Just bought XS11 22 years later

[Meatloaf]

In 1982 at the age of 18 I bought a used 81 special for $2700 CDN. I sold it two years later when I went to college.

Last night I bought a 78 with 25k (about 15000 miles) on it for $1200. I was actually shopping for a used Fatboy when I stumbled across an ad for the XS. Swept up in a wave of nostalgia I picked it up and brought it home. I can't get the stupid grin of my face. It's in great shape but in baaaad need of a tune-up. This is my toy for this season and I can't wait to tinker with it, ride it, and pop in here from time to time to get tips and talk shop.

[mro]

wellcome to xs land Meatloaf

Picked up an 80G last October by accident.
Had planned just to get it running and sell it.
Have put little over 9,000 miles on it since and got an 80 MNS project bike too.

XS may not be a lot a things, but they are FUN



mro

[dewibp]

I went thru the same phase meatball. Hey mro, you said you have a 80 midnight special? I am going to look at one in central Iowa tomorrow. Always wanted a midnight to go along with the rest of my fleet. How hard is it going to be to pick up GOOD clean parts for it? How about interchangeability (is this a word?) between 80's and 81's? thx dew

[mro]

GOOD clean parts for it?

Not been to successful in finding MNS goodies.
Have looked at Yamaha parts site and seems that the part numbers for specials, 80 & 81 MNS have a lot of differences, but suspect that many parts are still interchangeable.

Luckily MNS is mostly black, (favorite color) and most of what I have can be restored.



mro

[cajun31]

Hey guys, I am the original owner of an 80 MNS. You need to read through some of the technical articles on these bikes. There are some suttle differences between the 80 and 81 models. The braking system was much different between the two years. I have been looking for paint and parts for four years now. They are hard to come by and generally sell at a premium. If you have questions I might be of help.

[Meatloaf]

Hmmm...just to bring this hijacked thread back on track...

Has anyone else out there owned one of these bikes years ago, sold it, and then bought another one years later? I'm interested in seeing if anyone can a top 24 year "leave of absence".

[webbcraft2150]

While I did not own an 11 in the past, I would like to share my first experience with one. In 79 I had a new (78) Laverda Jota 1000. It suffered a broken chain that balled up in the primary sprocket case an broke it. Parts were coming on a slow boat from Italy. The dealer had a fleet of used bikes and told me to pick one out to ride till the Laverda was fixed. There was a shiny XS11 on the line. I picked it out since it was the biggest bike but I had reservations with it being a "shafty". Seemed pretty quick as I rode it toward I-25. After dragging a peg on a nice sweeper onramp, I nailed it. I had eyeball prints on my faceshield and a grin from ear to ear. I rode that rig for a couple of weeks till the Lav was back on the road. I told myself I gotta get one of those!! Time went by, the Laverda was replaced by a KZ1100 Spectre (Laverda was like trying to drive a prostocker on the street ). In '88, I scored my 11g, and the rest is history . It has proven to be a faithful beast. It still is a classic definition of the term "super bike". Its niche in motorcycle history is firmly planted along with other scooter milestones like the first Honda 750, the Kawasaki KZ900 and H1's and Suzuki GS's. Someday I may get a newer bike but the XS will always be the one that gets parked in the garage first.

[mro]

Hmmm...just to bring this hijacked thread back on track...

sorry Meatloaf

Never had a Yamaha till the 80G.
Had other scooters until 1985, first was born and bikes had to go.
So had 20 years w/o a ride


mro

[wingnut]

Yep its been done before

Bought a brand new 1980 Special in 80 from the dealer on cold Feb day. Traded a XS650 in on it cause I had bigger bike itis and knew I couldn't get bigger at the time. Rode it for 2 years and sold it when SWMBO graced my exitance. Last Oct found my 81SH on Ebay for a great price and went to VA to puck her up. We are very happy togeather. So thats 23 years wasted.

[DiverRay]

I ordered my first XS1000 from the dealer in 1977. When it came in, found out it was actually an XS1100. Had the full dress kit from Yamaha installed, and rode that bike for 32K miles in 3 years. Sold it to keep my Jensen Healy on the road, and went through a few bikes over the next 10 years. did without a bike for about 8 years. A friend had a Honda V45 I picked up cheap, and after getting it running, I new I needed an XS1100 again. Sold the Honda and picked up "Daily Ride".
I like the power and low end grunt of the XS, and the drive shaft. I'll probably have an XS as long as I can ride. I may get other bikes, but I know the XS will always be my "first love".
Ray

[Meatloaf]

I have to admit. It's not as much fun this time around. Having a tough time getting it running well enough to ride. Dropped a bundle on labour charges so far, dealer hasn't been much use.

Wrenching myself now and well....I suck. The way I look at it though, it'll feel that much better when I solve the problems myself and take it for it's first real ride.

[sleazybear]

I am kind of the other way around, I have owned an xs1100 for 23 years.. I had a 550 vision before that had a virgo 750 before that, had a xs650 before that, had a sportster before that,
the vision pucked water on my leg so i sold it
the 750 virigo broke the frame and sold it
the 650 kept vibrating florida lic plates in half so I traded it for the 750.
the sportster was bought by a lady in a voltswagon, it was a great trade her insurance company bought it for $15000
I bought the 79xs 1100 in 1983
it died of a broken frame by the swing arm, in 1985 it sits in the garage for parts, the 81xs11 I have had now since 1986.
After 6 years of sitting I am redoing the 81, and I am trying to dig up plans to build the 79 into a trike..

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Meat,

I, too, am like Sleazybear, got my 81Sh essentially new in 83 from fellow sailor while stationed in JAPAN! Rode it for some 9 years, then tranny died, parked it for 9 years until my dad passed away. Realized life's too short, found XS11 Yahoo group then, found info on fixing tranny, etc.

I've ONLY owned Yamaha's! First was '67 305 2 stroke, then a 74 TX500 4 stroke twin, took it with me to Japan, left it there!
Rode an XS850 triple for 1.5 years while in Japan, then got the XS11 shortly before transferred stateside!

So...my hiatus was only 9 years, I've read about much longer ones on here!
T.C.

[desert1]

Came to me

My 78 came to me in 1999 for $800. Cdn and lots of enjoyment and a few frustrations as well, mostly by my own making.....the 79 thats still parked and protected from the weather is still in a waiting to be restored mode.....that I bought for $200.....I had it runnin long enough to know the engine is tight and strong.....
Bruce

Hey T.C., look at all the posts you have made over the years, that gotta be a record!

[TopCatGr58]

Yeah, I'm a Poster, not a POSER!

Hey Bruce,

If you go to the Members tag, then click on the top 10 posters, I'm #1! John is a "close" second with over 2500 posts since he had all of that recovery time to contemplate his sidestand antics! What can I say, I like to talk and type!

We now return this thread to it's original topic!
T.C.