When men were men, and Yamaha made pianos.

Ok, ok, I know this is neither British nor vintage, but it is going to be a classic, just you wait.

Note cat just behind bike.

What you see here is a 2005/6 Yamaha XG 250 "tricker", and while I don't much care for the name, the motorcycle itself is absolutely delightful.
The engine is a wonderfully small and compact SOHC 250cc air cooled single with a 5-speed gearbox and little else (though it does have a balancing countershaft!).
What sets this bike apart is how incredibly skinny it is. But just because it's small doesn't mean it isn't perfectly formed. There are a myriad thoughtful little details wherever you look, and the finish is not unlike that of much bigger and much more glamorous machines.
Don't let the name fool you, the only tricks you'll be performing with this are never getting stuck in traffic, and getting unbelievably good MPG, and that's good.
This particular motorcycle was sadly abandoned for several years and has clearly suffered from neglect. However, it is 100% complete and original, with relatively low miles on the clock (about 13.000 miles).
It should be a fun little project, and quick hopefully. A good thorough service, some oil seals for the forks (hopefully we won't have to replace the stanchions) and a good bit of sandblasting and repainting of stuff like the handlebar and throttle housing. First things first though, I'm ready to try starting the Norton, and then I'll get my hands on this one.