Thanks for all the kind words, guys. It's been a TON of fun on this bike. Just today I took it to work (it was two degrees above freezing) and went through the drive-thru for coffee on the way. And then I stopped and got two saddlebags and a tankbag worth of groceries on the way home from work. I took the long way home - a 100 km detour and enjoyed every one of the extra (s)miles.
The engine is all original. No rebuild yet. It blows a puff of blue smoke on startup but I can ride 2 or 3 thousand miles before I need to top it up. I am extremely happy with that. Doesn't tick or knock. Purrs like new. I've replaced the exhaust system twice (thanks Will England), and recently replaced the rear differential a year ago as the old one was worn out. (thanks Dan Digiacomo)
It's a 1998 that I bought new in March of that year with 1 km on the clock. All the rest are mine. I do all the wrenching myself. Carb synchs, valve clearance, fluids. I changed the clutch a little over a year ago as the original was under thickness spec by 5mm and it began to slip. While I was in there, I changed the water pump. The original pump spun just as easily and silently as the new one. (new coolant EVERY year helps) I have changed the timing belt three times. The last time included changing the idler pulley as well. I did the steering head bearings a few years ago (thanks for the tools, Johny O).
I changed the start solenoid (which seized) and bypassed the built-in fuse as my connection got too hot and partially melted. The U-joint failed on it at around 250,000 kms. I was on my way home one day when a coolant hose blew open that supplies the right cylinder head. I kept riding and the bike had hardly any coolant left when I got home. The temp guage was on about the 3/4 mark when I shut the key off.
This bike was rear-ended in 2002 and the subframe was bent. I was ejected from the bike at 60MPH and it went on without me. Insurance company spent $6000 fixing the subframe, the frame behind the headlight (mirrors and a ton of other things also hang off that frame), replaced both entire saddlebags, and a bunch of other plastic. I was wearing a full riding suit and had not a scratch.
I have never hit anything larger than a raccoon. It's been to southern Mexico twice, Key West a few times, San Diego, Hyder, and the easternmost point of land in North America: Cape Spear NFLD. It's helped me to three successful Iron Butt Rally finishes. Two of those with a gold medal. It helped me set a record crossing Canada. I have even had sex on this bike (it was parked on the centrestand). It is tattooed on my arm.