And 364 days later...

...I finally get the nerve to introduce myself. Didn't realize how social media shy I was.
There aren't words to express what a great service everyone here has done for these great bikes. I was first introduced to the XJ's a little over a decade ago when one of my customers gave me his 750J. He no longer had the time to ride and since I had done some favors for him he thought this would be a good thank you. Sure pays to do good work!
I have been addicted to two wheels ever since 1976 when my buds and I got bikes at the same time. My Honda CB350, their Suzuki T500 and Yamaha RD350 have left no stone unturned on all these curvacious North Georgia roads (and back then there were plenty that were unpaved).
Since I have no intentions of ever parting with my XJs, being a member here is priceless. I always know where to go for parts and advice. I'll probably never achieve wizard status seeing as social media is not one of my strong points, but I do hope to post some worthwhile info from time to time.
Well I'm off to the "past motorcycles" thread to list the bikes I've owned and known. Thank you all so much. Cheers!!

 

i can only hope to eventually a line up of bikes like yours.

 

Welcome to the forum MSmoke. No need to be shy. There are a lot of folks willing to answer questions without making you uncomfortable. And the rest Who cares!

I for one would be interested in hearing the story behind this:

<snip> 1982 XJ750J (Victim of a wild teenager with a hatchet, awaiting $ & time for a resurrection <endsnip>

Loren

 

Hi Loren,
The story of the hatchet wielding teenager happened not long after I got the bike; about two weeks or so. I kept it out in the backyard and had developed the habit of coming to the patio door every morning and just staring at it, going over in my head the steps I wanted to take to get it road worthy again; carbs, brakes, tires, etc., and deciding which one of these great Georgia twisty roads would get the honors of christening its first ride. One morning ended all that when at first glance a sickening feeling in my gut told me something had happened. When I got out to it it had been beaten up with a hatchet. The instrument cluster, handlebars, lights, seat, mufflers, shock covers, side covers, fins on the engine (oooh the anger that swells up as I wright this!) were all destroyed. He didn't touch the gas tank. Guess he figured gasoline and glancing blows on metal didn't go together. Turned out to be a local teenager who was just going through some tough times with his parents and was looking for some aggression relief. It was nothing personal against me, my bike was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. This sort of thing is rare in our neighborhood and the kid is actually pretty decent, just a bad case of poor judgement; and I do mean BAD! But that's all behind and I'm looking forward to sharpening my restoration skills because THIS XJ WILL LIVE AGAIN!

 

you my friend, are a better man than I!!! Judging by the reading, you know who the kid is.... if it were my bike, it would be past tense... "I knew who the kid was"

 

MidnightSmoke do I know you? Are you a member of the TMIOA? I hosted the 2004 rally in Kingsport. That sounds a lot like my old bike except I had the stage 5 Hitachi and it was an E1.

 

turboghost,
Just finished welcoming you in your post when I saw your post here. I wasn't at the 2004 rally in Kingsport. If you made it to the 2002 rally here in Dahlonega you may have seen me. I was the one lurking around Saturday morning before the ride with my tongue hanging down to my knees. I didn't have a turbo at that time but when I spotted everyone in the motel parking lot I dropped by to see what was happening. I was blown away by all the great turbos there. It started such an obsession in me to have one that in the months that followed I could hear whisperings in the shadows from my family, 'looks like we gonna have to have him commited'.
The 84 turbo I have is waiting to be modded, hasn't happened yet and with this economy...may be awhile.
Again, welcome to the forum. It's one of the most active sites around; something happening everyday. I love it!.

 

Yup! I was there when you showed-up! I don't think I got to speak with you but, I do remember you stopping by. Here's a pic of me at that rally.

 

Cool pic, and that looks like Steve and Purple Passion behind you! Good luck to you and M6NTL planning the route 66 trip, a bikers dream come true.

 

That's Purple Passion but, not Steve. I think that might be Oneleg but, not sure about the other. Steve sold Passion to Bill at the CBX shop a few years ago.