A thief or thieves helped themselves to Senior Correspondent Mike Keefe's 1998 YZ400 (and his kid's 2000 PW50) last Thursday while the bikes were chained up in Mike's garage. While we understand that the chances of Mike recovering his beloved big, blue bitch are slim to none, we would appreciate any information you may have that might help us recover these bikes.

Here are the details:

The Bikes: 1998 YZ400 and 2000 PW50
Date of Theft: Thursday night, Sept. 19, 2002
Area Stolen From: Off Newcastle in Chicago (northeast of Archer and Harlem intersection).
Rightful Owner: Mike Keefe
Contact Phone Number: (773) 229-9629
E-mail: mkeefe@midwestmotocross.com

Distinguishing factors of the YZ400:

• Crack in the right side case around the kickstarter has been welded. A sidecover bolt in this area also is missing because the threads werenąt re-tapped after the weld job.
• The right sidecover is new.
• The kickstarter recently split at the base ‹ as most know a common problem on this bike. The broken kickstarter was on the bike when it was stolen.
• Has stock blue plastic. Graphics are worn off the shrouds.
• Silver pro-tapers with aftermarket top triple clamp.
• Broken front brake lever.

As for the PW, it is pretty non-descript except for a small oil leak on the right side.

The bikes were not insured and the cops weren't very helpful. (They still have not returned Mike's calls to them or to their automated theft report line, or whatever it is.) Luck and the kindness of strangers will be all that help Mike see these bikes again!

Please, if you run across any of these bikes, let Mike know via the phone number or e-mail address above. If he doesn't get his big, blue bitch back, he will be riding our 1981 KDX420 for the foreseeable future! Any help in this matter is greatly appreciated. Thank you!