I'm a newly returned rider. After about a twelve year hiatus, I've come back to the world of bikes. I purchased my new (to me) bike on Monday, picked it up and rode about 150km on Tuesday, about 300 km today (Wednesday), and am headed back out for a longer ride tomorrow (Thursday).
I bought a 1985 Yamaha XJ750 Maxim X. For those of you that don't know the bike, it's a fairly run-of-the-mill 80's Japanese cruiser with a I-4 DOHC 5-valve engine. The suspension is a wee bit stiffer (and the brakes beefed up a bit as well), but other than those three differences, it's a lot like one the smaller Shadows, Viragos, or Marauders.
I know, that's not a bike for a first time rider, but I learned to ride a bike before I could drive a car. It's also not my first street bike.
My Impressions:
#1. Bike clothing has come a long way in the past 12 years. Flip-up full-face helmets are common now. Jeans with special abrasion-resistant patches. Gore-tex. Armour built into something other than a one-piece racing suit. This is great stuff!
#2. Skills need to be refreshed, but they do come back. When I started my ride yesterday, I felt like rank novice. I spent an hour tooling around the suburbs at 50kph before I felt comfortable enough to get onto a major street. My mind remembered most of the MSF skills (SIPDE, countersteering, avoidance, emergency braking), but it took the body a little bit to get all my muscles working in concert to carry them out. By the time I finished that 150km, I once again felt confident and securely planted on the bike's seat. I won't be pushing the limits until I get a lot more mileage under my belt, but I once again feel connected to the bike.
#3. That's a great engine. Not more than I'm prepared to handle (after all, I learned to ride at 14 on the same bike that my uncle raced Class A Enduro on), but I doubt that it'll leave me wishing for more when I get the throttle. I just wish that the bike had a 6th gear.
#4. I strapped on one of the aftermarket Plexi windsheilds that came with the bike before I went riding today. The upright riding position makes for some pretty good buffeting if you're riding into a headwind, and it's almost always windy next to the mountains. The windshield still allows for some top-of-the-helmet buffet, but it's a big help in terms of body buffet.
That's all that I have to say for now, because it's just about time to hit the sack. I want to get an early start tomorrow, and be halfway to Banff by the time rush hour hits.
Newly returned rider in Calgary
Newly returned rider in Calgary
Please don't tell me mother that I work in the oilpatch...she still thinks that I'm the piano player at a whorehouse!
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Wizzard
- Legendary 1000
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 12:56 am
- Sex: Male
- Location: Fresno, California
Welcome to the forums Maxim . Congratulations on getting back in the wind .
Regards, Wizzard
Regards, Wizzard
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, throughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming --- ' WOW, WHAT A RIDE!!!! ' " - Author Unknown
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High_Side
- Site Supporter - Platinum
- Posts: 4534
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 2:05 pm
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 48
- My Motorcycle: Desert-X, CB1100F, CRF300 Rally, Nightha
- Location: Calgary AB, Can
Welcome to the board! It's great to have another Calgary rider in here. As for the Maxim X, I used to ride with a guy who had one and he loved it. Sold it for more than he paid for it (because he had to....)!
Cheers,
High_Side
Cheers,
High_Side
Visit:
High_Side's Trips and Pics
High_Side's Trips and Pics
Maybe see you at a bike night some day.
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Kaiser Soze
- Site Supporter - Gold
- Posts: 281
- Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 3:50 am
- Sex: Male
- Location: Med. Hat, AB
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totalmotorcycle
- Administrator
- Posts: 30001
- Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2003 1:00 pm
- Real Name: Mike
- Sex: Male
- Years Riding: 34
- My Motorcycle: 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone
- Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Maxim to the Total Motorcycle community and back to riding a motorcycle again! I think you'll find the TMW forum community a very friendly place so don't forget to ask all the questions you want as the members on here are the best! 
Since you've been away from riding for a long time, my advice would be to take it slow and easy. Don't rush it too fast as your reaction skills will be a tad rusty still. Why not check out Total Motorcycle Beginner's Guide to Motorcycling as there are a few lessions in there you would benefit from that will get you back your skills even faster. http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school.htm I would suggest reading and doing Section Five.
Also
Vandal! Don't forget to post a Hi thread of your own in the Start Your Engines forum. In Calgary we have a pub night on a somewhat regular basis so please do come on out and have a good time!
Mike
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