Hello I'm back.

It's been 15?? Years since I was a member. Back then I had a an 82 650 seca. I learned a lot from this sight even after 20 years (at that time) of working in bikes. Mostly to just get one going so I could ride.that poor seca has a lot of life left in it when a Dodge charger on interstate 10 west bound between Holt and Milton decided it was bigger and wanted to have my spot so it took it by force. I did a 219 foot rag doll down the median and the wire
The witness who stopped and had called 911 initially said for the first second or 2 it was like I was skiing but on my chest and face it even looked peaceful before the tumbling started.
I don't know about that for me it was oh shit a flash of light and I woke up with paramedics on me. I never saw that or seca again. But there's been a good few since. ironically that wreck was what started what I do now,.
This has already been a long post so I'll leave out how that set the stage to end up up here now. I can tell that if any are interested in later posts. But the reason I am here making this new account is I'd like some opinions. Every time I look at Google images to get inspiration for things on the newest project I keep seeing the forum come up. I've built so many themes and styles over the last 15 years it gets repetitive sometimes, of course I don't break from my style as a kind of category. Why build what you wouldn't want to ride so sport and cafe type stuff yeah not into it. But we'll get to that. Just wanted to say hello. And introduce myself.
My name is Shane, in the world I go by and am known to many as Gypsy but my most favorite people in this lifetime call me pawpaw. I tend to answer to all 3. You can call me whatever.
Is listing the bikes you have still a thing?
Is chacal still around?
So how the hell is everyone and is any body still here from around 2008 2009?
Somewhat are we gonna get into and who wants to offer suggestions to the newest victim on the lift?
(There's 11 in the stable)

 

I'm still here! Welcome back Shane, glad you're still with us. Would love to see some of your projects.

 

Welcome back! I can't believe I'm nearing ten years on this site myself.......feels like I bought that 82 Maxim last year. That bike also was taken out by an inattentive driver and got me a new hip at 42. Glad you're still with us and still into bikes!

My current ride is an 82 Seca 650

 

I'm more of a lurker, but have been here since the end of '06, when I had my 83 650 Maxim.

I now have an 83 750 Maxim that my stepdaughter named Luna, due to the mural on the gas tank. The mural is almost the same age as the bike, as the mural was done in '86. My stepdaughter originally suggested "Moon Cat", so I took it a step further amd did a partial Latin translation to Luna Cattis Tik, so if you call her by first and last names, you get "Luna Tik",

The mural is a VERY early piece by a very accomplished local artist. His work quality now makes this look like a very amature piece.

A friend just finished having him do the mural work on a memorial bike built in honour of a brother that lost his battle to cancer last summer.

 

I really like that........

 

I joined this site in November of 2014 so it will soon be 10 years of membership for me. It amazes me that there are so many XJ's still in circulation after 40 years. As a mechanical engineer, my hat is off in respect to Yamaha's engineering and manufacturing teams from the early 1980's for designing and building these fine machines. I will have enjoyed mine for 32 years on Memorial Day of this year.