On this the 6th anniversary of the passing of my 1979 Yamaha XS 750 Special

Remembering you with fond memories. On this day, 10 June in the year 2007 our long association ended abruptly when you absorbed the energy of impact with a Hyundai that unexpectedly turned across our travel path and stopped. I survived by flying over the car and using up my kinetic energy on the pavement, you took the full force of the blow and stopped abruptly at the car.

Forever fickle as I am, as soon as there was a probability that I’d
survive your end I found your replacement. Never underestimate the negotiating
power of being in a hospital bed.

By the end of August, as soon as I was cleared to walk with only a cane for
assistance, I started riding your replacement on weekend camping trips in the
finger lakes-Adirondac region of New York. Your replacement was 100cc smaller
but with a more powerful in-line 4 with an exciting gear whine, awesome exhaust
sound and good starting characteristics. The 650cc Yamaha XJ650J had explosive
acceleration compared to yours and you must admit that you were the worst
starting Japanese bike ever made. Unfortunately for your replacement, the 1986
Yamaha Maxim was a little too sporty for my safety and riding needs and I
admitted to myself that not only did I need a bike that tended to go straight on
its own, not that I didn’t mind the Maxim’s ability to go where I looked, but I
also admitted to myself that there were psychological reasons to sell the Maxim.
Being a guy I already had your replacement’s replacement in hand, a 1986 Honda
XF700C Magna.

This wasn’t a strictly monogamous relationship. The Magna had cooling,
rain and ignitor box issues that needed to be resolved and I was offered this GS
750, an offer I couldn’t refuse.

My Suzuki GS 750 with 2-valve heads and direct pull carburetors.

If the reader really interested here’s the
ad
I wrote for the Suzuki when I sold it. The Suzuki was a good handling bike,
about the same fuel range as the Magna but not as good as yours. The induction
air made a sound like an angry hornet’s nest but the direct pull carburetors
really made me appreciate the Magna’s newer design CV carburetors.We had some great times my beloved Yamaha but in the end it boils down to
this: You’re dead and I’m not. RIP good friend my life goes on.