I picked this bike up about 16 years ago. I believe it had been sitting for over 10 years
before I purchased it. When I brought it home, I cleaned the carburetors, put in fresh gas,
and it kicked over easily. I did not ride it more than a few minutes because the forks were
mushy. It ran smooth, strong & fast. I put the bike in my barn, hoping to build a street tracker
some day.
16 years later the bike still sits in the shed so I'm selling it.
Here is what history I know of the bike. This was a long time ago. I can't guarantee all my
facts, dates, names... are 100% accurate but I feel confident they are correct or at least very
close.
About 30 years ago a guy named Ned Cotherman who I believe was an A&A sponsored
rider who lived in Palo Alto California got this frame (and I'm not sure if the frames was
stripped or if there were other components included) in a sale or trade. I was told this fame
originally came from Kenny Roberts who was racing with Yamaha and A & A Racing in San
Carlos at the time. Ned then traded or sold the frame to a friend of his named Jorne
Nielson who also lived in Palo Alto. Jorne built the tracker and I believe re-building and
pumping up the Yamaha engine and he raced it a few times out at Fremont but decided
later to make it into a Tracker/ MXtrail-bike hybrid (this is why there are MX tires on it). I
was once emailed by a friend of Jorne's who wrote "Jorne built the bike into a tracker and
rode it very little. Yorn was meticulous in what he did, the bike was immaculate". Jorne
lost his life on his street Harley I believe in the early 80's and this is when the bike sat
unused for about 10 years until I purchased it.
The fork seals might be blown or just mushy. There is some surface rust in several places
on the bike but it's not too bad. It is a chromoly frame which rusts less than regular steel.
The rubber boots on the carbs are cracked. The fiberglass Champion tank has a small
damage spot on the top where it looks like small spider web fractures in one spot (most
likely could be repaired). It has not been started in about 16 years but it still cranks. The
tires are old and the rubber is somewhat cracked. Note: The carb boots have been
replaced and the bike has been started since I wrote this.
When i first got this bike, I remember being told it was a rare custom chromoly frame built
for Kenny Roberts. I have done hundreds of web searches and have never found a frame
just like it (until recently, see photo below). It does have a serial number on the neck of
the frame above the forks. I believe the numbers are 1612022174. The serial # on the
engine reads S650 00 3311. It's been garaged so long I cannot find any paperwork on this
bike.
Update
I have received more information on the origins of this frame. Dennis from Vintage Flat
tackers asked of few people who he thought would best know about this frame. Marty Lewis
(early employee of Doug Schwerma) and Rod Lake:
Their replies:
"That frame is a Champion. Kenny ride one of those @ Houston.
1970? Joe Brown won the amateur class followed by Jim Foley the same
year on the same frame."
Marty*
"No it is not a KR frame it is the first iteration of a Doug Schwerma
Champion Frame 750. Kenny rode one,
they didn't work very well. Not alot of these frames were made mostly
because it just didn't work.
Would make a bitchen Street tracker." Rod Lake
http://www.vft.org/vftforsale2.html
Another contact told me this was the 2nd Schwerma frame for the XS650. He said it was
the 1st production version
Joe Brown said he raced one of these back in the early 70's. He said it was the most evil
chassis he has ever ridden. They only used that style chassis one year before Doug
Schwerma designed a new one.
Contact me for more info:
Gordon
skysummit@msn.com
Below are a few pictures people have sent me of Kenny Roberts on the early Champion
frame during what I believe was his first expert year. The first photo only shows part of the
bike so it's hard to tell, but I believe the second photo shows it's the identical frame.
before I purchased it. When I brought it home, I cleaned the carburetors, put in fresh gas,
and it kicked over easily. I did not ride it more than a few minutes because the forks were
mushy. It ran smooth, strong & fast. I put the bike in my barn, hoping to build a street tracker
some day.
16 years later the bike still sits in the shed so I'm selling it.
Here is what history I know of the bike. This was a long time ago. I can't guarantee all my
facts, dates, names... are 100% accurate but I feel confident they are correct or at least very
close.
About 30 years ago a guy named Ned Cotherman who I believe was an A&A sponsored
rider who lived in Palo Alto California got this frame (and I'm not sure if the frames was
stripped or if there were other components included) in a sale or trade. I was told this fame
originally came from Kenny Roberts who was racing with Yamaha and A & A Racing in San
Carlos at the time. Ned then traded or sold the frame to a friend of his named Jorne
Nielson who also lived in Palo Alto. Jorne built the tracker and I believe re-building and
pumping up the Yamaha engine and he raced it a few times out at Fremont but decided
later to make it into a Tracker/ MXtrail-bike hybrid (this is why there are MX tires on it). I
was once emailed by a friend of Jorne's who wrote "Jorne built the bike into a tracker and
rode it very little. Yorn was meticulous in what he did, the bike was immaculate". Jorne
lost his life on his street Harley I believe in the early 80's and this is when the bike sat
unused for about 10 years until I purchased it.
The fork seals might be blown or just mushy. There is some surface rust in several places
on the bike but it's not too bad. It is a chromoly frame which rusts less than regular steel.
The rubber boots on the carbs are cracked. The fiberglass Champion tank has a small
damage spot on the top where it looks like small spider web fractures in one spot (most
likely could be repaired). It has not been started in about 16 years but it still cranks. The
tires are old and the rubber is somewhat cracked. Note: The carb boots have been
replaced and the bike has been started since I wrote this.
When i first got this bike, I remember being told it was a rare custom chromoly frame built
for Kenny Roberts. I have done hundreds of web searches and have never found a frame
just like it (until recently, see photo below). It does have a serial number on the neck of
the frame above the forks. I believe the numbers are 1612022174. The serial # on the
engine reads S650 00 3311. It's been garaged so long I cannot find any paperwork on this
bike.
Update
I have received more information on the origins of this frame. Dennis from Vintage Flat
tackers asked of few people who he thought would best know about this frame. Marty Lewis
(early employee of Doug Schwerma) and Rod Lake:
Their replies:
"That frame is a Champion. Kenny ride one of those @ Houston.
1970? Joe Brown won the amateur class followed by Jim Foley the same
year on the same frame."
Marty*
"No it is not a KR frame it is the first iteration of a Doug Schwerma
Champion Frame 750. Kenny rode one,
they didn't work very well. Not alot of these frames were made mostly
because it just didn't work.
Would make a bitchen Street tracker." Rod Lake
http://www.vft.org/vftforsale2.html
Another contact told me this was the 2nd Schwerma frame for the XS650. He said it was
the 1st production version
Joe Brown said he raced one of these back in the early 70's. He said it was the most evil
chassis he has ever ridden. They only used that style chassis one year before Doug
Schwerma designed a new one.
Contact me for more info:
Gordon
skysummit@msn.com
Below are a few pictures people have sent me of Kenny Roberts on the early Champion
frame during what I believe was his first expert year. The first photo only shows part of the
bike so it's hard to tell, but I believe the second photo shows it's the identical frame.
| 70's Yamaha XS 650 tracker (built to 750) Doug Schwerma Champion 1st production 750 Kenny Roberts frame |
I have been contacted by many people regarding this bike, many who are
knowledgeable of it's history and possible origin. As I get more information, I will add
to, or edit the story below.
knowledgeable of it's history and possible origin. As I get more information, I will add
to, or edit the story below.
Below is a photo that was recently sent to me. It's the first photo I have seen of the same frame:
From sender:"I believe this is what you are looking for as far as validation of the frame.
I took this picture at San Jose in 1972".
From sender:"I believe this is what you are looking for as far as validation of the frame.
I took this picture at San Jose in 1972".
| For Sale |
| Update Feb 3 Yesterday I brought the bike up to A & A Racing in San Carlos to see what they & owner Ray could tell me by looking at the bike in person. All they could really tell me was that this was a fairly rare frame and not many of them were built. We compared the serial number on my frame to one on an early production Scherma frame they had and the numbers were the same except the last few digits. Mine was a lower number. Kenny Roberts & Jimmy Odom were both racing for team Yamaha at that time through A & A Racing, however Kenny Roberts raced the 1st production Doug Schwerma perimeter frame and again they said Jimmy Odom did not. I emailed this info back the person who told me about this frame coming from Jimmy Odom & A & A (in the notes below) and his reply is as follows: "Its very possible that it's a Roberts riden frame, Ray sold a couple of different custom 1 of frames to friends mine. Over the years Ray has sold so many parts etc its hard to tell. Ray also was Kenny Roberts Tuner/Builder/Sponser when he was a Junior etc so its very possible ." On another subject: I was told at one time that this motor was possibly built, stroked, and had a racing cam. But a few people who remember this bike have told me they thought the engine was stock. I really have no way of knowing. In regards to the engine, I can only verify the modifications I can see, such as carburetion & exhaust. Update Feb 1 2010 I received an email from someone local this morning claiming to have known the person who originally built this bike. He told me he thought the frame was purchased through A & A Racing in San Carlos Ca and he also thought it was originally off of Jimmy Odom's bike. (when I purchased the bike I was originally told the frame came from Kenny Robert's bike). Both Jimmy Odom & Kenny Roberts raced for A & A Racing at that time. Kenny got his start there. I called Ray- the owner of A & A Racing today. He looked at my pictures and stated that Jimmy Odom never rode the perimeter frame bike. He said that Kenny did. I will bring the bike up to A & A Racing this week and show it to him in person. The video below shows me starting the bike & going through the gears. I didn't ride it because the tires are fairly cracked & the front had a leak. My son convinced me to patch the front flat yesterday so we did, and took it for a spin. It's very fast! Jan 30 I cleaned out the carbs. Replaced the air filters, carburetor mounts, gas lines & spark plugs. Drained & cleaned the gas tank. Fresh gas & oil change (the oil looked very clean). AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, THE BIKE STARTED ON THE FIRST KICK. The engine runs smooth & strong and idles nicely. The tires are bad so I put it on blocks, started it, and went through the gears (see video below which was taken yesterday). This bike is now up for sale on ebay amongst other places. I set my reserve price slightly under what my best offer was through Craig's list. The information & photos on this site were taken and posted before I bought the parts to get the bike running. The newer pics are on ebay. eBay item number 140379380450 Link below: |
Feb 6 2010
I continue to receive bits & pieces of info on this bike but I feel I've exhausted my
resources. It will be up to someone else better connected to the history of this sport to
confirm the exact origin of this frame. I still believe this frame was owned and raced by
Kenny Roberts as I was told 16 years ago when I purchased the bike. Speaking with
Ray at A & A Racing helps support this. I've been contacted by dozens of people
claiming to have knowledge of this bike, frame, engine... but I get the sense that after
30 - 40 years of time, some of this information may not be completely accurate.
"In the end", as one ex flat track racer recently emailed me, "It is what it is. You do have
a great piece of Flat Track history"!
If any thing significant comes along I will be sure to post it here. If anyone has further
questions, or would like to see additional photos (details), especially those interested
in bidding on eBay, feel free to contact me.
skysummit@msn.com
I continue to receive bits & pieces of info on this bike but I feel I've exhausted my
resources. It will be up to someone else better connected to the history of this sport to
confirm the exact origin of this frame. I still believe this frame was owned and raced by
Kenny Roberts as I was told 16 years ago when I purchased the bike. Speaking with
Ray at A & A Racing helps support this. I've been contacted by dozens of people
claiming to have knowledge of this bike, frame, engine... but I get the sense that after
30 - 40 years of time, some of this information may not be completely accurate.
"In the end", as one ex flat track racer recently emailed me, "It is what it is. You do have
a great piece of Flat Track history"!
If any thing significant comes along I will be sure to post it here. If anyone has further
questions, or would like to see additional photos (details), especially those interested
in bidding on eBay, feel free to contact me.
skysummit@msn.com
Feb 8 2010
I've had a few people contact me who were somewhat concerned about bidding on a
motorcycle with only a "bill of sale" and no title. To hopefully help satisfy anyone's
reluctance to bid on this motorcycle, I spent most of today in line at the DMV only to
find out what most people have already told me.
This bike is a custom-built bike that may have never been titled or registered. Even if
the bike were once registered before I owned it, it has been sitting unused for so long
in my possession, that any record of it at the DMV has been thrown out by now.
The DMV told me I could apply for a new title by filling out the REG 344 form, get the
verification to classify the bike, and register it, but the person helping me at the DMV
suggested this would be a waste of time & money if I plan to sell the bike since the new
owner will be registering it & getting it titled all over again. In addition, each potential
buyer of this bike might have different plans of how to restore and register the bike.
"Non operational", "Off road", "Street legal"?
If there is a way I can help the buyer of this bike make their registration process
smooth & affordable I will be happy to help. It just does not make sense for me to
register it now since it will be sold.
