Getting Second Bike Tomorrow!!!

[bassman]

I can't believe it!  A guy at work is selling me a Yamaha XJ600N for a very small amount of British Pound Notes and I'm so excited I might even pee myself!!!

I'm not showing off or nothing...I'm just so bloody excited!!!!!

GS will be my commute bike, and the XJ600N is gonna be my weekend fun bike. All running and everything, just needs a new MOT.  The guy just isn't into getting his hands dirty, whereas I am prepared and feel more able to tackle jobs since getting my hands dirty with the GS.

Only thing is...I feel like I'm being unfaithful to my GS (it'll probably dump me in a corner now to get its own back!).

Bassman

[s0crates82]

Sweet! what model year is it? How many miles?

[bassman]

I don't know all the details (even though the guys a workmate and I've been parking next to it for over a year!), I'll have to post more later in the weekend.  I reckon it's about 1997/8, done about 25,000 (probably a bit more), got a newish nexus exhaust, new wheel bearings, newish chain, brakes will need some attention.  What I like is the seat - it hould be a bit more comfy for me for longer rides.  It's naked (unlike the Diversion and the US market SECA).

You'd

Bassman

[tt_four]

That bike looks like fun. I've never seen one of those before. I'm assuming they didn't sell the naked models in the US? Looks a bit like a bandit, which I used to not be as crazy about, but I've seen so many streetfightered bandits, they've kinda started to grow on me.

Have fun

[JB848]

OK for us to get excited too you need to post a picture! 

It's the GSTwin way! Sheesh! posting with no picture...what ails you? 

[kml.krk]

congrats on a new bike.

...and the poor GS... she will be fine! after all she will be the one to get you a$$ to work everyday so you can pay for that Yama, right?  



EDIT: PS. a picture is worth a thousand words 

[bassman]

I'll  get some pictures on later today

Bassman

[bassman]

I took pictures of the Yam Beast but they are being held captive on my 13 year old son's mobile 'phone and I have not yet figured how to liberate them!!

I've been sitting infront of this friggin PC trying to get the pictures off of the 'phone for two hours now and I'm friggin mad!!!!!

Just  a quick observation until I can post a full post - GS small and light - YamahaXJ600N - heavy and (relatively) powerful scary thing.

I just know I am going to continue to love my GS500E.

Will take some pictures with a camera tomorrow and do a proper post.

Bassman

[kml.krk]

send them by email from the phone to your regular mail.

what phone does your son have? maybe someone here has same so he/she can help you with photos.

[bassman]

Finally got pics! Yeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

Got quite a bit of work to do before I can ride though - new Front tyre required, got to pull forks and re-oil, change engine oil and generally check it/synch carbs, chain needs some TLC.  I'll tell you one thing, though - it's bloody heavy compared to the GS500!

I will definitely not fall out of love with my GS - it's lightness and simplicity is definitely an advantage.  That said - I can't wait to get the XJ on the road!!!!!!! (Gonna be at least 3 months before I can )

Bassman

[commuterdude]

Looks great!  That is the same as the US spec Seca II, one of my favorite bikes.   For some reason they seem to be hard to find here locally in decent shape.

[bassman]

Thanks, it does look great, does it not?  It's a 1997, done 31,000 miles.  It'll make a great weekend bike and tourer - the seat definitely suits my butt more than the GS.  It really needs an oil change and general all-round tune-up (I'm gonna exchange my 2-Column Morgan Carbtune for a 4-Column so that I can synch the carbs).  I bought the Haynes manual this morning and have already begun to paw over it!  I'm looking at September before it'll be on the road - not because of the work required - just a lack of cash!

I'll still be a committed GS'er (or maybe I should be committed - one of the two )

Bassman

[kml.krk]

looking great!!
congrats again.

[ohgood]

that oil filler,  sweet !

nice bike, manyou have to post a sound clip soon

[bassman]

Thanks for all the positive comments!  All of a sudden, getting the bike up to scratch has changed from months to a matter of weeks!  Because the UK road tax runs out end of July, I've got to get the bike MOT tested before then otherwise it's a right pain in the ass to renew the road tax (would either have to get a truck to take the bike to the test centre or risk riding to the test station illegally which I am not prepared to do, etc, etc).  So I am going hell for leather to get the bike up to test standard.  Not much needed really - two new tyres and a general clean up is all. 

That said...I've just spent all of Tuesday evening taking the friggin' wheels off!  My mate (previous owner) really neglected this bike so the rear wheel nut was vitually welded with rust!  Muscled it off in the end.  Then I couldn't actually get the wheel out of the swingarm, but did it in the end - like the GS, there is a knack to it.  Then, I jecked-up the bike ready to take the front wheel off.  I'd figured out the best way to safely jack the bike Monday.  However, when i came to do it today the bloomin' bike was heading towards a topple!  No matter what I did, the darn thing would not jack correctly.  I got it right in the end - only when I realised that the centre stand was on one paving slab and the jack/axle stands were on the neighbouring slab which was slightly wonky.  Anywho, got it jacked and then couldn't get the damn front brake calliper off!!!!   then realised I had released the brake fluid pipe retaining thingy from the fixing on the fork.  Once I released that the caliper slip off!

I've warned the kids to stay away from dad's precariously balanced toy and then I am going to take the wheels into the bike shop for the new tyre fitting on Thursday.  Then I'm gonna relax 'tillS aturday and then wrench it all back together again.

I could not have achieved all this succesfully without the experience I've acquired with the GS over the last two years.  It'll be a sad day when bikes are so sophisticated that you have to employ a brain surgeon to wrench it rather than doing it yourself.

I'll keep you all posted on the progress if you are all interested'

Bassman

[bassman]

Just an update on my Yammy if anybody is interested.  It's a fantastic bike!  I've been running it now for about 2 months now, and last weekend I did my first (longish) run down to London from Nottingham.  Round trip of approx 300 miles.  Engine is nice and smooth being a 4 cylinder compared to the GS twin cylinder, and has loads more power than the GS above 5,000rpm.  The Yamaha is definitely my fun bike/tourer for as long as it keeps running.  But, for commuting to work and general running about, I wouldn't trade my GS500E for anything in the world !  The GS is just so light and agile and fun.  If someone said to me - choose between the GS or the Yamaha, then, based on my current needs, the GS would win hands down.  I guess it's the difference between a compact petrol city car (GS500) and a more practical family orientated diesel (XJ600N).  If you live in a city and don't have to lug your family around, the GS500 is perfect and fun to boot!

For now, I'm lucky enough to be able to run both (just about, financially).  I'm on 2 week holiday at the moment and will give my GS some tlc to get it ready for the autumn/winter riding to come.  The GS is definitely the winter choice for me as it hasn't let me down in the last 2 winters!

Bassman

[kyle_99_gtp]

Looks great!  That is the same as the US spec Seca II, one of my favorite bikes.   For some reason they seem to be hard to find here locally in decent shape.

very nice bike indeed! i was very close to getting a 1992 seca II instead of the gs. my dad and i are both yamaha fans and it was hard for me to accept that i might like a suzuki as well