www.Yankee500.com

This web site is dedicated to all the vintage 
cycle fans out there that have pitched in 
and helped with the many stages of this 
project.  It wouldn't come as far as it has 
without a lot of help, encouragement, 
parts, and information. 

It must of necessity also be dedicated to 
John Taylor, who was among other things 
the president of Yankee Motor Company.
He proved that you can make your dreams 
a reality.  Today, we would say that he 
wasn't afraid to think outside the box.
He insisted on quality, not frills.

His drive and perseverance 
continued through many setbacks that 
would cause most people to say, "I quit."  
Most of all, he inspired people both then 
and now to go "Full Bore" to build and 
preserve these American motorcycles, 
a different kind of motorcycle, conceived 
by Americans, for Americans, but always 
one which would be the best.

The site is actually a cooperative project 
between myself, and "Yankee Bob" Fornwalt. 
Bob supplies the resources, information, 
history and materials, and I scan it all 
and put it on the web. His 30+ years 
of knowledge and experience with the 
Yankee marque will provide enough 
interesting material and information to 
keep the site growing for years to come. 

The web site is also a contribution in 
return to the people that have shared so 
generously with their experience and time. 
Critical information is now available on 
the web, for other people that may want 
to become involved in a project like this. 

It won't be easy, and it won't be cheap, 
but along the way, you'll meet some pretty 
terrific people, that are willing to share 
information and skills that make it possible 
to bring back to life a motorcycle that has 
been stored or ignored for 25 years or more.  
The old boy network works very well for 
those interested in vintage cycle restoration, 
not only in the US, but all over the world.

As you work on bringing that cycle back to 
"like new" again, it's like getting back a 
part of your youth. Be it a mini-bike, trail 
bike, or street machine, everyone 
remembers the excitement and freedom 
those first set of wheels provided.

When you are knee deep in parts and 
manuals, for weeks or months at a time, 
and watch a rusty piece of machinery 
slowly come back to life, you gain an 
appreciation of the skills and dedication 
that went into the making of that cycle 
in the first place. 

Anyone that can work for weeks or months 
on a restoration, and never, ever, call it 
"work", will know what I'm talking about.

2003 is somewhere around the 30th 
anniversary of the Yankee. The cycle 
magazines had prototype photos and 
announcements in 1968, and bikes to 
test that same year.  

The Yankee Z started production in 
1972, and stopped in 1973. This web site 
can be an informal celebration of those 
landmark events, the introduction 
of the Yankee, 5 years in the making, 
and still even after 30+ years, "It's Alive."

There are interesting projects and 
announcements right around the corner, 
that I think any vintage cyclist will enjoy. 
Check back often for the latest information.

                                               Return