This is my “new” 1979 Yamaha xs400.
Its not going to win any races or awards but it runs great, has 10,000 miles and they notoriously run forever. Now i have to learn how to maintain it. Time to get my hands all greasy.
- Yes, I will wear my helmet every time I ride.
- Yes, I am taking the free motorcycle safety course.
- No, I won’t do any wheelies. (It won’t!)
- No, its not that fast. Top speed is about 70 at the most.
- No, I won’t take it on the highway at all.
- Yes, my wonderful wife actually gave me permission to get this.
Oh, and insurance on this bad boy is a whopping $45/year.
Now we are going on vacation and I have to let it sit for a week before I ride it again. That’s bad timing.
The only thing that is not working out so well is that my landlord, who owns two beautiful Harley’s, told me I could store a bike in his garage if I got one. Then he saw I bought a Yamaha and he (half-jokingly) said that I couldn’t put that crap in his garage. Then I asked him if he wanted to ride it and he said, “uh…no.” Well, he was kind enough to let me keep it in there. I just hope his biker buddies don’t cut my electrical wires when I am sleeping one night…
When I was in high school everyone called me, “Hot Rod.” No, seriously. Everyone. My name wasn’t Todd the last two years of high school. I am not really sure how I got it but as a friend just told me, “It’s time to grow into your nickname.”
Yes. It’s about time.