The 2023 Mecum Monterey auction is approaching, taking place from August 17 to 19. Mecum auctions are known for featuring a range of collector cars and bikes, and this year is no exception. Two Yamaha FZRs that belonged to baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson will be up for auction as a pair. Jackson had an impressive career, playing 2,820 games, achieving 2,548 hits, 563 home runs, and 1,702 RBIs. He was a five-time World Series champion and a 14-time American League All-Star. In 1993, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Aside from his baseball career, Jackson has been a motorcycle enthusiast since the 1960s. Although his career commitments limited his time for riding, he eventually pursued his passion for motorcycles after retiring from baseball.
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A fascinating piece from a 1990 issue of Cycle World delves into Jackson’s love for sportbikes, detailing his journey from being interested in motorcycles in the ’60s to his passion for improving his riding skills. He started riding Harleys on weekends from 1982 to 1988, but his interest shifted to sportbikes after being overtaken by a fast rider while driving his Porsche. He soon purchased a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10, which suited his tall frame and bodybuilding habit due to its speed.
Now, let’s talk about the two 1990 Yamaha FZRs up for auction at Mecum Monterey 2023. Individually, these bikes are highly sought after by enthusiasts, but together, they are a remarkable pair. The first bike is a Japanese-market 1990 Yamaha FZR400 RR-SP, equipped with an aluminum Deltabox frame (rather than steel) and a carbon fiber exhaust. It has only traveled 251 kilometers (156 miles) since new and produced a claimed 66 horsepower.
The second bike is even rarer. It is a 1990 Yamaha FZR-R 750 0W01, one of only about 500 produced and sold worldwide. This legendary sportbike is one of the few with a horn, turn signals, and a taillight for street use. The odometer on this Japanese-market example reads a mere 3,246 kilometers (2,017 miles).
Both of these exceptional Yamaha motorcycles have been owned by Reggie Jackson since they were new. Yamaha reportedly gifted them to him as a token of appreciation for promotional work he did at the time. The bikes are listed together as Lot F14 at Mecum Monterey 2023 and are expected to fetch between $70,000 and $90,000. If you want to see more photos or find out more information or bid on these bikes, please check the link in the Sources section.