Wheelstand

[BrettS]

This could be a great Rally event 

[wacko-ocker]

Good afternoon Christian,
This picture has been taken during the 1st European press presentation end of 1977 at Dakar.
The driver is Jean-Claude Olivier (JCO), who recently died in a stupid car accident (a truck cross the motorway with his driver sleeping and cut the way to the JCO's car).
JCO (who also was my boss) was first of all one the first people to sale Yamaha bikes in Europe. He was the CEO of Sonauto Yamaha from the begining of Sonauto and when Yamaha France, up 2 years ago when he was retired.
He was really an exceptional man, and in addition an excellent pilot.
 
He was with us during the show at Paris in  last November wher we took the picture (who was a celebration of the advertising you send me).
 
The story of the picture is as follow:
Just before Sonauto made the Press presentation at Dakar (in fact during the flight trip to go there), JCO heard from some journalists that "the XS 1100 is as a truck, very heavy and absolutely not a sport bike".
Hearing this, as a comment made before they had test the bike, JCO decide to find something to close the discussion.
He decide he'll show the bike on wheelstand as an entrance to the journalist presentation. During Sonauto people was making a static presention, he left the group and learn on the side and train himself how make a wheelstand with the XS, and he came bake to the meeting on the rear wheel, making by him-self the demonstration of the "lightness" of the XS 1100".The picture used on the adverstising has been made by one the journalist, not coming from Yamaha Japan, and it was not really in accordance with the Japanese guide lines, but the final result was so good that it start to built the legend of JCO.
 
Regards
Lionel Raviscioni
Président
XS 1100 Club de France
24 route de Platon - Chavanne
42400 Saint Chamond
France
xs1100clubdefrance@free.fr
http://xs1100clubdefrance.free.fr/spip/
http://balooracingteam.blogspot.fr/

great read thanx for sharing

[Little Scotty]

It aint natural;God started taking away my hair so i said "Two can play at this game Pal"

[Christian Raith]

He would never match that Naturally Naked Nogin

[Little Scotty]

Jonesy,imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and any day now i expect you to shave yr head and ride an RH sport

[Jonesy]

G,day Scotty.
If I'd known you were a practitioner of the word definitive and didn't want to share it, I'd have said "gee that's a very precise answer to the question it leaves nothing to the imagination" or something similar.

[Little Scotty]

thanx lads;and Jonesy,just because i use the word definitive,doesnt mean to say you can:)

[makzy]

Back in the early 80's myself and 2 of my mates who had xs11's, all brown ones, were always on the back wheel, so easy to do on an xs, the nerve has gone a bit these days but can still get the old girl to stand up but it;s not advisable cos second gear is best and it's also the weakest...

[Jonesy]

well ya cant get  a much more definitive answer than that

[Christian Raith]

Good afternoon Christian,
This picture has been taken during the 1st European press presentation end of 1977 at Dakar.
The driver is Jean-Claude Olivier (JCO), who recently died in a stupid car accident (a truck cross the motorway with his driver sleeping and cut the way to the JCO's car).
JCO (who also was my boss) was first of all one the first people to sale Yamaha bikes in Europe. He was the CEO of Sonauto Yamaha from the begining of Sonauto and when Yamaha France, up 2 years ago when he was retired.
He was really an exceptional man, and in addition an excellent pilot.
 
He was with us during the show at Paris in  last November wher we took the picture (who was a celebration of the advertising you send me).
 
The story of the picture is as follow:
Just before Sonauto made the Press presentation at Dakar (in fact during the flight trip to go there), JCO heard from some journalists that "the XS 1100 is as a truck, very heavy and absolutely not a sport bike".
Hearing this, as a comment made before they had test the bike, JCO decide to find something to close the discussion.
He decide he'll show the bike on wheelstand as an entrance to the journalist presentation. During Sonauto people was making a static presention, he left the group and learn on the side and train himself how make a wheelstand with the XS, and he came bake to the meeting on the rear wheel, making by him-self the demonstration of the "lightness" of the XS 1100".The picture used on the adverstising has been made by one the journalist, not coming from Yamaha Japan, and it was not really in accordance with the Japanese guide lines, but the final result was so good that it start to built the legend of JCO.
 
Regards
Lionel Raviscioni
Président
XS 1100 Club de France
24 route de Platon - Chavanne
42400 Saint Chamond
France
xs1100clubdefrance@free.fr
http://xs1100clubdefrance.free.fr/spip/
http://balooracingteam.blogspot.fr/

[BrettS]

Hey Scotty, It is an XS1100 but the rider is lost to me, maybe some one else knows the rider. It seems to be a promotional item so some one could know?

Here is one more I found

I have been trying it with mine but maybe it needs a little more work yet 

I am still scouring the ebay used column Jonsey. If that does not become prosperous in the next week or so I will be hitting the retail store.

[Little Scotty]

Bretts,that picture,is it an xs1100 and if so who is doing the mono?