Nebraska man reunited with motorcycle stolen in 1967

In Omaha, Neb., on Wednesday, Donald DeVault, center, thanks Lou Koven, the customs agent who had found his long-lost motorcycle. It was the first time DeVault had seen the bike since it was stolen from him 46 years ago. California authorities, including Koven, had recovered his 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 at the Port of Los Angeles where it was about to be shipped to Japan. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Donald DeVault, 73, and mechanic Doug Manley, right, look over DeVault's motorcycle in Omaha, Neb., after it was returned to him on Wednesday. California authorities had recovered his 1953 Triumph Tiger 100, which was stolen in 1967, at the Port of Los Angeles where it was about to be shipped to Japan. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Donald DeVault, 73, gets on his 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 in Omaha, Neb., after it was returned to him on Wednesday. It was the first time he had seen the bike since it was stolen 46 years ago. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

OMAHA, Neb. — A Nebraska man was reunited Wednesday with his now-vintage motorcycle stolen nearly 50 years earlier.

Donald DeVault, 73, laid eyes on his 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 for the first time in 46 years at a trucking company near the airport in Omaha.

His first reaction? To hug the man who brought the bike back to him. His next move was — naturally — to take the motorcycle for a spin in the parking lot.

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 agents checking the vehicle identification number discovered it had been reported stolen in February 1967.

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

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

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

The Omaha man said he’s talked about the Triumph over the years whenever he was around bikers. It had a couple features unusual for Triumphs made in the early 1950s, such as its hardtail frame.

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.

What sold him on the Triumph was the blue color and the name “Li’l Blue Bitch” airbrushed on the side of the gas tank.

On Monday, he brought in a friend to repaint the name on the tank.