US man reunited with motorcycle stolen 46 years ago, found in California

OMAHA, Neb. – A U.S. man has been reunited with his now-vintage motorcycle nearly 50 years after it was stolen.

Donald DeVault received the 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 on Wednesday.

The 73-year-old DeVault learned two weeks ago that California authorities had recovered his motorcycle at the Port of Los Angeles. The bike was about to be shipped to Japan when customs agents who checked the vehicle identification number discovered it had been reported stolen in February 1967.

The bike was valued at $300 in 1967. Today, it’s worth about $9,000.

DeVault’s first reaction? To hug the man who found the bike. His next move was — naturally — to take the motorcycle for a ride in the parking lot.

DeVault had had the bike for only a year or two when it was taken from his fenced backyard.

DeVault already has a Harley-Davidson and a Kawasaki motorcycle in his garage, so he plans to reserve the Triumph for special rides.

DeVault recalls Marlon Brando riding a similar Triumph bike in the movie “The Wild One,” which he said help make motorcycles popular. But DeVault said he was already riding motorcycles by the time the movie came out, and continued riding for much of his life.