XSive vacation!

[Bill]

Fellow XSives -

Last Friday I got back from a two week vacation to my home state of California. I thought twice about even taking my riding gear, and ended up doing more riding than I usually do in a month!

The day after I arrived I borrowed a '76 XS750 triple from a friend of mine. All I had to do was make it so it wouldn't kill on takeoff with the throttle just off-idle. Turned out to be some plugged pilot jets. A quick cleaning (definitely NOT a triple clean) and a soft wire through the pilot jets, and the bike was running nicely. I rode it, off and on, for the entire two weeks. Fun little bike!

A week later I was in N. California with my (new) wife, Tina. On the way back to SoCal we stopped in to meet Tkat and see his shop. He suggested we take a spin on his 2002 Honda Goldwing 1800!


Very slick bike... handles very nicely for a touring bike. I even tried out the cruise control and reverse. The bike was lots of fun and it was great to finally meet Tkat!

A few days later I hooked up with XSive "Rev" Ernie Elmore, who I'd met on my last trip to SoCal four years ago. He and his wife were wonderful hosts. The next morning started out with a big Mexican breakfast, then headed for Angeles Crest Highway on Ernie's Virago 920 and his XS1100 Standard. Both very nice bikes.

I rode the 920 'til we were about half way, then we swapped bikes. What a great ride. I'd never seen so many sweepers and twisties on one road before!

Of course the Eleven had lots more power, but it was hard to use it in the mountain roads.

Once we got back to his house I had to depart quickly to beat the LA freeway traffic between Anaheim and Santa Monica. It was a visit I'll never forget.

So, in a weeks time I rode...

A twin...
A triple...
A four cylinder and
A six cylinder!

Definitely a personal record which I won't likely beat. Hmm... If I only knew someone with a thumper and a five cylinder Moto GP bike. Dream on!

XSively,

[Czekus21]

Impressive,, EXivelly,, Impressive young Jedi. What a diffrence in bikes. Seems that when ya start to get used to one it's time to change. Nothing wrong with that. That will sure give ya a wide variation of diffrences between the diffrent bikes. Outta all that ya road, If ya had to choose only one, which one would it be?
Not meenin to put you on the spot. Just curious. I wish that I could put reverse on MIYAMI.

[John]

So. Cal?

Hey Bill! It's John from Waterville, Me. I too was born in So. Cal. Long Beach. Where were you born? What brought you to Northern Maine?
I was station in san Diego in the Navy in 77-81, and I had a Yama TX750. POS bike, but some fantastic riding. Beaches, mountians or desert. Just take your pick.

[Bill]

Czekus21 wrote:

Outta all that ya road, If ya had to choose only one, which one would it be? Not meenin to put you on the spot. Just curious.

I've always felt that no single bike could meet all needs.

In the context of my vacation rides, the Yamahas were the best all around. The GL1800, of course, stood out for touring. Since most of my riding is around town, I'd probably ride the smaller XS750. I really like the sound of the triple.

Out of context... I REALLY wanted my '87 GSX-R1100 in the mountains!

If I had to have one bike for all purposes it would probably be one of the newer "Super Standard" designs, like the Bandit 12, FZ1, ZRX 1200, etc.

XSively,

[Bill]

Re: So. Cal?

John wrote:

I too was born in So. Cal. Long Beach. Where were you born? What brought you to Northern Maine?

I was born in Santa Monica and lived in the area, on and off, for 27 years. Joined the USAF and ended up at Loring AFB in Limestone, ME. Came here in '87 and expected to move on in two or three years.

XSively,