist 2::beer: Or,, if your gonna play that "I'm skeerd and shy" card on us Roller,,, you could PM me your story and I would gladly copy/paste it in the Watering Hole for you brother!!! I aint skeerd of these varmints,,, I may be a little shy but I sure aint skeerd..

This thread brings about some pretty fond memories of a debate I had with a buddy of mine after a long day of riding.. We were sitting by a camp fire in the U. P. of Michigan, swatting skeeters and trying to burn a couple Hot Dogs before we climbed into our tents. My buddy mentioned to me that I had a tendency of riding a little above the speed limit and asked if I was concerned about getting a ticket for doing so.. I told him that most Cops wouldn't write for up to 5 MPH over the speed limit if you were driving a car and that they double that buffer zone for us motorcycles - allowing us bikers to safely travel 10 MPH over.. He basically called me out on that one.. We sat there arguing the point when I had a epiphany.. I told him that I KNEW I could get caught on Radar by a Police Officer going at least 10 MPH over the speed limit and I would not get a ticket, he disagreed (like I knew he would) and we made a bet - I would purposely speed the next time we saw a Cop running Radar - if I got a ticket, I bought dinner at a place of his choice - if I didnt, he bought dinner at a place of my choice.. I could see "STEAK" written all over my buddies face as he grinned and crawled into his little nylon tent that night.. Next day, while headed toward Pictured Rocks on Lake Superior, we both noticed a Michigan State Police running radar on the road we were traveling.. My buddy gave me the strangest look when I pulled into the parking lot where the Trooper was sitting.. I pulled up next to the officers squad car and said - "I just put new tires on this thing and wondered if you check me with your Radar so I can see how close my Speedo is".. Nice guy,,, he says sure why not.. It was a pretty dead area with not much traffic,, my buddy sat there in the parking with his mouth hanging open when I went flying by doing a good 15 MPH over the speed limit.. Went back to the Troopers car, he shook his head and said yea - that thing is way out of wack,, I had you at 16 over - you really need to have that thing looked at.. I told the officer thank you, got on my bike and headed for a place called "The Dog Patch" in Munising Michigan (was a LONG time ago - no idea if its still there - was a REALLY cool place though) that I had heard about earlier in the trip... Good thread,, THANKS for the great memories you guys!!

You know what you guys,,, it is entirely possible that folks all over the planet have heard of VR and it's dynamite group of lop eared varmints who help each other out with their problems, have great get together's and LOVE to ride all kinds of different motorcycles while touring the country.. The word may have gotten out that our VentureRider.org Motorcycle Club is the best bike club known to man with members who love to tease each other and laugh together but when the going gets rough, we are always there for each other.. It is entirely possible that, with Spring just coming on, a large Global group of people heard the news and happen to pick last night to stop by and check us out. I sure hope that is the case because there were a LOT of Hot Dogs left over after the last "Puc's Meet - Greet and Eat Meat" outing of 2016 and the prospect of having more lop eared varmints show up and ending up with a zero left over Hot Dog season REALLY makes me My cups half full... Puc

Is "Star Days" anything like the "Wing Fling" thing I have heard about down south? Never went to the Wing Fling but heard that the "factory" put it on, provided bikes to test drive and all that.. Had a buddy that did it a couple times and had a BALL!!