Standard VS Special

[Brasco18]

So which is better - the Standard or the Special? Why?

[madmax-im]

No biggie

The Special has more black paint and a smaller gas tank than the std...but other than that performance wise theres no difference..its just a matter of aestetics(sp?)

[81xsproject]

I don't know for sure, but I imagine the standards are a little more nimble due to their different forks.

[DavesXS]

specials have 16" wheels standard has 17".
Makes specials quicker off the line, but less top end. Were only talking 5mph worth of difference though.

[Brasco18]

I haven't ridden a special but I imagine it would be more comfortable than the std. The std's gas tank rubs on my inner thighs and seat makes me sit on my nuts. If I were able to get a different seat on my std it would probably make a huge difference.

[mason79]

looks brother, looks

[Brian_D]

Originally posted by Brasco18
... and seat makes me sit on my nuts...

sounds like you should try xschop's gel seat mod found HERE

[saddle up]

Well flame on,,,

Pro's and con's just like anything else. For off the line, the S, for top end the Standard, hand down.
IMHO the front end doesn't shake as much as the special. Of course I have to factor in the possibility the the special might have been dumped or wrecked. The standard I bought new.. So,,, I also like the standard for the long haul, gas tank size and the layout. Foot peg placement. I don't know if there is a difference, or maybe I am just getting old. A round town the special, down the road the standard. Plus I liked how my knees fit right in the indentation on the standard.
That reminds me about getting a lazer to see if the forks are tweaked or if the rotors are warped because I have a bumpity bumpity brake action on the present bike a special. Real notable at slow speeds but not so much high speed???
Peace Bro's and Sis's, keep the rubber side down.

[HobbyMan]

I am a standard man myself.
What I find is that I usually ride around town on the special. The MNS turns heads in traffic. The small rear wheel is better for stop and go stuff. Always on the road I ride a standard. No Question about it! It is easier for me to pack stuff on my standard for some reason and they just ride better at high speed. Don't as me why they feel this way. I like them both equally as much because these bikes kick A**

[tarzan]

I have had two specials and I like the styling of them.I havent had a standard but I do wish they made a 5 gallon special gas tank.You know I have an extra tank though so maybe I'll cut them apart this winter and make wide special tank.
My bike doesnt shake at high speed,so maybe there is something wrong with yours like you wondered saddleup.

[Brasco18]

Thanks for the gel tip.... Not. That seat looks horrible. Obviously it isn't as bad as it looks as it looks like it is some kind of nut sack toture. Seriously though, I am starting to warm up to my Standard. I am really enjoying to pick up it has. The front end does seem a little loose, as someone mentioned above. I do wish it got better gas mileage; mid thirties seems low. And the gas tank does tend to hurt my legs after a while. Does anyone have a good remedy for the seat and gas tank being uncomfortable? For style I would have to say the special looks so much better.

[DJinNH]

That's like asking which are better, white sneakers or blue? It's all a matter of taste.

Since I like my bikes like I prefer my women, undressed, I prefer the Special.

Don

[malber]

Originally posted by Brasco18
Thanks for the gel tip.... Not. That seat looks horrible. Obviously it isn't as bad as it looks as it looks like it is some kind of nut sack toture. Seriously though, I am starting to warm up to my Standard. I am really enjoying to pick up it has. The front end does seem a little loose, as someone mentioned above. I do wish it got better gas mileage; mid thirties seems low. And the gas tank does tend to hurt my legs after a while. Does anyone have a good remedy for the seat and gas tank being uncomfortable? For style I would have to say the special looks so much better.

You'll appreciate not having to gas up between 100-120 miles and being able to go just a little bit farther with the larger gas tank.

If you like the look of the special, I've seen mods that replaced the standard seat with a step seat like the special and you could replace the standard rotors with slotted ones.

[fredintoon]

Mix'n'match

A year after I put a sidecar on my XS650 the sidecar seller phoned and said, "If you need more power I just came by a pretty sad shape XS11 that you could fix up."
So I got my XS11SG sight unseen for a bargain. Now Yamaha parts swap like Lego so what worked on the Special for the specialized needs of a sidecar tug is this:-
Keep the 16" rear wheel for it's lower gearing.
Install Standard 'trees while keeping the Special fork tubes to get decreased steering trail. (downside, you are stuck with the Special's dopey tapered pad front brakes)
Swap in a Standard gas tank to get better range.

[Brasco18]

Does the standard gas tank bother anyone else? Because of how the seat is designed, I ride right up on the gas tank. Because the tank has those side cuts, there are edges in the gas tank that push into my inner thighs. These are the two biggest things that bother me about the Standard; the seat and gas tank design. Does anyone else agree? Has anyone created a solution?