Owner Reunited With Stolen Triumph After 46 Years

Don Devault and his Triumph

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

Don Devault got his Triumph back on Wednesday – 46 years after it was stolen.

The blue 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 was stolen in Omaha, NE in February 1967 and spotted last month at the Port of Los Angeles by law enforcement agents as it was about to be shipped to Japan. National Insurance Crime Bureau agent Lou Koven did the leg work and tracked down the 73-year-old DeVault, who was 27 when the bike was taken.

Don Devault rides his Triumph

Originally valued at $300, it is now judged to be worth $9,000. Devault still lives in Omaha and still rides. A local trucking company owner, Marty McMullen, hired a driver to retrieve the bike from SoCal. The result was that Devault got to once again ride the vintage Triumph.

Don Devault and Lou Koven 

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What is your brain worth? A new study done for “Powersports Business” by ADP Lightspeed analyst Hal Ethington suggests riders don’t put much value on their brains based on the amount they spend on helmets.

Eighty-five percent of helmet buyers spend $200 or less for their headgear, with 38 percent spending between $50 and $100, and seven percent spending less than $50 for protection. Only seven percent spend $300 or more for a helmet.

While price does not necessarily equate to quality, isn’t it safe to assume that a pricier lid from a name manufacturer might better protect the gray matter? The study revealed that “Harley-Davidson supplies 80 percent of the helmet sales at Harley-Davidson dealerships. The average price was $135.”

The full story is posted here.

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Yamaha used the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show to yesterday introduce a concept model for a new 250cc, two-cylinder sport bike – the R25.

It will be positioned as an entry-level bike for Japan, Europe and Asia. Details about the bike were few and no mention was made whether it will be sold in the U.S.

The new Yamaha will compete with the Honda CBR250R and the Kawasaki Ninja 300.