PIX OF THE TRIPLE LUGGAGE RACK/BACKREST: rack alone | backrest | driver's rest
We are the proud owners of a 1979 Yamaha Special 750 (also known as an XS750SF), purchased on March 28, 1997, with 25,609 miles, a 1977 Suzuki GS400, purchased on June 25, 1998, with 16,480 miles, and a 1981 Yamaha XS1100H, purchased on June 26, 2002, with 23,510 miles. We bought the XS750 and the GS400 (the Yamaha also came with a parts bike) for a paltry $250 each. We splurged for the XS1100, costing a whopping $400.
The XS750 now has 34,541 miles on the odometer (as of 7/1/02), plus about 500 miles from a broken speedometer cable during the 1998 Iowa Triple Rally (left), and has been restored to operating condition after 17 months of work. It is a 747cc, air-cooled triple with shaft drive, and it has been set up for touring with a fairing & lowers, stereo, new K&N Super Bars, cruise control, and a luggage rack/backrest. Other recent additions include a new Travelcade seat view pix: before | after ), saddlebags, and a tail trunk (right). The Yamaha XS 4-stroke line from the late 1970s and early 1980s also contained 400 and 650 twins, an 850 triple that replaced the 750 in 1980, and the very powerful XS1100 inline four (see below). The triples came in "standard" and "special" (more cruiser-like) layouts; follow this link to see a nice example of the "standard" model (photo courtesy Mike Sommers).
NORTH CENTRAL TRIPLE RALLY 2000: (better album format coming soon)
The Suzuki now has 20,114 miles on the odometer and is quickly racking up miles. It is a 399cc, air-cooled twin with chain drive, and it serves its role very well as the commuter bike in our stable. The GS line also contained a 250cc twin, continuing to this day with the GS500E, and four-cylinder bikes ranging from 550 to 1150cc; the GS twins have long been considered the most bulletproof engines in the industry, followed closely by the GS fours. It was bought as a commuter bike for Tom to travel between schools on nice days (he teaches at 5 different schools) and save the guzzling Ford pickup for more inclement weather.
The XS1100 has just entered our stable and has only a 1/4-mile ride down the street in front of our house under its belt. It is awaiting a transmission swap to get it moving down the road, but the engine sounds worthy of the time and effort. It is a 1102cc, air-cooled four with shaft drive and an oil cooler, and with the fairing and complete Vetter bag and trunk set awaiting mounting, it will eventually be a super-(cheap)tourer. Then maybe we'll put the XS750 back to its original state without the fairing...or maybe not...
Lisa has been riding motorcycles since age 9, and she has already found great enjoyment in the Suzuki (her previous bike, 15 years ago, was a Honda Twinstar 200. Tom has only been riding since 1998, but he has already logged over 13,000 accident-free (for the time being) miles.
For more information on these models, visit the websites listed below:
| Yamaha Motorcycles Home Page | Suzuki Motorcycles Home Page |
| Profile/History of Yamaha Motorcycles | Ronnie Cramer's Motorcycle Web Index |
| Motorcycle Accesory Warehouse - online parts and accessories catalog. | Dennis Kirk - another online parts and accessories catalog. |
| Christian Motorcyclists Association | Motorcycle Tips & Techniques |
Get your own Free Home Page
