new member: J Cole

[jcole]

Hi. My name is John. I live in Scotland.
I restore bikes and a long term hobby and have been restoring a 1976 XS750 Yamaha for a few years now.
However, I have another bike "in the queue," which is a R65 1989 model. It's in v good condition but needs a full rebuild.
3rd in the queue is a 247 Cota Montesa from 1976. I've owned that 26 years!

regards
J

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Welcome J, I believe you might be our first in Scotland!

I loved my Yamaha 750 triple.  It is too bad I knew nothing about motorcycles in 1978 and bought the then-new "Custom" model, XS750SE.  A real back-breaker!  I did keep it for a couple of years after I bought my R65 in 1980, but eventually sold it off.  I prefer the lines of the standard model to those of the custom, as well.  I might consider another as a sidecar mule if I could afford a Unit front end, and wasn't so in love with the Earles-framed BMWs.

[milkman]

Welcome mate.
Nice to have another member who might appreciate my random digs at England from down here. hahaha.
Nah, I'm over that now the crickets nearly finished.....and our Rugby team for next years world cup is in disarray. Worst thing that ever happened was them nearly getting away with it in 2003.

I like the old Yam's aswell, I'm slowly doing up a 1978 SR500, . POst some pictures of your bikes when you a chance.

See you around.

[nhmaf]

Aah, I had lusted after a Yamaha SR500 back in 79-80, but finally ended up with a 1980 XS400.
I must have loved Yamahas, because a bought a 1982 Yamaha XS650G (Maxim) in 1983,
though I almost bought an older XS850 - the newer bike thing..   As I've gotten older I've
migrated away from the "custom" or chopper style bikes for more sport oriented bikes..
somehow this seems backwards compared to other riders I know, who have all gone from
the the Kawi GPzs, or Ducatis and Honda VFRs to Harleys or Harley-clones..

But I always have a fondness for those lean street thumpers !
 

[SCJJR65]

Welcome, John, to our forum!   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]  You'll find a wealth of knowledge to help you get your R65 going, that's for sure!

I used to have a 1978 SR500 as well.  Loved it, except for trying to start it.  Not having an electric start damn near killed me with that bike!  I never could get the hang of using that little lever on the handlebars to release the compression in that huge cylinder before starting it.  Most of the time, that damn kick lever would snap back and whack me in the calf!  Hurt like hell, too! (I know, I'm a whiner! )   I think I kept that bike for about 6 months and then traded it in on a new (at the time) 1982 Kawasaki KZ440 Sport, which was MUCH more to my liking!  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Yeah, my XS750 had a kick starter on it, too.  That was a laugh!