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This site is dedicated to the first production custombike of all; the Yamaha XV Special. In the early eighties Yamaha launched a complete new bike, a custom with H.D. looks. With remarkable innovations the XV impressed the whole bikeworld that day. There was the 750cc V-twin, which was never seen before on Japanese bikes, there was no chain but a real cardan, no tubular frame but a pressed one and thanks that smooth shopper design it looked very well. I was overwhelmed by all this and because I could'nt effort a real Harley I decided to buy an XV Special. Many times I went by at the local Yamaha dealer where the XV Special was priced around 3500 Euro's. But on a certain day my girlfriend attended me on an anouncement in the local paper. An almost 7 months old XV-Special was for sale and after I went by for a look, I bought it for 1860 Euro. The first thing I did when I got the XV at home was to give it a good cleaning. After the job, it really looked like new and it still does. I never had trouble with it and because I did all the oilservices by myself, the bike never saw the insidewalls of a dealer garage. I get now over 50 000 km's with the Yamaha and I must say, I'm not a real biker, rather a sunrider. I can't remember there was one wet motorride in almost 20 years. In comparison with other bikes, the XV does it very well and it is in no way inferior to the other (sport)bikes of my friends. Many times, mostly on curvy hilly roads, I came out on top and even let the sportbikes far behind. You see, it's a great bike, but there is also one minus point to report: the rattletrap electric starter. You bet, when you have to start the XV in public you are the center of interest ! But it never fails, after a couple of rattles, the V-twin will defenitly run ! I still like the bike, I still have fun with it and there still is interest for the Yamaha ! Recently a German motorcyclist offered me 7000 DM (about 3500 Euro) for it, as much the purchase price and twice the price I paid ! But it's not for sale and I fully intend to keep it the next 20 years !
Rudolph Nevi
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