My Dads Bike, Short story

When I was 15 my Dad was 55 and the year was 1982. My father decided to take his youngest son (me) to go see the new Yamahas being arranged, displayed and polished in a Ft Lauderdale, Fl. dealership. I know now that he knew what he went looking for.

The 750 Maxim, the electronic dash, the machine finish fully adjustable handlebars, the rectangular headlamp with aux lamp, the adjustable foot controls and the shaft drive. These are just some of the bikes attributes that my dad was attracted to at 6-2 195 it fit him wonderfully and nothing at the time sounded like a shaft driven XJ.
I definitely made an impression on me although I was gaga over the TriMotos.

So as I have been told, he went home that evening told my mom that he intended to purchase a bike, not much else was said. I guess the idea sounded like hyperbole and just a daydream because we were just a average family and not "of means" to just buy a luxury item on a whim. she just dismissed with a "ok, Sure" type of response. He worked hard and has always been a great steward of the family's finances so could afford the purchase bike without any issue, the cost wasn't a factor.

A few days later when the bike was prepared for delivery and the paperwork was finished he rode it home. I could not have been more excited when he pulled into the driveway and was hoping the Black and Yellow TriMoto 225 was gonna be delivered right behind him. I was out of luck LOL.

He revved the engine a few times, hit the horn a bunch till Mom stepped outside to see what all the fuss was about. You all could imagine her reaction, I being a clueless 15yo didn't think nothing of it. Never heard a peep never a negative comment until much later in life. I'm sure he was in the "doghouse" for a while.

 

Life happens and he rode it for a few years always kept it polished clean and well kept, eventually sold it back to the dealer and his ownership of it was always in high regard and had cherished his time having it.

He is 86 now, an elderly man whose strength is diminishing but as strong mentally as ever so thinks alot of his life experiences. There are few things we can give our parents that have little cost but enormous meaning, our love and caring, doing little things to make their days better.

about 18 months ago I decided to find myself a project to tinker with cause I was working so much and had sold off my classic car a few years earlier i found myself itching for something. Now I am practical and just a working stiff so i don't have deep pockets so a restored bike was not the idea. Just one that can be ridden, enjoyed, and would bring back some of those fond memories of riding it along the back roads when my dad was at work and didnt know i was riding it

December 14, 2022 I found within a couple hours of my home a bike that suited my search. This was an adult owned factory upfitted full dresser with 14,000 miles and had sat in a carport for the past 18 years. it was last registered/tagged in 2004

 

Now this was not my Dads bike, all of those touring parts had to go! None of the oxidation was my concern nor did I realize how much of the standard parts were removed for the conversion. I absolutely clueless about this thing had one intention, put it back like a standard Maxim and get it ride-able.

I found this forum and Mr Dave Fox, (hogfiddles) and Len at XJ4Ever. What an incredible resource this site has with these men and others whom have a passion for these machines.

Over the past year with trading , bartering and buying parts, I have been able to get the bike up and riding, still working out some of the bugs. I accomplished my task of getting it in front of my Dad on January 1st 2024.

My parents stepped out of their apartment, my dad with his walker looked across the parking lot to see "His Bike" parked there, man he sure did move faster to get over to it to get a better look, it wasn't a split second that he asked to be helped to sit on it. He lost 20 years in that moment he sat there, cranked it up and revved it a few times.

Mom was emotional seeing him on "His Bike" again.

He spent most the rest of the day looking back at photo albums and talking with everyone about the surprise and having his bike again even for just a few moments.

 

Huge Thank you to Mr. Dave Fox, he rebuilt the carbs for me and they were spot on for startup, minimal adjustment on only #3 was needed to the air/fuel mix. His used parts stash helped me with a dozen parts all over this bike. Len as well has been instrumental making sure I bought the correct parts for my rebuild and the wealth of knowledge this site has is unmatched.

I cannot thank them and others that helped me along the way enough to have my Dad able to to spend those few moments like he was 50something not 80something.

THANK YOU.

Dont Know what I will do with it from here on out, but this is how it looks as of today.

 

Wonderful story. Your dad reminds me a lot of my dad who just passed away last year. He was in a nursing home the last year of his life and got so he really couldn't walk with a walker. I really would have liked to take him for a ride (or even fishing on last time) but it wouldn't happen. My first motorcycle was originally his, a Honda CB 350. Later, I had a couple Kawasaki 500 triples and I took him for a ride on a 'fast' bike. Recently, every time he saw my Maxims he would comment on how nice they looked. RIP Dad.

 

@henry valdes awesome story. Good on you. Give your dad a hug for me as my Pop has long gone to his reward. He wasn't a motorcyclist but that's okay too.

 

Pleasure to be able to be part of this

 

That's some nice work @henry valdes !

 

What a great story Henry, thanks for sharing it. You and I, as well as our dads were about the same age in '82 and reading your account brought back some memories of me and my dad riding dirt bikes in the SoCal desert back then.

That was a wonderful thing you did for your father and I know that must have rekindled some great memories for him.

Great job on the bike too, Henry! Kudos to Mr. Dave Fox also, he was instrumental in assisting me to fix the speedo on a 650 Maxim that I'm working on for my son.

Good people on this site!

 

Glad I could help

 

It is just me but I think a lot of the older bikes were better looking machines? Good picture of your dad on the Yamaha. Love my 900f.

 

I absolutely agree. The good old days of the UJM and the modern day 90's - 00's standards (FZ', ZRX, Bandit, Speed Triple, etc) were the sweetest looking rides. It seems to me that the "street fighter" stance and body work since the 10's just remind me of the Transformer movies. I'm undecided whether they resemble bugs or toys to me.

No offense to those members who like or own them, to each their own and all that. I like the look, balance, stance , and feel of my ZRX and similar styled bikes.

 

Yes I like the Kawasaki ZRX too great bike.

 

I like the look of the xj series... from 1980 thru the 1986 700/750/X and the 750rl/900rk/900r 1st gen.
once the fz1100/1200/etc and later came out I’m nit attracted to them.

I also like the ventures and the VMax, Fazer 700, radians, etc... again early to mid 80’s.

Kawi - none.

suzi - Water Buffalo, Vl1500, the S90, K11P

Honda - 305 Dream, any Goldwing

that pretty much my list of tastes..... but I like the XJ’s the very best.