Reliability, maintenance/upkeep costs?

Howdy Folks,

I am placing this post in each of the brand specific forums in order to hopefully reach more people within the microcosm of brand specific riders.

My current bike was purchased as a learner bike. It meets my needs well with the exception of highway cruising ability. If things go as planned, I intend to purchase a cruiser more suited to my overall needs sometime next year. As I will need to keep the overall cost of ownership as low as possible, my concern is for reliability, maintenance frequency, and the cost of upkeep. I have been told that I will need a bike with an engine displacement of at least 1300 cc; I would like the ability to pull a trailer/camper over long distances without overly taxing the engine.
Of the Yamaha(s) you folks own what issues have you had with reliability etc. that I should take into account when choosing my next bike?

Thanks in advance.

Jim

I robbed this from another forum. Posted today. Keep in mind the owner is an excellent mechanic in her own right.

I just got home from a ride on the '77 XS650 with sidecar from Skagit County, Washington to Hamilton, Montana--603 miles each way. I rode most of the way with a friend who has a 2007 BMW with a sidecar. It was so cool--everywhere we went, people zoomed in on the Yam and "used to own one" or "wish they'd never sold one" and "those bullet-proof engines" and all sorts of compliments to the 31 year-old bike, and pretty much ignoring the new Beemer (a really nice bike, by the way).

Anyway, it was 1200 miles of fun, and the bike ran flawlessly. I got home yesterday, and tomorrow we take off for the NxNW Ride around Mt. St. Helen's--and that will shove the Yam's mileage well over 59,000 miles---all on the original crank and rods!!