I think the year was 1978. My cousin was getting a brand new Yamaha YZ80. He was at my house when he told me the news. My aunt came to pick us up to go to my cousin’s house.
Upon arrival my cousin’s new motorcycle was already at the home having been picked up by his dad. I had seen pictures of a Yamaha YZ80 courtesy of the dozens of motorcycle magazines I had collected. DirtBike Magazine and Motocross Action Magazine were two of my closest companions, providing countless hours of leisurely dreaming of maybe one day owning a dirtbike of my own.
Upon laying my eyes on this mythical thing of many of my adolescent friends’ dreams I found myself in a trance, every detail of the motorcycle instantly burned into the deepest sections of my brain. The knobby tires, the 79cc engine, the yellow color, the suspension travel. Thing of beauty for many a young man of my age at that time.
I can still recall the distinct smell of the premixed fuel my uncle poured into the gas tank. They had no idea that I was aware of it at the time, but I quietly relished my uncle’s and cousin’s attention as they found humor in my barely contained excitement. I would have kissed the gas tank if I could have somehow kept my cousin from sharing that news with all of my friends. In every sense of the word it was love at first sight.
Up to that point the bike hadn’t even been started yet. When my cousin kick-started that 79cc engine to life it was all I could take. THAT TWO-STROKE SOUND! For a brief second I thought about pushing my cousin off of his dirtbike and taking the initial ride myself. My uncle would have found this funny at first, but then my ass would have paid the price in the end…….I was allowed to ride later. Changed my life forever.
Never did get my own YZ80. However, some years later I got my very own Yamaha YZ125. Been fortunate to own a few more motorcycles along the way.
But no other vehicle has had the same effect on me as that YZ80 did back in 1978. Just the thought of it takes me back to my youth. So, for the 15th Day of Christmas find a reason to reminisce about your youth. And if it happens be a Yamaha YZ80 I completely understand.
The Real Life Corner 