1980 YZ-465G

 (Ver. 2.0)

"quan·da·ry   (kwnd-r, -dr), NOUN: pl. quan·da·ries; A state of uncertainty or perplexity."

I had just gotten my 1982 Husqvarna to the point that I really liked it. It was fast, handled very well, had the plushest suspension I had ever had on an EVO bike, was easy to start, and looked great. I should have been happy. Happy? I should have been ecstatic.

But I wasn't.

Something was wrong.

It did everything very nearly perfect.

...but it just wasn't fun.

I started yearning for my old 1980 Yamaha YZ-465G. It had done all these other things too, AND it was fun. I can't quantify "why" the Husky wasn't fun, it's not that it sucked. It's not that was UN-FUN. It was just...clinical. It had all the excitement of a surgeon's scalpel. Clean. Sharp. Precise. Even a little wicked...but not fun.

The YZ was like an old friend. A college drinking buddy. You get together, and you may end up getting in trouble together, but you KNOW it is going to be a HOOT doing it, and it'll be an experience you'll never forget. The YZ was like that big, burly guy who's always laughing, even when you punch him in the nose. The guy who will get all smashed up, and knocked down, then stand up, brush himself off and clap you on the back, laughing.

The Husky, on the other hand,  was like that staid old European monocled, university professor. You know he knew his crap, and was really, really good at it, but he's as exciting as an Öyster's digestive tract.

Patrick vs. Squidward.

That was the quandary. Like a bride at the altar who sees her true love standing in the back of the church as she marries another, I pined for my YZ. The Husky was a fine provider, and would make an excellent husband...but it wasn't my true love...

So I bought another one.

I wasn't even looking for a bike...other than the "usual" browse Craigslist and see what's being sold...A common affliction of Vintage Dirtbike racers everywhere...as well as the rest of the population, when I saw the ad: 1980 YZ465 For Sale $999.

I had no choice. I called the guy, stopped at the bank, kissed the wife dearly, and threw the family in the pickup.

five hours and 300 miles later, there was a "new" 1980 YZ-465G in my garage.

See?

  

The bike was all there...and then some. It was a little rough, but tight in all the right places. The axle, steering and swing-arm bearings didn't display any slop. There wasn't any tell-tale leakage around the counter-shaft, shift, or kick-starter seals either. It had lots of compression, and won my heart on the proverbial "test ride". She sang a song to me of limitless power, and insurmountable glory...

 

The guy I bought it from said it had been previously owned by one of the guys who started and promoted the NWVDR races for many years, but then he also told me this bike had previously been one of Torsten Hallman's practice bikes. How in the heck do you verify that sort of provenance?

Quite frankly, you don't.

You ascribe it to the sort of general B.S. that folks spout off when their trying to sell something. Not to call into question the integrity of the guy I bought it from. He was just passing on what he had been told by the guy who sold it to him. The bike is 27 years old. There is no telling how many owners it has had, nor which of them concocted such a story. Who knows? Maybe it's true.

Regardless...

The first thing I did was sand the (not installed) stock gas tank and polish it up a bit before putting it one. At the same time, I sanded down the (alleged) DG pipe, and re-paint it. I think it's a stock pipe, but it has few dents and painted up nice, so who cares?

A spot of paint on the air-box cover and a trip to Ebay to order a new seat cover and we're ready for the track. I still need to order a new set chain and sprocket set, but these old ones will work for now.

Here it is after one day of "purifying":

 

And here it is now that it's race ready (finally got the clutch in):

I never got to race this bike. I prepped it up all summer, then fall came. I never got to race due to family commitments and other conflicts. Then one day, I decided I wanted to buy a German Luger pistol. Go figure. I sold the YZ to a pal and went pistol hunting. That is hunting for a pistol, not hunting with a pistol.

I am going to start shopping for another YZ in about a month or so. Will I regret selling this one? I already do. But sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good.

Congratulations Bob, and good luck at the races!

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