Why did you buy an XJ?

Cheers Wintersdark Laser four into two exhaust ripped off on right hand side of bike, collector box crosspipe wrecked, headers damaged, fairing and tank damaged, exhaust hanger broken, clocks damaged, indicators broken. It has been written off because of it's age be looking for another XJ 900f, Z1000, GS 1000 or something else that I can get, but preferable an XJ. Good job it was not a high speed collision.

 

Having never driven a motorcycle before ( have been a rider numerous times ) , in 1982, at the age of 26, I walked in the Grand Junction, CO Yamaha motorcycle dealer there, test drove a '82Maxim XJ750. It was liking riding a bicycle. Bought it right then & there ....$ 2,750 out the door........

I still have the same bike 35 yrs later.......here is what it looks like now.........chrome always looks good in the fading evening sunlight......

 

About 12 years ago it was broken down covered in spiders in some guys barn. Gave him $100 for it. Got it running with not much effort, coils and a carb cleaning. Over the past 10 years it's been passed around to at least 4 or 5 of my buddies to use as their first bike to learn on. Recently a buddy asked if I wanted it back for free... so here it is!

 

This thread is awesome.

In 2008, after 20+ years away form motorcycling, I took the rider safety course and bought a 1982 XJ650 from CList. This forum was part of the reason I picked an XJ. I paid $900 plus $50 for the owner to drive it to my house and drop it off from 1 hour away. It proved that it was running. It ran horribly. Difficult to start. Died on throttle.

I did the valve clearances, carbs, vacuum sync, brakes, etc. It ran like a scalded dog after I was finished. It had rust here and there and was not a looker, but I loved it and rode it year-round for 4 years.

After moving to Virginia, I found an XJ1100, test drove it and bought it on the spot. Moved to NC in 2013. Started restoration on the XJ1100 last year. It s fun to work on the XJ. The help from this forum is great.

 

I've been into cars and motorcycles since I was a kid, growing up in a car-guy household. My first memories as a child are of riding around our backyard seated between my father and the tank of his 1969 Triumph Bonneville.

Years later, and after helping my father restore/modify a 1961 Impala (348 w/3 two-barrels), a 1961 Corvette (took it to my senior prom), and a 1966 Chevelle convertible (my first car, LS6 454/4-speed), I fell in love with the idea of motorcycling after hitching a ride around the pits of our local drag strip on some guy's Triumph. Being only 18 or 19 years old, and still living with mom and dad, I needed their permission. Knowing this might be a tough sell, I started leaving motorcycle magazines around the house. Apparently this did work, somewhat, as soon my uncle and father had bought a pair of V-maxes!

Shortly after, I took my test on my Dad's V-Max, then tried to buy a Radian. I was turned down due to a lack of credit, so I went out and bought a 1980 Honda CB750K, and then a 1969 Triumph Bonneville. The CB750 became a regular ride, while the Triumph needed a bit of repair--I bought it in a pile of boxes--okay, it needed a lot of repair. But it did come with a rather old toaster!

After the CB750, the restored Triumph became my regular ride. Lot's of fun, but not a great bike two-up. So when I found a good deal on a 1979 Suzuki GS1000E with low miles that had been sitting in a garage for some ten years, I snapped it up. Wow, what an electric-smooth bike! Several years later I met the lady who was to become my wife on that GS. Don't have the bike anymore, but she's still my friend, lover, and confidant.

But back to the bikes. After we were married a few years, we decided to get something that would be even more comfortable for our rides through the Maryland countryside. My darling wife then bought me/us a 1999 Harley Davidson FXDX-T, which is Harley alphabet soup for a Dyna Glide T-Sport ( a Harley that actually sat a bit higher than the base madel and which went around corners fairly well too).

We rode the devil out of that thing, until my wife's Multiple Sclerosis caused her to no longer be able to ride. I sold the Harley and bought her a little Miata to drive to and from work, and which did double duty as out "ride in the countryside" vehicle on weekends. Pretty cool little cars, those Miatas--a bit like an adult go-kart. I also picked up a nice 1991 Suzuki VX800 to blast the backroads on.

Seven years ago we moved from Maryland to Tennessee for my wife's job, and I sold the VX. But you know how it is, and after a few years the itch to get back on two wheels became too much. I had a guy offer me a 2006 Honda Shadow 750 Spirit in trade for a Thunderbird Supercoupe I had, and so I was on two wheels again. The Honda was a nice bike, but possessed one of the most uncomfortable seats I have ever had the displeasure of parking my butt on. Good grief, Charlie Brown, but that thing could make your butt hurt. I think I'd rather sit on a brick. And let's be honest, that Honda just didn't like corners. Even my old Dyna would easily out handle that thing. So...

So I put an ad on Craigslist and went in search of my next bike. I considered a XS650 (I have one I am building as a Café Racer), but they're a little on the pricey side now. Some sort of UJM was definitely what I wanted, and since I wasn't going to be doing any two-up duties, it could be a middleweight. The CB750 was too big and heavy, as was the GS750 or GS1000. The Yamaha triples were nice, but I didn't want shaft-drive. I also thought about a Radian, but while researching them, found the Seca 550. Good looks, lightweight, narrow... Yeah, that will do it.

The only thing is, the 550 Seca is pretty rare in the US. It took a bit of time, but I found a very nice example in Ohio (eight hours from my home in East Tennessee). Fortunately, I have a wonderful wife--when we were getting ready to be married, I asked Kristy, "you're not going to be one of those ladies who makes the guy sell the car and the motorcycle, are you?" She asked if that happend, to which I explained that it was so common as to be cliché. Kristy cocked her head and explained, "every good woman knows that a man has to have his toys. If he doesn't," she continued, "he finds something else to play with... and she usually has breasts"--and she came along with me for the ride. Twenty hours later, we pulled into the driveway with a very nice "survivor" on the trailer.

 

You have a keeper ...my wife understands me somewhat . Went through a few bikes over the years , went a few years without a bike , spent alot of time away from home in other states so no riding . Now it is riding season ...and I have not rode much at all it has rained , or the wind gusting to 30 to 50 miles an hour. Might ride in morning fingers crossed.

 

My Story starts in 87. One of my close friends just sold his XJ400 Maxim to another and bought himself a new FZ750. I needed transportation and went with him to see a 82 seca 550. It was barely broken in with 4,200 km. I picked it up for $850 CAD. A little damage cosmetically from a drop. otherwise mint. Now the 3 of us could ride together.

I didn't set out to keep it for 30 years, it just happened. At one point it was my only form of transportation, getting me school and work reliably. Lots of adventures in those early years. Once taking it with me on a 4 month work assignment in TO, I rode down on the 401 while two girl friends drove their Civic. From the other lane, Pulling up beside them, I rubbed my tummy as a gesture, and an apple was held up. Another gesture from me let her know I could not fit it under the full face helmet. Then a banana was held up. I nodded, she peeled it, rolled the window down and handed it off to me as we were both doing 110 kph. I slid it under the chin guard and pushed it into my mouth , devouring it quickly and tossing the peel.

Once I parked illegally on the grass at a municipal park on the Quebec side. After returning from the beach, the bike was gone and I was able to find out the police towed it to their yard. Seems extreme but this is Quebec. I convinced another motorcyclist to take me to the police station, where I could pay fined and retrieve it. Once there I was told it was held in the nearby yard, that I had to go there to present ownership papers. Problem was, when I got there no one was at the gate house, the gate was open and I could see the bike's red tank at the very back corner of the yard. I quickly made my way there, key in one hand and helmet in the other. But I didn't SEE THE DOG that came charging from the other corner of the lot, a big german shepard at full speed. I just threw the helmet on, shoved the in key, fired it up, and narrowly escaped those jaws on my heels; spitting gravel in the face of the beast as I made my quick exit and straight to the Ontario side. Moral victory only, as they cracked the windshield when towing it.

But it was my "pay it forward" moment I'll never forget. Returning to Ottawa from TO the day before Halloween, I sped out of town at very high speed and RPM, 188km (117 miles) in about 1 hour 15. But 10 minutes into the 2 lane hwy 37, I saw blue smoke pouring off the bike in my mirror. I was barely able to stop as the rear tire slid on streaming hot oil. Dressed head to toe in thermal and rain gear, I dismounted to see I'd lost the oil drain bolt - vibrated right out. In the middle of nowhere, I slowly walked back olong the road hoping beyond hope to find it. But an older gentlemen in a pickup truck did a U-turn and found me. "I that your bike back there?" (Yup - like the helmet and gear weren't a good clue). "You in some kind of trouble?" - "Yeah - I lost my oil drain bolt and have no oil" "OH! (pauses).. so what are you going to do about it?" "Well, I was hoping to find it and then find someone who had oil". "Well, how big was it?" (I gestured the size), "Well how fast were you going?" (I understated that at 130 kph). He gives me a solemn look, shaked his head and says "Son, you'd be luckier than a two-peckered pup if you found that on the side of the road. There's a Yamaha dealership in Bellville, hop in."

So I met his wife & grankids, had some dinner, got taken to Belleville and back and even offered to stay, as it was cold and getting colder, but after all that he would not take a dime of my money, he just asked me to "help the next person who needs it". Which was ironic, as within 10 minutes of being back on the road the freezing rain started. It intensified over the next 3 hours, and its well into the pitch dark of night by this time, and I almost lost it 3 times. Freezing rain is like a skating rink, and this was easily the worst riding I had ever experienced. It was a miracle I made it back, it was hard just to keep my visor clear. Only 5 km from home I happened upon a fresh accident at the highway off-ramp with a car upside down in the cloverleaf and no police in sight. Hearing the old man's words in my head, I pulled over to dismount and offer assistance. I got the kickstand down but when I tried to dismount I fell flat on my ass. Sure, it was iced over, but my knees had literally frozen to the point they couldn't unbend from the position they had been for the last 3 hours. I finally got up and confronted the scene - the girl who's car flipped was now in the van of the other driver involved, visibly shaken and crying. I stayed until the cops came, but could offer no other help as I didn't witness what happened. Home to a very hot bath and very stiff drink.

I rode the Seca every season from then on, right up until 2000 or so, and basically rode it in to the ground. Then when my wife wanted to learn riding, I resuscitated it (to her astonishment), and with lots of elbow grease (and LOTS of help from this site !!) it was ready for her to ride with 54,000km on the clock. So after 90,000+km and two (?) partial rebuilds, retaining maybe 70% of the original parts, I still have the bike on the road in 2017. But my wife rides it mostly now; I have a Vmax and Ninja, but I'm still the caretaker of the 550 Seca and I guess will be forever. Hell, its still worth $850 CAD, right?

 

I like these xj love stories. I got my first xj cuz a co-worker was giving it away. My next one will be the love story...

"Well, it all started when I got a free Seca... Had to sell it due to a spell of bad luck, and started searching for the one..."

 

I started this thread because I love hearing the stories . I started riding at 14 on a Honda trail 70 rode everywhere on it . Next rode my dads Honda 550K when I got my license his only thing I had to where a helmet ....I still do!!!! After he sold the bike I didn't ride until I got my own bike an 84 Kawaski 550LTD F1 very rare shaft drive model I was caretaker for 9 years should never have sold it. Had a 92 Yamaha Seca 2 for a couple of days I traded 550 with the dealer ...wife was pissed because I had to give some $$$ ..had to trade it back ...dealer knew me felt sorry for me so we traded back. Lesson learened never spend money without., wife letting you finally in 99 sold my 550 to a kid I had to teach how to ride ...we were moving to a new house and needed a refrigerator..so in 2001 I bought my first new Bike a 2001 Buell Blast 500 thumper with a Kerker pipe 37hp little bastard was actually a Blast to ride...had it up to 95 a few times and I weighed 250lbs so that was plenty fast ..I also had my first lay down ..low speed hit a cut out in an S curve with gravel...my helmet saved my life looked like it had been put on a grinder..and a chunk was missing in temple area...my gloves had a little chunk in knuckles missing and my jacket was shreaded on one arm..I was more worried about bike . I broke my HD footpeg , my windsheild was scratched up and had some rash on side. Rode home and over next few days fixed ...later sold bike a co worker I taught him how to ride ..he is now a life long rider . Next up for me a Honda CB750 Custom with 4500 original miles one I should have kept ... I kept it a year and sold it on. Bought an 82 Virago for 400$ that didn't run learned a bunch about starters on this one lol bike had 4000 miles on had sat in a barn since 84 .. another I should have kept. Sold it for 1500$ to another guy who had never rode so went several years without owning a bike as work took me out of state and job transfer to different state before finally settling down. Wife gave me green light to buy another bike...what to buy I really wanted a Nighthawk ..found a 650 on eBay ..but before I bid looked at Yamaha section here it was 82 750 Seca with 11000 miles and it was local and in my favorite color bright yellow 850$ I bid on it and won . Slowly resurrecting it the way I want it I love this bike shaft drive, the atari and all I love the shape of the tank , the rake of the bike. I have still less than 1800 tied up in bike from purchase price and all the work . Originally I was going to flip it , but changed my mind I love this bike

 

Well, I grew up in a house where there were no motorcycles "while you're under my roof mister"...

Then when I got married and moved out, I put a CB350? (Or something like that) in the shed for a month but never got it going and it left when I got sick of the wife complaining that I didn't consult her first ... newlyweds... sheesh.

Then I had my two boys and decided upping the life risk factors was not a good idea, so I waited. Now that my youngest is within two years of college and the early financial struggles of life are behind me, I figure I can start taking some risks again so I started looking... for six months and telling the wife EVERY WEEK that I was looking for a bike. I took the local rider course and after 30 years and the last few pick ups like starting to play hockey again and a couple of guns, the wife has learned I mean what I say and I drove 3 hours to DC to pick up my Seca. I'm the third owner, 9900 miles when I picked it up six months ago, and when she is purring I know I will own another bike but I will never sell this one. I was looking for an easy starter bike, "Ford Taurus" of motorcycles and I thought the Seca was that. But now I've really fallen in love with the lines and know she's no slowpoke... The PO was a grad student at U of Md and was off to Alaska or something like that, and he put off other buyers for two weeks waiting for me to borrow a trailer, nice guy. When we loaded it up I swear to god he started tearing up a little and I thought this bike might turn out to be special. I haven't owned it long enough yet but love story to follow when someone re-opens this thread 5 years from now.

I'm making the wife a removable backrest now and she already has a helmet

 

Finally learned your lesson!

 

To be honest, I've regretted selling every bike I've ever sold. I'm now a firm believer in the old saying, the correct number of bikes owned is n+1, where n is equal to the number of bikes currently owned

 

Never have to many bikes...only problem I have an empty wallet so at least I have one bike I love my xj750 Seca.

 

My mother in law asked me what my ideal bike was... It took me about 20 minutes to answer, and I used visual aids. I can't even narrow it down to just one Seca, let alone one xj!

 

Favorite bike you ask ? It is like "What is your favorite drink" ? "The Next One"

 

I prefer the one I'm drinking now... I hate the one I just finished. Empty bastard.

 

So have not rode much lately .. various reasons took it out for a short ride ...felt so good when it hits 5k on tach and you hear the throaty sound of the engine winding up the feel of the bike picking up speed quick ...This is why I bought a 750 Seca

 

I also grew up I a house where there were no motorcycles allowed. Finally five years ago I was single and had some money and a friend from school and work talked me into getting my motorcycle endorsement so I did. During the previous month or so I had been looking through craigslist and nothing was in my price range of 1300.00. To be honest I was looking for a 600 crotch rocket.
My friend suggested that I put a ad out that I was looking for a bike for under the 1300 and within an hour I got a text from a young guy that he had an XJ700X. I had no idea what it was or looked liked until I goggled it. So I went to check it out two days later. She was sitting in a barn when I arrived. The kid jumped it due to the battery being dead and she fired right up. As I knew nothing of bikes my friend took it for a spin and he said that it would be a great bike. So I went to the local auto store bought a battery filled the battery with its juice ran some jumper cables from my car to the battery, smoked a cigarette and then put it into the bike. Paid the kid and off I went for my first 30 mile ride.
At the time I felt that I got ripped off, little did I know that she would be nothing but a blessing.
Overall just dumb luck as to why I bought an XJ700X.
I believe that by waiting so many years allowed me to gain a better perspective on being responsible when riding.
Oh I have scared the crap out of myself a couple of times don't get me wrong but I love my bike!

 

It was 1982, I was a young 7 year old boy.......my brother in law bought a brand new maxim 750.....I fell in love with that fancy computer dash! His neighbor had a beautiful red 650 maxim..........fast foward to present.....my 17 yr old decided he wanted a bike.....decided on a 550 maxim that reminded me of that red one his neighbor had.......then as we got it running and perfect, decided it was time for my second (I had a ninja 1100 in HS, but sold the fall of 93)..........found my dream bike in the form of a mint 750 Seca with that same dash! Now within 2 months, we went from a no bike household, to having 2 Xjs in the garage!

 

I think old Yamahas have been stalking ME through the years. I've tried numerous times to go in other directions! ...Started in early 80s. I spent half the 70s clingin' to pops on the back of a CB750... When he dropped it (not with me), he replaced it with a Yamaha XS.... so, I spent the early 80s on the back of that one... or watching him work on it! (Come to think of it... nowadays, people think it crazy that a dad would ride around with their kid on the back.)

My best friend's dad restored/collected British bikes - I drooled over his old Norton Commandos. Occasionally, I got to tool around town on them, but that collector craze had already begun to take off - Just couldn't afford that bike. When I got my own, a Virago was what I could afford... $500 bucks got me transportation for the next few years. I became a master of finding ways to bring groceries home on it. Eventually, it was stolen. The only thing that ever drove me nuts was the starter.

After a little absence from riding, I wanted something fun to ride, and easy-ish to work on. For some reason, I was obsessing over old Moto Guzzis, or even a Triumph... but decided "Maybe I should stick with something I know." Then, plop! A Yamaha fell into my hands.

They're stalking me. I tell you, they are!


...and I wanted something that didn't pee on the driveway. Damn Brit bikes.