Changing Horses in the Middle of a Stream.

I finally finished the XT, promptly listed it on Craigslist and within an hour I had a buyer. I really didn’t feel the connection with that bike and lost interest in it in a hurry. It took two years to complete, largely because of time issues. But mostly because I felt removed from the project, had no passion for it. It’s not that it was a bad bike, but it really lived up to the turd part of the blog tag line. Plus I really like XT's, just not this one, It was a real shit box by the time I got my hands on it. I put quite a bit of time into her to get her where she is today. As you can see, I never did get the side covers, but the buyer said he would pick up a set. So I do have a bit of satisfaction that is a functioning bike now and is in the hands of someone who appreciates the XT Yamahas

That leaves us with the XS. After deciding to leave the bike stock because I believe to take this vintage XS and modify it into a street tracker would have been doing a disservice to bike. I should have picked up a ‘80- ‘84 special for a project like that. The ‘70 through ‘79 models hold a special place in the hearts of those who covet these bikes.

I liked the old ‘77 well enough, and it was fun to ride. But it just didn’t get my blood pumping like inline four liter bikes do. When I think about certain bikes in this displacement range a certain spell falls over me. I strange grin spreads across my face and to outside observers, it looks like I entered a catatonic but euphoric state. When I ride these bikes it takes me to another world, there are few things in life that make me happier, and y’all can probably guess what at least a couple of them are.

This brings me back to the matter at hand. While perusing craigslist the other night I came across a sterling example of a Yamaha FJ1100 of the 1985 vintage. I also found a BEAUTIFUL ‘89 ZX10 with only twenty six hundred original miles on it at a very reasonable price. Well I looked over these bikes with a glazed eye and some bovine perspiration on my upper lip area and my legs started twitching and my face went red. Some drool rolled down from the edge of my chin as I spied the condition these bikes were in. I rubbed my chinny, chin, chin, and said my, my, my what sort of offer must I make to score one of these fine rides. So I put in first gear, got the front wheel in the air and asked how many ponies in there. Needless to say that I have always loved both of these bikes.

I thought about keeping the XS and having the best of both worlds, but knowing myself as I do, I knew that she would languish in the corner of my garage and only get to stretch her legs on rare occasions. I would devote almost all of my attention to the liter bike. So I prepared another ad for craigslist and within an short time frame I had myself an interested party. We arranged a time to see the bike and presto, another bike was in the caring hands of a gatekeeper of the marque. There wasn’t the usual sellers remorse with this bike either. While I was really fond of this bike, it was comforting to know that the person that purchased it, has a deep seated passion for vintage XS’s. He would give her the love and care she deserved.
So I’m off to test ride a couple of vintage superbikes, and if the ads are correct, I will probably be bringing one home with me today.

Till Next Time...........................