Yamaha motorcycles, new vs old

[madmax-im]

I like Black

Originally posted by wingnut
Until they put these in American show rooms I'll stick with the SH

I'd take one of these but only in Black

[madmax-im]

Timeless styling

The XJR1300 is the next generation of the XS/XJ1100...What joy to see a modern bike with no body work...I had no idea this was under the FeeJeR!Looking at the motor I see an XS1100 with alot of updates...gosh I've said it before but I'd get one of these in a NY minute..if I could get my hands on one!Whats not to love abt this bike...other than the fact that we cant get it ???Anybody on this board from down under who can get one of these???Theres gotta be a way to get'em over here

[Paintman]

To cool

Oh Man that bike is slick wonder whos doors we have to knock down to get them over here.Il take a Black one please.
John

[AlanB]

Hi Guys,

there are plenty of the XJR range over here; The prices on older ones drop pretty quickly too!

There are a whole load of companies shipping older cars and bikes from the States to UK; surely some of 'em must ship back?

I have stuck with my XS for the same reaons I bought it in the first place; It is BIG (I am 6'2), Affordable, and HAS SHAFT DRIVE!!

I have not yet found a more modern bike which has all three, in a style I like.

AlanB

[strom]

A friend has a black one :P
1200 tho. The ride... well... cannot be compared to the XS. Way more grunt, some less weight helps too. Steering is more "sporty", brakes that actually stop you and tires that hold.
The only problem I had was maybe a bit narrow handlebars (got wider than stock on both of my 11s) and the engine.
Dont get me wrong, its a sweet engine that only XSes the XS. But its an inline 4. And since I got the guzzi, im not going back to inline fours. Sorry.
BTW, he is selling his for around 2 - 2.5k euro, the bike is missing the instrument cluster (well, its not on the bike, needs taping together or something), and its quite thirsty for oil (prolly valve seals).



They DO look better with black engines.

He is selling coz hes getting a guzzi too. If he wont sell it soon, he will keep it and fix it (he he, must be something bout those bikes that makes us wanna keep them)

LP

[Wildkat]

Oh... nice... I'll bet you guys...

dangle candy just out of reach of little kids too...

[webbcraft2150]

I enjoy going to rallies and events and having many people gravitate to my trusty XS. It is unique in its own way. I get alot of "I usta have one of those" or "man those bike were fast" (of which I retort, it still is). The best one is "who made that". It still bugs my bro-in-law who ride a new HD. Old iron is my passion. Like the rest of you, I have gotten rid of cars I wish I still had, ("70 Roadrunner, '67 GTO, '70 340 Duster). I still have my '75 Dodge W200 I bought new. At a off-road event last year I came back to the truck to find a "honorable mention" ribbon under the windshield wiper. This rig is far from show quality but someone appreciated it.

[TADracer]

This past Easter Sunday I was invited to a get together. My wife and Daughter were already there and I met them later in the day. I parked across the street and 3 or 4 guys were standing by the garage door where they had an ice chest, one of them I knew a bit. I walked up the drive removing my gloves when I was greeted with "Hey Mike, I did'nt know you were a biker". I responded "I am not a biker, I'm not a poser and I don't live the lifestyle. I just ride. And I have been riding this one for almost 30 years". As I got closer I noticed the shiny new gleem of HD chrome in the garage. I thought, D#$n, I had just insulted this man and I did'nt even know him yet. Then he stepped farward and said that he hoped his was as clean and nice when it was 30.

The plastic covered rockets and the chrome covered two-lungers of today should be seen for what they are...well engineered and beautiful machines. And laptops and fuel maps are the new technology. But there is just something to be said for a machine that was on the cutting edge of technology back then and in many ways, still is. There is a definate alure when you can still use a timing light on the left side and when you can take a long screwdriver, look away from the tach and do a minor adjustment using only your ear.

Yep, I'll take my 11 any day.

[DJinNH]

OK, I got to admit those XJR's are sweeeeeet!

Don

[silverarrow1970]

6 years ago I sold my little Honda Rebel after moving out to the country (gravel roads are killer on bikes and shins!). Last year I decided I couldn't go any longer without riding, so I started looking for a bke. All my friends have Shadows and just love them...sporty, fast, and you can fit in cause everybodys got one, so I went looking for one. I walked into a dealer and spent an hour looking at all the pretty Shadows with sparkly paint, flames, chrome, leather tassels (HD wannabes).......and then I saw it......what I knew would be my new bike. The dealer saild, "Oh that is just a 1979 xs1100, now come sit on this Shadow". I told him to pull out the Yamaha and load it. He had to pull a dirt bike off of it that had fallen over and scratched the tank and air up the tires just to get it out. The fairing was cracked and faded, and the rear plastic saddle bags were faded, but I was smitten. I paid sticker price (I didn't even try to talk him down), and loaded it into my truck. I took it home and started stripping it down so I could see what I had just brought into the family. First thing I noticed was that it was a 1980 xs1100 Special. Huh. That dealer didn't even know what he was selling. Then I went into the house and found this web site, xs11.com, and it was filled with knowledge and experience and.....well...other people who had experienced the same pull towards these bikes that I had just felt. So anyway, after months of fixing, changing, and dreaming, I took it for my first ride. Thats right, I bought it without even test driving it. After a mile, I knew I had made a good decision. It felt right.
So you can keep the new, faster, shiny.....I'm comfy with my special.

[John]

Like I said

Any fool can buy new and shiney...

[thewiz]

"I like that old time ...

rock and roll...."

My room mate, a double HD owner, and I took two of my XSs out for a ride yesterday afternoon. Near home, we stopped at a local watering hole for a brew and sat down outside with a couple of Harley boys. Kev was even wearing a Yammie jacket ... swag from the Yamaha mixing consoles he owns ... lol .... anyway, he was quick to tell every one that his bike was home (one dead for years and the other barely running as usual)... almost apologizing for the beautiful G he was riding ... kinda' pissed me off ....BUT ... all of those guys got up though and walked over to the fine pair of XSs and had a kind word to say about 'em .... in their heart of hearts, even they know the truth .......

[xs650mike]

Like the XJR but I love my XS11.

If you want a laugh, see if'n you can get someone with a V-Star 1100 to race you. Just a little top gear roll on from 55. The XS will flat leave the V-Star in the far distance. That's what they call "progress", hee hee!

[rneal55555]

Well I just sold my XS not because I didn't like or want it the fact is that I just don't have the time to give it the TLC it needs and deserves. I bought a 99 Venture about 3 1/2 years ago SWMBO actually picked it out it's not an XS but I can ride it all day with her on the back no complaining. Last year I picked up an 04 Concours I use to commute on. It's not far from an XS made them from 86 to 06 with minimal changes it does have a lot of plastic though.
I still have an almost basket case 80 Special over in the corner of the garage maybe someday she will run if I ever have the time.

But for now with the time I have available keeping up with the maintenance on the Connie and the Venture is about all I can handle. In another 5 years or so when the debt fro the kids education is whittled down and my dream garage is built or we move someplace where the cost of living is cheap and my Military retirement pay can handle most of the load I may just have 4 XS's one for each year.


I will always remember my first ride on the XS11 after a couple of years riding an XS650, I had gone just a couple of miles and said to myself now this is a MOTORCYCLE.
As much as I like the Venture and the Connie I never did have that feeling on either of them.

[DJinNH]

Originally posted by rneal55555

I will always remember my first ride on the XS11 after a couple of years riding an XS650, I had gone just a couple of miles and said to myself now this is a MOTORCYCLE.
As much as I like the Venture and the Connie I never did have that feeling on either of them. [/B]

Dim the lights.....key the music....

1980 was the year. I was a young man living in New England and looking to buy his first motorcycle. My dad offered to go in half on it so we bought a beautiful maroon 1980 Yamaha XS400. We went small since I was just learning to ride.

But like a betrayal to my first mistress....I needed more. She just couldn't satisfy me though she tried. A year later, we parted ways as a new 1981 Yamaha XS850 Special had caught my eye. Her beautiful candy red coat......her raspy voice while running down the highway. I knew we were meant to be together.

Though my love for her was strong, we too, eventually had to part ways. I found myself devoted to a new woman in my life...a 378' Coast Guard cutter.



Over the years, I spent a lot of time thinking about the "Special" times we had together and I longed to hold her again. But that just wasn't in the cards. She was now a distant memory sharing a life with another owner now. My choice and I had to accept that. I only hope she is happy now.

25 yrs later, my friend set me up with a new gal...actually two but hey, these are the times we live in.

Though these new gals, XS1100SG and XS1100SH have been around and are showing some age...as am I...it is time to start new memories.

Maybe in the future, I will tell them about the 850 I once loved. For now...I will just work on our lives in the here and now. To that beautiful 850 with the lovely red coat....Thanks for the memories!

(new gals)


(Music ends, lights come back on)

Sorry for being a goofball guys!

Don