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Nice bike Ross. I hope you can load it up with gear and meet us on a run.
cheers
Mal

I had a "cruiser" once. A 1978 Yamaha XS750SE. The only reason I picked it was because the fashionable shorty mufflers looked like they would allow for easier withdrawl of the rear axle, should it be necessary. I didn't think much about the handlebars - what did I know, it was only my 2nd bike.

The longest trip I took on it was from here to Little Rock, Arkansas - an easy 1-day trip that also just happens to be a couple hours shy of Ken's. But that has nothing to do with the story.

I mounted a "Harley" style windshield on it, had a cheap but effective cruise control, a full tankbag, and I ended up cruising much of the interstate (I always wonder what folks outside the U.S. think about the term "interstate"...) with the throttle set, my feet on the passenger pegs, laying on the tankbag and holding the bars at the clamps. Great fun! No ear plugs.

Of course - Japanese cruiser bikes have come a very long way since 1978, they are now every bit a H-D as a H-D, even better in some respects, I am sure.
(This is my brother & I at our older brother's wedding)



I may not ride much, but when I do, leaning forward feels much more natural to me.



That bike was just begging me for some rear-sets.

I wish I had kept that Yamaha and put some lower bars on it. That just proves how little imagination I have. It was a great powertrain. The standard model was much more handsome, in retrospect, in my opinion. But it was basically a stop-gap while I was saving up for the R65. It was my "poor man's BMW". I was also impressed that they used Allen head screws to put the cases on the engine, rather than the buttery-soft Phillips head screws on the Honda CL360. I don't remember when I learned about impact screwdrivers.

Nice one Rob, and you have exactly the same pose in both pics, despite the change in clothes, how do you do that!

I had a XS750C, (not a cruiser). Cost me $350 and a lot of stick from all my mates as they were a famous shitbox. I really enjoyed that bike!!

Mal S7 wrote:Nice bike Ross. I hope you can load it up with gear and meet us on a run.
cheers
Mal

So do I mate.

The indicators that came with the bike ...shudder... They looked crap. So onto eBay and get some front indicators and rear one from local autoshop. Fit a LED flasher relay all done. Looks way better too. Brightness from such smallness.







Need something to carry stuff around in besides my old Dr-rider sports throw overs. Again internet shopping. Leather saddle bags from Bikers Gear Australia. (http://www.bikersgearaustralia.com.au/) They are of a very good quality leather. They have been mounted with bolts to the rear mudguard brackets.

For years I have made or modified bits to fit my bikes. Back yard butcher stuff.

With the Speedmaster I have changed this. I picked up my Triumph Sissy Bar and Rack today.

Well made bit of kit it is too. Fitted straight up with no worries at all. So nice not to have to bodgie bits to fit.

Jan now wont fly off the back of the bike.