Any Yamaha experts out there?

[S_Kyle]

I would really like to talk to some one who can confirm a very old yamaha vin for me. Thanks

[JDT]

Scott if you call Yamaha in CA and give them your VIN they will give you the year of the machine.
I have done this a few times as Yamaha never put build dates on their tunnels and the Alpha/Numeric codes are a left over super secrect cyphier from WWII.

[S_Kyle]

Good to now. I thought the vin was kind of weird, I really want to confirm this vin.

[S_Kyle]

Todd, got this number from the website. Will have to try it tomorrow.

Customer Relations
(800) 962-7926

[JDT]

Yep, that's the one.

[S_Kyle]

Well I tried Yamaha. They confirmed that the vin matches and that it was imported to the states but that is all. They have no other information on the sled, just said it appeared at the top of her list? The sled appears to have had an interesting history and cover alot of ground.

So the mystery continues. Looks like I have another road trip after I get back from waconia.

[JDT]

Were they able to confirm the suspected model year?

[S_Kyle]

Yep, now I just need some confirmation on the fact of the recall. I have family up around the guy so I will have to go see it for myself. The lady told me that the sled more or less predates Yamaha's records so they could only give me the model and year. Still got to talk to the guy and see if he can give me some more details about it's journey north.

[JDT]

I wonder if Yamaha had a test facility up north and maybe it was abandon there?

[S_Kyle]

It's a weird and wonderful thing. I wonder if it was sent to a test facility in canada then would it not have been imported by Yamaha Canada? I'm not sure when Yamaha Canada was set up, but the lady at Yamaha USA said that it for sure was not imported to Canada, it landed in the USA at some time. I hope to get ahold of the guy and see if he has more history on it.

I read an article that the factory in Japan had shipped one to the states for a display on the 40th anniversary. And there was one at Waconia a few years ago.

[ICCSF 108]

Yamaha Used to have a test facility at Highway 242 in Coon Rapids at the old MN Dragways site.. This was built in the late 70's & was there until?? as now there is houses there..

Kenny

[S_Kyle]

Kenny, the sled is currently in northern Saskatchewan so we are looking for a test facility north of the border.

I guess I might as well come out with it. The sled is a 1968 Yamaha SL 350, the first Yamaha to be imported to the USA for distribution. They apparently shipped 300 of them to the states for promotional proposes, then recalled them back to japan. I have done some inquiring and found that a few of them missed the boat. The museum in New Hampshire claims that they only know of 4 in existence on top of what Yamaha kept.

I am trying to get information on the sled as I am considering the purchase, problem being the asking price is quite high. But probably fair if the sled is what the owner claims.


Thanks
Scott

[River Rat]

Model code # 801... Frame..# RW1-000101... Engine,,# RW1-000101 68 SL 350.. Sent to the USA and Canada..Sorry I didn't see this sooner...

[S_Kyle]

Thanks for the help Frankie. That's more than Yamaha USA could tell me, as far as the 000101 does that represent the first one or was it just a general number you put down? The VIN given to me was 000272. There seems to be a real shortage on information on this model.