Orion61
XS650 Addict
I remember in my youth, the mid 60's through the 80's, if you had a bike made in Japan you were riding cheap junk, low class etc. Even so there were those of us that either had to buy them or were the only bike we could afford, (except the pedal kind). Now a couple more generations of us have grown up, I hear comments about Motorcycles and the different models to choose from, it is surprising but in teens the trend
is absolutely turning toward bikes built in the Far East.
Harley Davidsons rule as the one and only choice seems to have dimmed and it has been a long time since
riding a "Rice Grinder" was a shameful thing. It actually inspired a whole new world of Cycling, of building a "Chopper" JUST so you ride didn't look like stock. There are those that still think there is only one King of the Road and they do have a pretty good history to back it up, but over the past 40 years the attitude at one major Motorcycle Rally has changed dramatically from when there was the possibility of any Foreign Bike and it's rider caught, took a chance of disappearing from the face of the Earth, if caught after dark in town.
The fact is these Foreign Bikes have always been built exceedingly well. There is of course a difference in the longevity between those noisy stinking 2 cycles and their Cousin the 4 strokers, and anybody that has ever ridden one of the 3 cyl Kawasaki 500 or 750 2 strokers know you had better shut your jaws or you take the chance of having swallowed a couple tooth fillings once you get stopped.
I myself have always loved hitting the winding 2 lane asphalt back roads in the hills, I especially appreciate the European seating of the Triumph and its copied Yamaha XS-650 (Or Yamahumph). The fact you are sitting upright leaning a bit forward and something about that position seems to heighten your reflexes and make you a bit more aware of what might pop out of the bushes or in the city, out of the Alley or around the corner. This was mandated by the narrow streets found in many European Cities,
but after about 100 miles on the highway you had to stop to take the "crick" out of your back unscramble your Brain, and get the tingling and buzzing out of your hands and feet.
I am in my 50's now and keep my old 1975 XS650 (I always loved that, and the "73 models best) I still
ride her from time to time, I wore out my first at about 42,000 miles of love. I wonder how long this one will last with modern lubrication, She has 12,000 miles and doesn't leak a drop, or fail to start 1st or 2nd kick,
I never did use the Electric starters, they just made my teeth grind using them.
Am I getting OLD? Is this my imagination? Or do any of you see the changes, or remember things the same way as this old Iowa Boy? BTW I know of at least one Honda GW closing in on 150,000 miles......unbelievable!
Be Safe and talk to you next time..
Larry Duane
PS: I still prefer to keep my bikes Stock, (looking that is)
is absolutely turning toward bikes built in the Far East.
Harley Davidsons rule as the one and only choice seems to have dimmed and it has been a long time since
riding a "Rice Grinder" was a shameful thing. It actually inspired a whole new world of Cycling, of building a "Chopper" JUST so you ride didn't look like stock. There are those that still think there is only one King of the Road and they do have a pretty good history to back it up, but over the past 40 years the attitude at one major Motorcycle Rally has changed dramatically from when there was the possibility of any Foreign Bike and it's rider caught, took a chance of disappearing from the face of the Earth, if caught after dark in town.
The fact is these Foreign Bikes have always been built exceedingly well. There is of course a difference in the longevity between those noisy stinking 2 cycles and their Cousin the 4 strokers, and anybody that has ever ridden one of the 3 cyl Kawasaki 500 or 750 2 strokers know you had better shut your jaws or you take the chance of having swallowed a couple tooth fillings once you get stopped.
I myself have always loved hitting the winding 2 lane asphalt back roads in the hills, I especially appreciate the European seating of the Triumph and its copied Yamaha XS-650 (Or Yamahumph). The fact you are sitting upright leaning a bit forward and something about that position seems to heighten your reflexes and make you a bit more aware of what might pop out of the bushes or in the city, out of the Alley or around the corner. This was mandated by the narrow streets found in many European Cities,
but after about 100 miles on the highway you had to stop to take the "crick" out of your back unscramble your Brain, and get the tingling and buzzing out of your hands and feet.
I am in my 50's now and keep my old 1975 XS650 (I always loved that, and the "73 models best) I still
ride her from time to time, I wore out my first at about 42,000 miles of love. I wonder how long this one will last with modern lubrication, She has 12,000 miles and doesn't leak a drop, or fail to start 1st or 2nd kick,
I never did use the Electric starters, they just made my teeth grind using them.
Am I getting OLD? Is this my imagination? Or do any of you see the changes, or remember things the same way as this old Iowa Boy? BTW I know of at least one Honda GW closing in on 150,000 miles......unbelievable!
Be Safe and talk to you next time..
Larry Duane
PS: I still prefer to keep my bikes Stock, (looking that is)