1981 mns for sale

[MPittma100]

Read this Article

I have no proof that those 250 numbers are absolute facts. It was information given to me verbally a few years back. Sounds like we need some verification to settle the dispute. I would definitely like to know for sure.

How can we find out?

Read the article in the link below. Is it accurate?

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1981-yamaha-1100-midnight-special.htm

[Prisoner6]

I have had 6. 4 LHs and 2 LGs. The serial numbers on a couple of mine were above what I thought would have been a run of 250 would have been

I have no proof that those 250 numbers are absolute facts. It was information given to me verbally a few years back. Sounds like we need some verification to settle the dispute. I would definitely like to know for sure.

How can we find out?

Read the article in the link below. Is it accurate?

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1981-y...ht-special.htm

Well, Mike -

The '80 LG serial numbers started with 4H3-000101 ...

Assuming the first bike off the production line was 000101 ... if the serial numbers ran sequentially, and each successive bike off the line increased the serial # by one digit ...

I.E. 000101, 000102, etc.

Then, a production run of 250 LG's should have ended with serial # 000350 ...

Back in 2009, two different members here posted LG serial #'s of 002368 and 002203. As you can see, something is not adding up!

Unless Yamaha was doing something strange with the serial #'s on the Midnights, they produced well over 2,000 Midnights for 1980 alone!


P.S. What's the serial # of your LG, Mike?

[jetmechmarty]

Read the article in the link below. Is it accurate?

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1981-y...ht-special.htm

No citations are listed for the article.

Would Midnights have their own serial number run, or would they be mixed with the other XS1100's?

[MPittma100]

Still A Mystery

I guess the real question is - Did Yamaha do specific serial numbers just for the MNS? Did they separate the MNS at all from the others? They possibly included the MNS serial numbers with the regular Specials/Standards serial numbers? If they did, that would answer the riddle of the seemingly large quantity of the MNS. They may have only designated the MNS by the first three numerals.

From the article, it is apparent that there are some sources that state/believe there were only 500 total produced for both years. That's got to have a specific origin don't you think?

Next time I am at the LG I will record and post its s/n.

Mike

Well, Mike -

The '80 LG serial numbers started with 4H3-000101 ...

Assuming the first bike off the production line was 000101 ... if the serial numbers ran sequentially, and each successive bike off the line increased the serial # by one digit ...

I.E. 000101, 000102, etc.

Then, a production run of 250 LG's should have ended with serial # 000350 ...

Back in 2009, two different members here posted LG serial #'s of 002368 and 002203. As you can see, something is not adding up!

Unless Yamaha was doing something strange with the serial #'s on the Midnights, they produced well over 2,000 Midnights for 1980 alone!


P.S. What's the serial # of your LG, Mike?

[Prisoner6]

No citations are listed for the article.

Would Midnights have their own serial number run, or would they be mixed with the other XS1100's?

The LG's were identified as 4H3, and the SG's were identified as 3J6 ...

The LH's were identified as 4W1, and the SH's were identified as 4R0 ...

So I would assume they would each have their own "last-6-digit" serial # ???

[Prisoner6]

Would Midnights have their own serial number run, or would they be mixed with the other XS1100's?

They possibly included the MNS serial numbers with the regular Specials/Standards serial numbers? If they did, that would answer the riddle of the seemingly large quantity of the MNS. They may have only designated the MNS by the first three numerals.
Mike

If Yamaha did indeed mix/include the Midnights' serial #'s with other XS11 production runs, it would certainly reconcile the low "250-per-year" Midnight claim with

the high LG serial #'s I posted above.

[DCII]

Unfortunately only Yamaha has the answer to the question of how many MNS were produced and from several articles I have read they are either not forthcoming with the information or as one article said no longer have it. However given the number of MNS for sale on a regular basis it is hard to believe the 250 figure. Maybe there is a government data base that might have the figures, DOT.

[motoman]

I thought the Martini XS1100 was the rarest...

Would'nt know, since it wasn't offered this side of the 'pond'. But, you already know it was my favorite option for its 'go fast' look, even sitting still.

[madmax-im]

Would'nt know, since it wasn't offered this side of the 'pond'. But, you already know it was my favorite option for its 'go fast' look, even sitting still.

yep...I was just looking at some google images of the Martini...wow... a shame they never made it to this side of the pond...

[Prisoner6]

Unfortunately only Yamaha has the answer to the question of how many MNS were produced ... However given the number of MNS for sale on a regular basis it is hard to believe the 250 figure.

It is very hard to believe that number ...

Don't know if this is the original source of the "250-per-year" Midnight production claim, but ...

THIS book, titled "Motorcycle Chronicle: One Hundred Years Of Magnificent Machines", by Doug Mitchel, makes just that claim. It was released in July 2001.

[Prisoner6]

I thought the Martini XS1100 was the rarest...

But, you already know it was my favorite option for its 'go fast' look, even sitting still.

yep...I was just looking at some google images of the Martini...wow... a shame they never made it to this side of the pond...

Very cool ...

[madmax-im]

Downright Bitchin'....