After owning it for 31 years, it was hard to say goodbye to my 1981 Yamaha Seca 750. But, sooner or later, it was bound to happen.
It was the second of two 1981 Yamaha Seca 750s I’ve owned. In all, I’ve had an XJ750RH, as it is known to the guy behind the parts counter, for 41 years. The two Seca models I owned were the same color, and for three years, I owned them both.
One was bone stock. The other—the one I just sold—was upgraded by its original owner. He was a Yamaha mechanic who added a Vance & Hines four-into-one exhaust with rejetting and tuning. That engine had an other-worldly howl when it was wound out. He also changed the handlebar with a higher, slightly pulled-back bend, which made for a more comfortable riding position. Plus, it was chrome.
For a guy who has owned 24 motorcycles and ridden even more, the question is, “Were they really that good?”
In a lot of ways, I have to say the answer is yes.
The Yamaha Seca 750 was a ground-breaking model in 1981. It was the first street bike to have anti-dive front suspension, and with powerful double-disc brakes up front, it needed it. It came with funky, spiral-spoke cast wheels. Double rectangular over-under lights up front gave the front end a distinctive look.
The instrument panel included analog tach and speedo, augmented with warning lights and an array of LCD warning indicators. The powerplant had the Yamaha Induction Control System (YICS) to optimize fuel efficiency. Unlike many contemporaries, the Seca 750 had a low-maintenance shaft drive.
The mildly stepped saddle was wide, comfy, and low—a plus for short-legged me—and the Seca 750 fit me. The curvy styling was unique for its time. Even up to the day I sold it, observers often had a hard time believing how old the thing was.
With the addition of a Slipstreamer Spitfire windshield, semi-rigid throw-over saddlebags, and a small tail bag, the Seca was set up to be a great day trip and moderate-range touring mount.
Unfortunately, in August, on one of our trips to our place in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I turned the key to take the Seca out for a ride. None of the dash lights came on. With a new AGM battery installed only four months before, the connections all tight and clean, the fuses all intact, and the battery tender showing the battery was charged, it seemed the problem may be more complicated than a bad battery or loose connection.
I carry only a limited set of tools when my wife and I travel up north, so troubleshooting and potential major repairs are difficult. While I own two trailers that can haul a bike, they were both five hours away. Also, spending a lot of time wrenching on a bike instead of riding when we’re up there isn’t where it’s at for me these days. Freeing up some floor space in our small garage there was a plus, too.
I realized that, with my 1985 Honda Shadow 500 also available up north, maybe it would make sense to see if I could just sell the Seca as-is. Fortunately, I know one person up in that part of Michigan with the expertise, tools, and facilities to take on a vintage project.
Tom Auvinen, owner of Auvinen’s Service Center in Ironwood, had previously worked on my Seca. He also serviced Yamahas, Hondas, and other bikes from the 1970s and ’80s when they were new. He was interested in my Seca 750, and on the last day of August, he picked the bike up.
So, for the first time since 1983, I don’t have a 1981 Yamaha Seca 750 in my shed. I’ll miss it, but I still have other bikes to fill the void.
