Why did you buy an XJ?

Len, if you are willing to share....curious how you got in the XJ business...

 

<inches to the edge of his seat>

Do tell!

Unless it involves soviet spies and what not . . .

 

I was looking for a bike for under $900 that I could work on myself, since I had more time than cash. Now I have neither, but have brought the bike up to current maintenance, so making it look nicer will just have to wait.

 

Oh please enlighten us to your beginnings, Oh wise one !

 

Ooooh, definitely interested!

 

Drinking with an older neighbor I noticed the back wheel under a tarp in his back yard. I asked him about it and he said he put it there after laying it down a decade back. Said I could have it for a bottle of whiskey. It's been a lot of fun getting running again.

 

Always remember the ancient wisdoms:

There is an old East Indian proverb: "If you have an enemy give him an elephant; at first he will think you are his best friend".

The cowboy version of his anecdote is to give him an old horse......

The motorcyclist version is give him an old bike.

 

Point taken

 

Was looking for my first bike, but did not want to put out much money for my new interest. Was actually interested in a mid 80's Honda CB650 Nighthawk. The older bikes seemed to be where to go to get a running bike in my price-range. I came across an ad for my Seca and loved the looks. At under a grand, and it ran, I took a look. It seemed mostly mechanically sound; needing mostly cosmetic work. Wasn't the best to look at, but I just wanted something to ride. Didn't know much about the XJ's and came across this site in my research. Honestly, I was swayed by the terrific help available here. A few weeks went by and it was still available. I bit.

 

I just wanted something that went vroom and to put pods on it.

 

Easy now with that pod talk.

 

2 years ago I found a brand new Yamaha riding jacket with body armor and all at a church garage sale. $30 and fit me perfect. "sold" I hadn't ridden for 25 years and I think this was my sign. My GF mentioned a few times about wanting a bike. I got her riding lessons for her B-Day and the next winter starting searching Kijiji for a couple of barn-finds. As much as I like riding, I enjoy the process of rebuilding and restoring as much.

The Seca XJ750 was a cool performance bike when I was in high school. I saw this for sale well under $1000. Read a bunch of old articles on what a great bike they were and jumped in. After many hours of cleanup, painting, upgrades (work in progress), shes a great ride. I expect I'll turn over the odometer by this time next year.
Lynn has her license and a Boulevard 800. We ride together constantly and planning a couple rode trips this summer. Getting bikes has been a great connection for both of us as well as an interesting past-time for me.

BTW - Loving this website !! Seeing pictures and details of other project bikes is very inspiring. Technical feedback has been SO helpful. I've got a few more upgrades planned for this winter.. I almost bought pods and luckily, your website convinced me otherwise. Thank you and keep up the great efforts !!

 

I have owned a motorcycle since I was 16, so going on 45 years now. Started with a Honda Sport 50, on to a Honda CB160 and a Suzuki 90 upgraded to a flat tracker racer, then a Honda SL350 and progressed to a 1973 Yamaha RD350. I had owned the RD350 for about 10 years when a golfing buddy offered up the Seca 750 in 1985. He wanted to upgrade to the Turbo 650 at the time. So, the Seca has been in my garage or carport depending where I lived for over 30 years. It's been a great bike that I seldom ride (OD just hit 18,000), but I can't give it up as when I do ride it is such a fulfilling experience. I never saw the need to upgrade to something faster or different as the Seca had everything I desired.

 

I actually had to get a car tyre and when I went to the car dealer a motorcycle dealer was in the business unit adjacent to it. There was my XJ a bit rough looking at the time, but mechanically in very good condition and I always wanted one of these bikes. A short test ride convinced me even further I liked the motor and the asthetics of the bike although it needed new tyres but I have it all nearlly sorted out now and plan to put a lot of miles on it in the Scottish Highlands and down to Yorkshire to see some of my biking pals. And my brother bought the bike for my 50th birthday what a present he got me. I consider myself very fortunate to have this bike as if it were not for my brother I could not have got it at the time. Its great to be back on two wheels again the sense of freedom is awesome.

 

cough:: pods ::cough cough

I needed a hobby. just didn't know it was just as expensive as rebuilding a car. Was planning on buying a ducati or a cafe/tracker/brat bike. Looking on craigslist i saw a blacked out 82 maxim xj650 that was lowered. Went for a test drive, loved it. Didn't trust the seller. 1k for basically a ratted out version from a young guy i just didnt trust. 2 weeks later i found one for 2k. Visually it was in mint condition, just needed some love. Got bored and started to hate how ::trump voice::: YUGE the seat was so i decided to alter it. Then that led to all the other mod's and what the bike looks like today. Original plan was a bobber, wife was like where will i sit. SO tracker it was. Then she got prego and now she says she will never go on it. le sigh

Virago cafe racer is my next mission.

 

I've got an xv920 Virago Bobber I built and an xv750 Virago that's in a million pieces that will become something after I get done with the xj and some cosmetic and maintenance items on my other motorcycles. Viragos are fun but those early 80's models and their box of rocks starter system are embarrassing when you go to start them. Not sure what the engineers at Yamaha were thinking with that starter system design.

 

I had an 82 Virago 750 a few years ago went thru 3 starters before I got Dr Viragos starter kit no problem after fitting the upgraded spring and shim kit. I bought it for 400$ and put 400 in new tires,battery , starter and carb kits and rebuild the forks and brakes . Bike had 4k original mileage 2nd owner guys uncle bought it new quit riding and it sat in a shed. I needed cash at time put it on CL and listed it for 1500$ sold it 2 hrs after I listed . I kinda miss it but I enjoy my xj750 seca more.

 

In 1981 I was 25 yrs. old. Been riding motorcycles since I was 13 yrs. old. At the time I was riding a honda 1975 550 four. I saw an ad in a bike magazine for a 1981 yamaha 650 maxim. I loved the styling and shaft drive. I had to see it in person and after many stops at the yamaha shop, I bought a brandy new one! I owned it for about 25 yrs. sold it for a Harley, sold the Harley and got a 1983 750 maxim and a 1981 750 seca! I just plan love them.

 

I ride and wrench XJ's (and their derivatives) to make use of my shop manual collection.
Nothing worse than a shop manual without oil stains.

 

I was on vacation a few years ago at the beach. We arrived at a restaurant and as I was walking in I heard a bike role in to the same restaurant. I looked back and instantly knew I had to have one the square headlights on the seca and the sound of the bike drew me in. Being 20 at the time I was called crazy for wanting a bike older than me. I found one from a man who saved it from sitting the rest of its life. A motorcycle safety course instructer. The bike was not registered, he rode it up and down his street going from lock to lock. I had never seen someone so good at riding. I knew I had to have it bought the bike right after and came back the next day to ride it 2 hours home from Philadelphia.