Riding an 81 xj550 from Tahoe to San Diego

Hey everyone
I am new to the site, I just discovered it a couple weeks ago and love the fact that everyone is so supportive of each others love for these bikes.

I bought a 1981 Yamaha xj550 maxim about a year and a half ago, but could not afford insurance ( i know it is really cheap, but hey, times are tough) so it has been sitting at my parents house in northern california.

I live in San Diego now, and am able to afford to ride again so I am considering buying a one-way plane ticket up to Sacramento, and riding the bike down to San Diego.

I am new to motorcycles and would like some input on if this is too crazy an idea, or maybe a checklist i can do while i am up there to make sure it will be a safe ride and make the trip.

I am breaking down the trip in a few segments. From Placerville, CA, to the SF Bar area, then to San Luis Obispo, then to LA, then finally SD.

Anyone wanna join me for any of those segments i will happily give you my information and we can plan to meet up for the ride.

Thanks!

 

If your bike is in Tahoe, why would you go west to th SF bay area then head south? Just head south from Tahoe down the 395 until you get to the 15, then take the 15 to San Diego. Rode my Turbo up to Bishop a few weeks ago and it was a nice easy ride.

As for a checklist, make sure that the tires are not cracked on the sidewall and that they have plenty of tread life left in them. Motorcycle tires can wear out in a few thousand miles. Make sure that the chain is properly adjusted and lubed. Rusted chains will break, on the xj550's that chain will rip the starter out of its location and break the mounting point that is on the crank case. Brakes should be good and properly adjusted. Cell phone is a must with an unknown bike, you can call for help, should you need it.
Have fun and keep the rubber side down, try to ride during daylight hours if you are new to riding motorcycles. Night driving is easy in a car, on a bike its downright scary when you dont have several feet of bumper in front of you.

Sean

 

Thanks for the input man. And ya I am going to the bay area because I am from there originally, so I will head there to see a bunch of old friends, and I am a musician as well so i might try to schedule a show. That is why I am breaking up the drive as much as possible

 

If you just bought the bike and haven't actually gone through it yet, stem to stern, then I wouldn't do it.

Too many possible rude surprises lurking in a nearly 30 year old bike, from neglect and natural deterioration to things the PO screwed up.

A lot of things can and will fail once the bike goes back in service, unless you've already attended to them.

You'd be lucky to make it. Unless you spend a couple of weeks and some $$$ getting it truly roadworthy.

 

Fitz nailed it. If you don't already know your bike, don't do it.

 

Hmm ok. Well I bought it then rode it for a few months nonstop, til it started snowing then it has been garaged since then. I take it for a short ride everytime i see my parents, and my dad has been kind enough to start it up for me every week or so.

But I see what you are saying. I am having someone go take a look at it before I buy my plane ticket up there to see if they think it is in good enough shape to make the trip.

I will keep you posted

 

Did you do It?
Just wondering how it all turned out?

 

Don't not do it. You just have to have a plan of what to do if you have a catastrophic failure that leaves the bike unrideable. A thumb would suffice, or a cell phone and a friend with a car and a free weekend.

 

I'm in the vicinity of Bakersfield/northern L.A., I'd be glad to get out of the house for a few hours... Email me, address is in my profile.

Dino, drove through your neck of the woods this past weekend. What a *od forsaken place east San Bernadino is... When are we doing lunch?