My Seca 550 + car show = dissapoitment

I entered my bike in a big car show today because I followed my buddies down to it. I parked it and absolutely NO one stopped to take a second look. One dude even had the guts to make fun of my fairings.... Eff you! Some people don't understand about what it's like to own one of these vintage xjs... There was a best motorcycle category and some new freaking crotch rocket won. What a bunch of bs. Oooooooo I buy a brand new bike and I paint my fenders with tie die colors and put pink zebra stripes on it! Big woop! The more cylinders the beter! Whatever just thought I should let my frustrations out not like it is a big deal. Guess I have to find a vintage bike show and then people will think it is pretty cool. But I have to say it was a cool car show.

 

Unless people know Japanese bikes well, they will not know what you have.
Couldn't tell you how many times I've told someone about my bike and they have the look of (what the hell is an XJ?). At least that is the norm around here. If its not a Harley, a CB or a Kawi, then its unknown. The only well known Yamaha here seems to be the Virago or V-Star.

 

We just have a smaller audience is all.

I came out of a store last week to find some guy, salt and pepper hair, standing with a smile on his face beaming wistfully at my '83 550 Seca.

I walk up to my bike/him and he says "I had the 750 in the same (color) scheme. Never shoulda sold it."

 

Perhaps no one knew how old - or in what sort of condition it was - for its age?

In the UK the registration stays with the vehicle for life (Yes, I know I live on a little island!) so a quick glance at the number plate tells you exactly how old it is.

Also, take heart from what Fitz said. I remember somebody posted here a passer by saying to them "I didn't realise they still made them" looking at a 30 year old XJ!

 

Lol yeah there is a few select that still know about these bikes. I get a lot of compliments from the older generation. Hell. Sometimes i find notes and money on my bike! So they're out there. People who appreciate things like that in life
Dont get discouraged

 

$ay what!? How doe$ that work?

 

I drive to work. I work at Macaroni Grill, sot here a lot of those older people comin in. So for 10-13 hours a day my bikes sits out front of the building

 

damn i wish i got money just for having one. One guy actually took a few pictures and uploaded them to facebook. Basically the only one that acknowledged the bike besides the people i went there with. I help them build drift cars and that is what everyone was into. It isnt the cleanest thing around but it is still cool.

 

Don't be discouraged Danny.....to even enter your bike takes a lot of courage...because you are "exposing"yourself, or at least a part of you. I'll tell you my experience and maybe you'll feel better.

I entered a bike in a show a while back. I had to rent a trailer. It was a vintage show but I had to drive up to PA from my home near Annapolis, about 70 miles. I strapped my bike into (rented a enclosed trailer) and drove up…along the way it poured making me think this was going to be a total waste of time and money. Every bump scared me that my bike was going to fall and get damaged…..by the time I got there, I was a nervous wreck

I get to the show, worried as I open the rear doors and was relieved to find nothing amiss. As I slowly back it out of the trailers, hushed voices start with “he brought a triple?””the judges hate kaw triples” “he just wasted his day”……made me feel really bad and honestly, I just wanted to roll it back into the trailer and leave. I parked it, filled out the paperwork and took my GF inside both to get something to eat and to get away from what I perceived to be, a hostile crowd. I remember telling my sweetheart that I wished I hadn’t come.

I felt better after eating and walked back outside to look at the other bikes entered. There were bunches or really nice bikes. I fell right in with the guys and we Bs’ed for an hour or so while my GF stood dutifully by looking good.
Then the judges started making their rounds. As hard as I tried to ignore them as the y looked over my bike, I couldn’t….trying to read their expressions and body language from 10 yards away.
In the end, I won first place…..I even got a trophy…..but all I wanted to do was to get it loaded and safely home. Keeping a promise I had made to another guy who had entered a bike, I started up my H2 with open stingers on the expansion chambers as I rode it the 30 feet to where my rented trailer was parked….in my mind, my only thought was “can you hear me now bit**es?” as that brilliant staccato silenced everything, living or not, for a 200 yard radius. I guess for me, it was a bit of audio payback...immature for sure, but it made me feel better as those same people who had whispered their comments held their fingers in their ears.

I will NEVER enter another bike into a show even though most of my bikes are nice enough….it just wasn’t worth the worry and hassle of getting it all the way there and back without breaking anything. Then, on top of that having to hear those things that were said as I had unloaded it and the 2 hours of stomach upset waiting for the judging to be completed....no, I'm just not cut out for shows.

It just wasn't worth it to me.

So don't get down....some of us just aren't "show offs"!!

jeff

 

I had my Honda CB1 in a car show and no one gave it a second look. That's a rare bike too, but I figured no one knew enough to know.
I've had both the Honda and the XJ at Quaker Steak bike night and no one cared.
The same show is coming up in October, I'm thinking about entering the bike in as a "survivor", and no one will probably care, but I'll still have fun.

 

There's a big difference between shows that actually have judges, and shows where the "judging" is done by a vote of the crowd.

My all-original Norton has won numerous awards in "juried" shows over the years, but I've never taken a "Peoples' Choice" award, ever.

 

Not many people know what an Yamaha XJ bike is. I had one guy ask once if it was an XS. I tell most people what it is and they are like huh? what? I say inline 4 and shaft drive they perk up some.. We are the cult of XJ, right here on this little place on the 'net.

 

While in Indy at the moto gp I had a similar experience, lots of bikes but nobody stopping to stare at mine. Made me feel insignificant untill we were leaving the event and I heard someone say, oh my God a Maxim X, you dont see one of those everyday, those are awesome bikes. MAde my day that somebody had an appreciation for my steed.

 

Well.... I guess I gotta chime in here:

The first bike that I entered into a local show (Fathers Day Cruise-in about 20 minutes away) was a couple of years ago. I entered my 83 xj650 maxim full-dresser. There were about a dozen other bikes. I received the People's Choice - 2nd Place trophy. You can see that one in my gallery.

The second bike I entered was in the same show a year later. That time, I entered my 83 xj900rk seca which is unrestored. Again, approx. a dozen bikes were entered.....some tricked out, chromed out harleys, some antiques, lots of 'rockets. I saw and overheard quite a few of the riders come in, get off their bikes, walk right over to mine and say...."man, look at that one--I'm gonna vote for THAT!". They'd vote for mine, and not for even their own???

I received First Place - Best in Show trophy. You can see that one in my gallery, too.

Do I expect to get trophies? Nope. Do I hope and try? Yup.

I was just happy to have them get some recognition.

The Seca was sweet justification for the bike, as it is in such nice condition but before I bought it, the PO was about to sell it as parts and onther fellow was ready to start stripping it. Fortunate circumstances allowed for me to rescue it from certain death.

One thing I DO do, is to have a small sign explaining what the bike is, and why it's so uncommon. Oh yeah.......I guess I should tell you that--it is the 17th one built. I think it helps for people to know that when they vote.

Dave Fox