Why do you own your XJ

As the title says, Im interested in comments as to why we all choose to own an XJ. It's a topic that has probably ran through most of your minds as that last hard to reach bolt breaks off on Saturday night before the planned Sunday ride. :lol:

Given that the age of an most XJ's makes parts difficult to locate and sometimes expensive, I often wonder if all the money spent on them wouldn't have bought a newer and less maintenance bike.

Money is the main issue I see as one of the most common comments in any thread goes something like....... $33, anyone know where I can get cheaper ones?

Is the reason sentimental?
All you could afford at the time and now stuck with it.
Handed down from your great grandfather?
Just like a simple bike coz I love tinkering.


My reason is purely sentimental as I owned an XJ550 in my youth and regretted ever selling it. This ones a keeper although I plan to add a few more different bikes to the stable but the XJ will be buried with me. :wink:

Of course the tinkering is a welcome side affect as well. 8)

I look forward to a few comments.

Cheers
HG

 

I'm 21 and this is my first street bike. I've had it for about a month. My uncle gave it to me for replacing the water pump and timing belt in his car. So far I have taken apart the carbs and cleaned them so it would run. Then I repaired the damaged and leaking gas tank. I also replaced the brake fluid and gave it an oil change. I have ridden it about 350miles and I love it. It needs new tires and other little stuff but it will get there. I like the older style and how comfortable it is to ride. I'm sure I'll have it for many years.

 

I was 16 in '83, and had a car already and a couple motoX bikes..But I needed (or was it wanted) a cool but practical street bike.
Both Yamaha and Honda had re-thought their engine design and the midnite maxim and the Nighthawk were quite similar during these years. I remember needing my dad to go to the dealer w/ me for them to allow them to take either bike for a test hop.. oh how I loved them both. To shorten the long decision process story, I struck a sweet deal with greenbacks on the brand spankin' new Nitehawk. So the story goes Wife, kids, mortgages, time, gravel roads...and I sold it ...vowing to own one again someday. I bought a new enduro to keep my chops up...I'm not dead ya know!
So a Neighbor down the road asks to use my garage to clean an old bike he had sitting outside his barn for 7 or so years. And he pushes over an 83 750maxim. So with the very minimum, He got it to run for that summer. I told him that I have a bit of a fancy for that particular bike and asked for first dibs if he ever wanted to sell it. He nodded his ungrateful head a rode away.
As fall came around he was layed off from work and needed money for beer and asked if I was still interested....$400 and she was in my nice dry warm garage that night.
All winter "xJ-lo" recieved a body-off restoration; Valves, tires, brakes, gaskets, seat cover, tank paint, exaust..etc and she rides as close to what I can remember in the day.

Ya ya ya it's a sappy story I know. but it shows how we revert to our younger days whether we know it or not.

Makes me think now...I had three girlfriends at 16 too! 8)

Jeff-ski out .

 

I was looking for something bigger that my lack-luster Suzuki GS550T (that blasted bench seat was murder on the butt, should have gotten an L model) and happend to notice an add. "Parts only, doesn't run $125". Being fairly excited about my recent success in reassembling an '86 XT125 I picked up for $35 (he said it wouldn't go any faster than 80 on the freeway at wide open throttle, Doh!) and built in my apartment bedroom (I was very careful, didn't make any mess. Hope my former landlord, Mr. Moore, isn't a fan, he'd hit the roof if he ever found out). Anyway, I pop on over to this fellows house in San Diego and he shows me "Sheila". Turns out he dropped it at about 35mph a few weeks earlier and had replaced the handle bars that got bent. I pulled the carbs and looked them over. Clean and happy. I then checked out the handle bars and found he had pinched the kill switch wire. He was kicking himself, but he was a good sport about it. He had already bought a new Phaser and was ready to let the old girl go. I got some new tires the next day and it has been love ever since. This all occured in '88 and I still love to ride my baby, most docile and good natured handling I have ever experienced in my life.

 

hey goon , i got my cause it was cheap and the stats on it said it made 70hp new so i was interested, went all the way up to newcastle to get it, i got it for $680 with 3months rego on it :lol:
i stripped it down and made it look custom and ive loved riding it around.
i just put it in for a rejet and sync
cant wait to get it back

it also corners suprisingly well, went down the coast and with me goin hard through the corners i could keep up with my old man and mate goin about 70% on there bikes (125 cagivca mito, corner machine and a tl100)

i suprised both of them :twisted:

 

It is my first motorcycle, so there was a few reasons for purchasing a XJ:
(a) I wanted a cheap bike to start on and this one had about 7K on it going for $1300. It was almost a no brainer for me.
(b) Obviously, it is not a new bike, so I dont have to worry to much about getting a "scratch" on it.
(c) I heard many vetran bikers say to choose a bike that is not too powerful to start off on and one you wont grow out of too fast. My 750, I think, is a good way to go.
(d) Want to be comfortable and yet have an aggressive feel, but not too aggressive like a crotch rocket. The 750RJ provides me with the comfortable standard seat.

I can't express how much fun this bike has been so far and I see myself holding on to it for quite some time!

sac

 

Well, my primary reason was price. I can't afford to be buying anything new, and I happened to find this one for cheap. Also, when I first started looking at getting a bike I went to a lot of bike shops and sat on various bikes. I did want a sportbike, at least until I sat on some of them. I just couldn't imagine myself being comfortable for long periods of time. The more I looked around on the net, and on ebay, I decided that the '80's Jap bikes fit me better than anything else (my dream bike is still a GS1100E). So, when a friend of mine told me he had a Midnight Maxim in his garage, I went and checked it out. I had never even known what a Maxim was until I got this one!

I also wanted one cheap so I could take it apart and rebuild it, mainly to get experience working on bikes. I've worked on cars for a long time, but have zero experience on motorcycles. So far it's been a nice change of pace, and I haven't done much with the cars for the past 6 months or so. Since I got the first Maxim, I've also gotten 4 more Yamaha's (all for cheap or free). Another '81 XJ650, an XS850, a Venture 1200, and my most recent aquisition, an XS650.

 

The reason why I bought my Seca is a litttle different than the rest of the reasons listed here. I wanted a way to lower the cost of my commute to work each day (30 miles one way). I used to own a CB750K when I was 20, so that is what I was looking for on e-bay. At that time all of the CB750's listed where going too high for me on the bids. I decided that if I could buy a parts bike cheap enough, and part it out, I might be able to afford to buy a decent bike. I ended up buying my XJ750RH for $365 with the intent of parting it out on e-bay. But the bike looked so good, and was so comfortable to sit on I decided to rebuild it instead. I've always liked the style of the 70's and 80's metric cruisers. I'm also getting too old to be bent over the top of the fuel tank of most of the modern bikes.

I finally have it in ridable condition, it still needs a little bit of work (fuse box, mufflers, etc.). The first test ride I took on it was awesome. Even before I completed the carb work on it I knew that this bike was not like the 750 Honda that I used to own, it was alot better. The Seca felt alot lighter, and more nimble than I remember the Honda feeling. Granted, it has been 20-some years since my last bike, but I don't remember my Honda having the acceleration that this Seca has.

So I have decided to keep the Seca, I just hope I can get it titled and on the road soon. The road here in front of my house is getting worn out from all of my "test" rides. :lol:

 

Like many others, I got my XJ because it was cheap. How often can you find a bike with 3000 original miles for $900? It was my first bike for 20 years and I've really fallen in love with it.

With that being said, I regularly ask myself why I keep it. I have an '82 Goldwing that I ride almost all the time. The Seca is just too hard on me on the highway. I've really gotten spoiled by the fairing on the Wing.

I find that as much as I love the Seca, it doesn't really fit my riding needs very well. It's great for short hops around town, but I don't really take many rides like that. Almost all of my riding involves highway miles and I just can't take the wind.

Of course, I still love this bike. I don't mean to denegrate it. I really prefer older 'standards'. I have no interest in the crotch rocket riding position, nor do I like the Harleyesque cruiser position. I like sitting upright.

I've been researching new bikes for some time and am now pretty serious about a Suzuki V-Strom. It seems to be to be very much like a modern version of the Seca with a fairing. Not many bikes in that class. If I can figure out a way to get one, it will be a difficult decision as far as what to do with the Seca. It would be hard for me to sell it, but I suspect it would see very little time on the road.

Greg

 

Lets see here, why do I own an XJ

1. Wanted a motorcycle to ride instead of always driving the truck
2. The price was right
3. An uncle was getting rid of it for his new bike

 

Lets see here, why do I own an XJ

1. Wanted a motorcycle to ride instead of always driving the truck
2. The price was right
3. An uncle was getting rid of it for his new bike

 

1. I wanted a cheap bike until I found out if it was really for me.
2. I wanted a cheap bike in case I dumped it early on.
3. All I could afford was a cheap bike.
4. Did I mention that I was cheap?

Okay, wait; those are reasons I bought an XJ, but now, even if I were to get a newer bike (which I plan on doing at some point), I'm keeping the XJ. Why? Well, it already has that magical "first bike" feel to me, and with the guys that I've met on this board, well...I can't imagine a better introduction to bikes than an XJ. Maybe I'll give it up at some point, like if my granson wants a bike when he's old enough. Hopefully his father's "Harley fever" won't be passed on...

 

I was shopping for a bike... at a party the topic came up and I said I was looking for a ninja 500. At the time there was a mechanics special for $300 and I was thinking about buying it and repairing it - cheap bike right?

The host of the party heard only one word - ninja - and immediately put me on the phone with a friend of her's husband. He had two bikes and didn't have enough room for both of them. I went to see it and it was sparkling. He wanted $800 for it and I didn't even bother haggling, he was practically giving it away. He called the next day to say, I forgot, I have a spare engine, hard bags, full fairing and some other odds and ends - same price.

So I brought the bike... took it home in dad's truck as I didn't have the paperwork done and he wanted the space. I've since put many many miles on it. It has been a very good bike, comfortable and certainly enough power for what I needed.

I do plan on getting another bike... and that might mean I'd have to sell this one as I don't have much room either. I do know a few people deserving of this bike and if I do sell it - then it will go to someone that needs it and will love it. It is a rock steady bike and I'd be a fool to sell it...

While owning the bike I have brought and sold a ninja 600... I did enjoy that bike but it just wasn't the right bike for me in the mental stage of life I was in... I thought I was responsible enough for that bike but I certainly had a few more years of growing to do!

Right now - I'm not looking for more horsepower - I'm looking for a highway long distance bike that will handle twisties... something like an older vfr or the new 650 ninja.

Woot.

 

I was interested in buying a bike. Neighbor (original owner) was interested in selling a bike. Match made in heaven.

Mine was garage kept, spotless, with the Vetter fairing, sissy bar/luggage rack, 11,500 miles, and a parts '83 for $1000 back in 1995.

The fairing was a little more '70s than I wanted at the time, but I eventually grew to appreciate it (350 mile road trip, rain, winter, etc.) It's great to have a place to stash stuff, too. The bike style was really what I was after - a street bike, not a crotch rocket. And I figured 750 was a decent amount of power without getting me into too much trouble.

I STILL have it because I can't bring myself to get rid of it. Riding it, even after a few years off, feels like dancing with my wife - it's familiar, comfortable, and yet is still as exciting as when I was a young man.

 

Oblivion, your response is so heartfelt, I never thought of it in those words. I'm going to have to try those lines on my wife, she is a hopeless romatic. You ought to be a columnist.

 

My dad would disown me if I bacame a Communist. But thanks.

 

I bought my First Xj new in Jaunary of '83. It was an '82 Seca. Yamaha red and I polished it all the time. I bought it because I first saw one out in front of Graceland and wondered what it was. I found one in a cycle magazine and went to the dealer to check it out. I saved my money and sold my camera equipment and it was mine. Most beautiful bike I had ever seen and the fastest production 750 to boot. I put over 30K miles on it and one week before I married it was taken out by a drunk driver. I went without a bike for a while and after leaving Memphis and moving to Mississippi I bought a 750 Maxim because it was the same engine and I know how reliable it was. I put over 60K miles on this one and then after coming back from a rally had the tranny lock up. So I stored it in the garage for 4 years.
Then after a race project died I came to myself and wondered, why? If I can build this race truck and pull engines and trannies why is my bike gathering dust & rust? So I pulled it out bought another engine for $300 and swapped it out. Pulled the bike almost completely apart and polished and cleaned and repainted what was needed. Made some new parts and customized the rest. Rebuilt damn near every other part and fought the long hard battle with the carbs after rejoining the XJ mailing list.
Decided on a paint scheme and found an airbrush artist to do it. Let the local hot rod guru do the paint prep in basic black then let the airbrusher go at it. The guru finished with clear coat and now I can't give it up. Too much of myself in it. More pride than I would have attained by winning a race in that truck.

 

My dad said he'd disown me if I ever got a motorcycle. But as his fourth wife is twenty years younger than he is, what the hell... :lol:

 

Was in storage unit for 10 years, and owner was going to lose all if I didn't buy the "original owner, 20,000 mile" XJ for $200. Only needed carbs rebuilt ($60), a battery, and some free tires. Then........ Upgrades........!!!!!

(and he lost all in storage anyway, 3 months later, for not paying his new bill).

 

Well I started looking for a bike when gas prices went up and I dont want to drive around my lifted jeep for nothin.. But I love V engines. Looked at honda shadows and magnas for a long time... But the deal was right and i picked up my maxim 750 for $450 four days ago this was at least...


Painted the frame, brackets, pedals, new clutch cable, and new wiring harness starts tommarow.

Yea and my parentals still dont know... Im hiding it behind the shed at my house, so I just hope my dad doesnt visit me and follow the trail of exhaust and sissy bar bracketry leading to the crime scene.