I had an email late last night from a Brian Byrne. No idea who he is or where he lives.
He asked Does this look familiar? So I scrolled down the page...
Hmm, that's a
nice trike
...wait a minute!
Just a darn tootin', cotton pickin' minute!
Recognition had slowly dawned -oh my Gawd! That's my first trike! The very first trike I ever built -a hardtailed Yamaha XS750, put together for my girlfriend of the time, Sharon. It was one of a his n hers matched pair. Hers was the first one finished, but I sold it before it was road legal. My one was sold as a bare metal project. Spent 2 & a half grand on each of 'em & flogged them for a lot less. A friend, who's a sheet metal worker, & I built the frame in his workshop in Newbury, Berkshire & I had it powder-coated gloss black. The headstock & front down tubes were Yamaha but the rest was all us. I narrowed a Reliant axle by 11 inches, off setting the diff housing to one side to line up with the engine -then discovered Reliant axles rotate the opposite way to Yam engines, so I had 5 reverse gears. Had to buy another axle & start again. Forks were Yam with new 4 or 5 inch over length tubes. Both engines were stripped by a mate & completely rebuilt, no expense spared.
I sold it to a disabled guy in Lytham St Anns, near Blackpool, Lancashire & never saw it again. Until now.
That was at least 20 years ago & it looks exactly the same. I'm absolutely gobsmacked. Always wondered what happened to it.
I've emailed Brian back & begged for more info, but not had a reply yet. I'll keep you informed.
Amazing to think it's still about after all these years.
