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After more than 248,000 kms, this battle-worn veteran has earned her rest, but I just can't seem to give her up. This bike just 'fits' me. I fell in love the first time I swung my leg over it, 20 years ago on the showroom floor, and by the time the test ride was over, I was hopelessly hooked. Since then we've braved torrential rain, sleet, snow, hail and even a tornado together.
There's younger bikes that are faster (at the time it was the quickest production 750 made -- but that WAS 20 years ago, eh?), and bikes with superior handling or are more comfortable, or are prettier.

But there's no bike ever made that better exemplifies the UJM doctrine. With a small fairing and the upright position, you can ride it all day and still move your wrists or walk without a limp. Pop off the luggage, and it'll keep up with a gixxer in the twisties. She'll go all day 2-up loaded down with a tent strapped to the top of the hard luggage and a tank bag perched up front, and she'll pull an honest ton for two hours straight without complaint.
Aside from the usual assortment of tires, brakes and cables, there's been surprisingly little maintenance required. The shifter centering spring broke early on (by 1982 Yamaha was providing a heavier spring), and we're on the third primary chain guide. The fuse box has been replaced twice. A few years ago, the top end gaskets were all changed. Approaching 200,000kms, a bearing cage in the transmission failed, providing the opportunity to overhaul the bottom end. The primary chain was stretched, so all 3 internal chains where replaced. Another bearing and the middle gear were damaged by the debris, so they were replaced, as was the worn clutch bearing. I recently changed the friction plates for the second time, and the alternator brushes and front rotors have been replaced once. That's the third seat cover, and the second set of highway pegs. I've lost count of mufflers, but I think that's the 4th or 5th set, and the second set of headers. This spring I had to undercut the 2nd gear dogs and do a little transmission shimming.