Wow, thanks for the great feedback!

Gaucho777, Parker traded a motorcycle for the assets of Sweetheart cycles to start Yeti. I was the first only guy to weld Yeti bikes for several years. We started in a Mexican watering hole in San Fernando, went to Burbank for a couple of years and then to Agoura in I guess around 1988. I might have met you for sure, my welding booth was decorated like a tiki hut.

I remember John and the Park-pre riders! There was some great riding in that area when it was still "remote" LOL.

I have a bunch of historic yeti photos for sure. Not sure if any are relevant. I do know Tomac and we speak when we see each other. I made a mailbox that looked like a locomotive as a wedding gift for him at his wedding. None of those guys really want to talk about old bikes. Scanning some old articles sounds like a good idea. I may have some myself. I have a huge treasure chest packed with jerseys, T-shirts, magazines and jackets.

I don't know what SFMoMA is. I sometimes speak at different events. People seem to enjoy the funny memories etc. I know the material is important and relevant to lots of people so I do my part but I have really had way more than my share of attention over being a frame maker/welder. My memories are all quite fond and I have the greatest respect for the brilliant people I worked with. I often served as support to Chris, Eric and John and just mashed the pedal (welded).

Pastorbob, that would be great. I am trying to close this out within a month from now. They need the bread and don't have a great place to keep the bike. I asked my former wife to help locate photos.

Bluesdaddy, good idea. I really feel like this is a great chance for me to help these fine people (BTW, at the old Interbike shows I used to come in early with 100's of bagels and cream cheese for everyone (or the first 1000) setting up their booths. My Buddy ran the baking company that provided those bagels a huge commercial supplier, Western bagel)

Ya, I don't want to blow this auction. Do you think I should do it from my ftwelder ebay acct? (I can do shamless self promotion on this project LOL)

Should the bike just be left as is? It looks pretty clean.


Interesting ONZA story, Chris at Yeti made the very first Onza bar ends and I designed the "drop arm" version (I called them antlers) you see on this bike. I welded the first 100 of this type that were cut/weld rather than bent also.