New! Australia.Bought it today

[patonga]

I'm the proud owner of a 81 xs11.
The bike looks and seems to go great.
What are the first things I should check to assure that my purchase is as good as i hope it is?

[Hired_Goon]

For peace of mind I would change engine, middle gear and final drive oils. Maybe treat her to a new set of plugs as well.

Of course, check brake pad thickness, brake fluid level and condition. Also tyre wear, paying particular attention to sidewall cracks.

Apart from that,if it has been running fine then enjoy riding it.

Any Pics??
HG

[mro]

new, old bike

click here
http://www.xs11.com/tips/misc/misc2.shtml

So...........
you got a special or standard?


mro
if you can post a pic

[LoHo]

Determining whether it is a Standard or a Special is easy, if you don't know. If it looks like a linebacker ready to knock other bikes off the road, it's a Standard; if it looks like it wanted to be a Harley but couldn't make it, it's a Special...

[webbcraft2150]

Originally posted by LoHo
If it looks like a linebacker ready to knock other bikes off the road, it's a Standard; if it looks like it wanted to be a Harley but couldn't make it, it's a Special...

__________________________________________________ __

Dat just ain't right. Specials never wanted to be HD, they just feed off them. Specials had the smaller tank to give the HD boys time to catchup while you ate lunch and topped off the tank.

[patonga]

it's special!!

Thanks everyone for your help. I'll get some pics happening.

[Goin Commando]

if it looks like it wanted to be a Harley but couldn't make it, it's a Special...

By the late 70s Harley was almost dead, almost nobody wanted a Harley then (and rightly so, they were real junk).
I think they look like they have some British influence. The XS 650 was intended to look like a Brit bike,
650 Specials were real popular then, why not an 1100 Special.
The marketing ploy worked, Yamaha sold more Specials than Standards(in America).

Welcome aboard Patonga, lookin forward to seeing pictures and reading some of your riding stories on your new bike.

[Special Ed]

Yea, whats this dissin' Specials. My "79 is mighty fine, runs like hell an I ain't lyin'! Best freakin' bike I've owned in 35 years.
Bought mine with 28,000 miles on the clock, has over 80,000 now.
Runs like a top, dosn't burn a drop of oil, will cruz at 80 all day long. When I do my Texas run this summer I may borrow a Standard tank from Guru DiverRay so I don't have to stop every 100 miles for gas. Other than that (well, and the high center of gravity,) I think it's damned near a perfect bike!
E.Liberty