Interesting day, and a milestone!

**Mr. Kilt** · 2nd August 05, 06:00 PM

First of all, this should be my 500th post. Took me long enough, guess I'm not as talkative as some of my online brethren. LOL

Secondly, I was up in Edmonton today looking at a motorcycle. I was wearing a black t-shirt, my black Original UK, and boots. The owner and I were standing in the street going over the bike when one of his young neighbours came over. She was about 9 or 10 years old, and as she approached us she was eyeing me rather warily. She did a complete loop around me before stopping by the bike's owner. I was expecting a "why are you wearing a skirt" comment from her. Imagine my surprise when she asked if I was Scottish! I said no, I was Irish. She then exclaimed "Cool! That explains the kilt!" I was taken aback by this young lady's insight. Made my day.

Oh yeah, I bought the bike, too. I needed something better on gas than my Explorer for getting around the city. I've been driving to and from work twice each day due to my split shifts, hopefully the bike should help save me some money.

**KMacT** · 2nd August 05, 06:12 PM

Ya... wearing your kilt... comment from girl... sure, sure... Now tell us more about the bike! Looks nice. What year? Looks like the early 80s. How many kilometres? Is that a kick start? Does it also have an electric start? What did you pay for it?

I have a 1983 Yamaha XJ650 Maxim. 70,000 kms. I need to insert/remove a fuse to turn to headlight on/off (hopefully that will be a temporary problem), but it's still going strong and great for getting around in th city - watch those cars turning left in front of you, though.

Kevin

**chasem** · 2nd August 05, 06:42 PM

shouldn't be turning the headlight off on a bike, should you? I've always been under the impression that the headlight was supposed to stay on, as a means to give car drivers something else to notice, to see the bike.

But yes, I'd certainly like more details on the bike!

**Mr. Kilt** · 2nd August 05, 06:52 PM

LMKAO!!

Ok, ok...a bit of info on the bike. It's a 1984 Yamaha XS650 Heritage Special. It has 37K kms on the bike, and about 2K kms on the engine. It runs like a champ! It has both electric and kick start. I don't plan to EVER use the electric. LOL I plan to ride it pretty much as-is for this summer and next, then it will get pulled apart and built into a chopper.

As for the left-turn morons...I've been riding since 1981, I've gotten pretty good at "reading" traffic. It's helped to keep me alive a few times.

**KMacT** · 3rd August 05, 03:08 AM

Originally Posted by Al G. Sporrano

It's a 1984 Yamaha XS650 Heritage Special. It has 37K kms on the bike, and about 2K kms on the engine. It runs like a champ! It has both electric and kick start. I don't plan to EVER use the electric.

Nice pickup. As for the kick start, it's a nice option to have even if typicall using the electric start. I wish mine had it.

Kevin

**KMacT** · 3rd August 05, 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by chasem

shouldn't be turning the headlight off on a bike, should you? I've always been under the impression that the headlight was supposed to stay on, as a means to give car drivers something else to notice, to see the bike.

Presently my headlight is hardwired directly into my battery. So unless I remove the fuse it stays on all the time. Literally *all* the time, or at least, until the battery discharges! So when I turn off the bike I pull the fuse out to break the connection. But yes, when riding the headlight is always on.

Kevin

**chasem** · 3rd August 05, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by KMacT

Presently my headlight is hardwired directly into my battery. So unless I remove the fuse it stays on all the time. Literally *all* the time, or at least, until the battery discharges! So when I turn off the bike I pull the fuse out to break the connection. But yes, when riding the headlight is always on.

Kevin

ahh I see, now that makes sense

and thanks for your information too, JerMc. I was not aware of that.

**Jerry** · 3rd August 05, 04:04 AM

Originally Posted by chasem

shouldn't be turning the headlight off on a bike, should you? I've always been under the impression that the headlight was supposed to stay on, as a means to give car drivers something else to notice, to see the bike.

But yes, I'd certainly like more details on the bike!

I can't remember the exact year, but older bikes, at least here in Va, do not have to have the headlight auto-on feature. I believe that it may have been in the 60s when that became standard, and those bikes manufactured before then are not rerquired to have it. They still may be legally required to manually turn on the headlight though. I never paid a lot of attention to the exact rule because my 1980 Honda CB 750 had the auto-on headlight. It also had an auto off feature one time. Believe me, it's quite scary riding down a dark stretch of rual interstate at 11 pm, doing about 60mph or so and have your headlight go out.

**Buddha** · 3rd August 05, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by JerMc

I can't remember the exact year, but older bikes, at least here in Va, do not have to have the headlight auto-on feature. I believe that it may have been in the 60s when that became standard, and those bikes manufactured before then are not rerquired to have it. They still may be legally required to manually turn on the headlight though. I never paid a lot of attention to the exact rule because my 1980 Honda CB 750 had the auto-on headlight. It also had an auto off feature one time. Believe me, it's quite scary riding down a dark stretch of rual interstate at 11 pm, doing about 60mph or so and have your headlight go out.

its a national requirement from the 70's any bike built after 7/1/74 had to have a running light and turnsignals. My cb450 was built 6/28/74 so I had the switch for the headlight and no turnsignals.

**Archangel** · 3rd August 05, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by JerMc

I can't remember the exact year, but older bikes, at least here in Va, do not have to have the headlight auto-on feature. I believe that it may have been in the 60s when that became standard, and those bikes manufactured before then are not rerquired to have it. They still may be legally required to manually turn on the headlight though. I never paid a lot of attention to the exact rule because my 1980 Honda CB 750 had the auto-on headlight. It also had an auto off feature one time. Believe me, it's quite scary riding down a dark stretch of rual interstate at 11 pm, doing about 60mph or so and have your headlight go out.

I believe if you check the records of this "feature" you'll find that it was alarmingly common and that a person who solved the problem and sent Honda a letter detailing it and the fix got quite a surprise. A letter from Honda lawyers arrived as well as a notice of lawsuit for defamation and a gag order. One of the magazines picked up the story.