Bill's Adventures on a Yamaha XJ750 Midnight Maxim starting at age 64 !!!!

After changing all the fluids, replacing the air filter, cleaning the front and rear brake pads, new spark plugs, and a general cleaning up my 64th Birthday present is ready to go.  After smoking for 39 years, I quit three years ago and this is kind of a reward to the accomplishment.  I had a Yamaha XJ650 back in my Navy days and have always wanted another like it and here it is.  It is a Yamaha XJ750 Maxim but close enough.  It was hard finding one in good condition.  I will be doing a diary of my rides with just short notes and pictures. Thought it would fun to share with family and friends...

July 11, 2011 - My first long ride from Helena over MacDonald Pass, to Lincoln, Mt., then over Flecher pass and back home.  Averaged about 45 MPG on this first long trip.

July 17, 2011 - Took a very nice ride to Wolf Creek, Mt and jumped on the frontage road. It was a very nice ride over long windy roads along the Missouri River. 

July 24, 2011 - My birthday and I rode to Townsend, Mt. and had Fish and Chips at the Cowboy Cafe. I then road up the east side of Canyon Ferry Lake, over the Dam, and back to Helena. Those windy roads brought a smile to my face as it was sure fun.

July 31, 2011 - Got up early 0800 a.m. and hit the road to Butte, Mt. and had breakfast with a great friend Mike KB8ML. Mike got a really nice BMW on/off road 650.  I forgot my camera and will get a picture of Mike and his new toy next time. Oh, I put some carb cleaner in the gas a couple tanks ago and I got 52 MPG on the trip. It worked. Thanks Bill N7MSI !!!

August 21, 2011 - Below is a APRS track on a morning ride up to Avon, Mt for breakfast. I got the Bluetooth Kit (BU-1 Card for VX8R and BH-1A Stereo Headset) for my Yaesu VX8R.  It allows hands free Amateur Radio operation on my Yamaha XJ750. So, I can do APRS, Talk on 6m, 2m or 70cm, and have a stereo fm radio while traveling. Pretty neat setup for a motorcycle. Also, a picture of my VX8R listening to local FM Station (Rock and Roll of course), monitoring 146.52 and sending APRS positions. If someone calls me on 146.52, it mutes the FM Stereo and that is really cool.

October 26, 2011 - After being on call all weekend for Initial Attack, this morning I headed out for the winding roads around Canyon Ferry !  It was a nice cool morning and I stopped at the Cowboy Cafe in Townsend, Mt for lunch before coming home. 

November 23, 2011 - Hard to believe it is 60 degree's in Montana the end of November.  However, I took the bike on a nice ride around Canyon Ferry Lake.  On the way home, I stopped in to visit Morris (Mory) and Sue Campbell and wish them a Happy Turkey Day.

November 27, 2011 - It made it up to 55 degree's today and it looks like that is going to be the last time for quite a while.  I road to town with my backpack and bought groceries then took a nice ride towards Townsend, Mt.   It was about 10 miles down the road the wind picked up and temperature started dropping so I headed home, put Stabil in the gas tank, topped it off, and put the cover on for the winter.

January 5, 2012 - Happy New Year !!  I went for another motorcycle ride.  Temperatures have been in the 50's for the last week.  I put 144 miles on three days of riding. To warm for skiing, but just perfect for a mid winter motorcycle ride !! Ye Ha ! Cooler weather on the way with rain/snow, so I put in the Stabil in the gas tank and filled with gas, put it in the garage, and put the cover on.  Darn !!

February 1, 2012 - In spite of temperature only at 42 F, I went for a nice 35 mile ride today just because.  I used my Outdoor Research Pro gloves and my fingers stayed nice a warm.

March 04, 2012 - Temperature was 56 degrees at 11:30, so me and the Yamaha went for a ride to MacDonald Pass. Stopped in at Mikey Dee's and had a sandwich with coffee on the way home. A lot of folks asked how the ride was !!! Ye Ha !!

March 09, 2012 - Temperature was 66 this afternoon and mild wind. I rode to Winston and on the way back I turned and went up to York and had a great Hamburger with fries. Just a great 70 mile ride on a sunny cheery day.