Bike for wife

[LoserShoes]

Back in '80-'81 I sold my brother my RD400 cheap as I was heading to Bangor to finish my degree, and he traded it for a Yamaha 650 4.

This thanksgiving I asked him if he still had it and would he ever use it again. My wife Lori wants to learn to ride, and we have been looking around for someting suitable. Turns out he wants some more room in his garage and he said we could come and haul it away.

Turns out to be an XJ 650. not sure if it's an 81 or 82. Will need tires battery and carb cleaned. Carbs currently in pieces. Lori is excited about her first bike. Will probably go down and pick it up in February, should be ready for April.

Steve

[hamjam]

an XSellent bike. there are a few here and they are well liked I. was going to get one for SWMBO but other things took priority.
She will enjoy it, a comfortable bike , there is about a 1000 rpm difference between the XS11 and the XJ 650 at the same speed, so have fun
Jim

[Ken Talbot]

The XJ650 is a nice bike, that's what SWMBO rode the year we did our first big road trip to Wyoming and Sturgis

[81xsproject]

That was my first bike. Good learner, but definately not as smooth as the eleven

[LoserShoes]

I figure a couple of summers and she'll be wanting an XS, probably have to get one to keep her away form mine.

Steve

[cokeman]

I just bought a 1984 1100 maxim for the wife. Turns out she really does not like it much. Too high and top heavy. She suggested I keep it for myself and sell my 81 midnight special. Love that woman!! The maxim only has 17k KMS, been parked since 1989. The guy I bought it from had a shop go through it end to end and then decided it wasn't the bike for him.

Now my dilema. I still want to buy the wife a new ride. She is currently riding a Honda 500 silverwing and she is really stuck on a Virago 1000 or 1100. Any thought on her choice keeping in mind she wants a bike 900cc or larger. Opinions, PLEASE. I don't know much about the V twins.

Darrell

[woodbutcher]

Bike for wife




Check out the newer Yammy V stars. They have it in 650 and 1100. About the same weight as the XS. They're built with a nice low center of gravity. The seat is only 28" from the ground
making it very easy to ride. Brand new still under $9000. They are
a real sweet ride.
Just thought I'd try to help. Now I'm ramblin'




woodbutcher

[bandet01]

well there are alto of options for a ladys bike it just depends what she wants if she want a crusier or a standard or a sports bike

if it was me i would say for a crusier the virago is a good bike but if you dont want a v twin you could go with a honda magna i know it aint 900 cc or larger but the 750 has alot of power

[jeffe]

I had a '82 xj650rj. Or in other words a 650seca. I had over 80 k miles on it with little or no problems. Should be the same engine.

[xs650mike]

XJ650

Here's a pic of a Seca 650.


I owned an XJ750RH ('81 Seca 750) which I bought used with 10,000 mile on the clock and have nothing but praise for it, except for the stock rear shocks which were brutal. I had 85,000 miles showing when some idiot cager ran into me and totalled the bike. At that time I was still running the original clutch, never had to add oil between changes and had only replaced (other than the usual tires, brake pads, fluids & filters, batteries and plugs) 1 clutch cable and 1 turn signal bulb. Other than that, zip. The whole XJ series are known as bulletproof bikes and will eat miles like they're going out of style. One advantage of the 650 Seca (standard) over the 650 Maxim (cruiser) is twin front disc brakes, they are otherwise similar except for riding ergos and styling.

[jeffe]

looks exactly like mine when i bought. Only paint scheme avaible. My brother in law painted it a deep green color with gold metal flake. looked great. Was a bullet proof bike. It's downfall was when Honda came out with the 650 Nighthawk, the Honda was a little bit faster and flashier looking. But the Seca was a better road bike. Almost 6 gallon tank, big quartz haolgen headlight, and a much better riding position. I had several 700 to 800 mile days, and one that was a shade over a thousand. Young and dumb.

[strom]

What a misleading topic title. I thawt you can exchange your wife for a bike. WHERE?!

LP

[Tom Andersen]

My wife rides an '82 Seca and absolutely loves it. Will not even discuss getting a newer bike. It has about 37k on it and runs and looks like new.