New Winter Project

[rpgoerlich]

Sold my Xj650 Turbo Last week. Been looking for another project. It didn't take long...Picked up a 79 XS ELeven Special for $200 tonight. Not running, 54k on it. But in decent shape and it's all there, been sitting 3 years in a garage 6 miles away. 4 into 1 Header, New seat, Backrest/rack, 3 year old tires w/500mi on them.

Richard

[xs11lover]

Looks great for $200, Any custom plans or stock?

[blue giant]

Nice find!

Congratulations!

Paul

[Wildkat]

Great find!

and you have enough time to have it all completed by the Meeting of the Minds in June between Dallas and Ft Worth...


Welcome to the board

[rpgoerlich]

Thanks all. I've been lurking around for a while. I have actually been looking for an XS/XJ 1100 for a while now. Most of my time in the last 3 years has been spent with XJ650's, XS750's, XV700, CB900 and a couple a smaller zukes and hondas.

Obviously I didn't get the memo about the meeting! Guess I'll have to do a search.

Not much for customizing. Just recondition, ride em then sell em.

Gonna tear into it today. Compression looked good. Typical rubber deterioration, So intake rubber will have to be dealt with. Carbs will be the first thing off and gone through as soon as I can get the side cover lock unlocked!

[CatatonicBug]

Richard,

You sure that's a '79? I'm no expert, but that one has the same tank as my '81 MNS. Looks like the PO did some customization with the handlebars and grips, so maybe the tank was swapped out too?

Oh, and welcome to the forum!!

[Wildkat]

here's a link to the meeting information... hope you can make it


Meeting of the Minds 2009

Aren't the Special tanks the same? The Midnights have the gold trim and chrome emblems... looks like this one has the regular gold emblems, silver gas cap and the trim isn't gold...

[Ivan]

The process for unlocking the side cover:

Insert key, gently twist and wiggle like hell.

Works on mine.

[CatatonicBug]

Aren't the Special tanks the same? The Midnights have the gold trim and chrome emblems... looks like this one has the regular gold emblems, silver gas cap and the trim isn't gold...

I was referring to the shape. I thought the '79 tanks were a different shape than the '80/'81 models. Like I said, I'm no expert...

[CatatonicBug]

The process for unlocking the side cover:

Insert key, gently twist and wiggle like hell.

Works on mine.

I wish mine locked... The keyhole is there, and the metal thing that is supposed to latch into the hole is there, but I just give it a tug and it comes right out on mine. Of course, it looks like the metal latch is a home-made replacement, epoxy'd onto the cover.

[rpgoerlich]

Thanks Wildkat.

Interesting CatatonicBug. The Guy was calling it a midnight special, which I dont think it is. VIN is a 3H3011XXX which is a 79 XS1100SF Black/Gold.
So far it all looks factory. Original paint which is all the same on tank & sidecovers. Bars could have been swapped out. And yes, has those crappy foam grips that are rock hard!

Sidecover lock got freed up from sitting all night after spraying with some Aero Kroil. Time to get busy!

[tarzan]

Nice find.That seat looks comfortable.Midnights have a blacked out engine too.It isnt a midnight.

[CatatonicBug]

Nice find.That seat looks comfortable.Midnights have a blacked out engine too.It isnt a midnight.

Definitely not a MNS. According to several posts on this forum, a VIN starting with 3H3 means a '79 Special. However, we all know that hybrids are a very common thing with these older bikes, so there is a possibility that you have parts from several other bikes.

[xs11lover]

Yup, It's a 79 special all the way. This is what it looked like new and all stock.

[Wildkat]

Ahem...
Show off...

Yup, It's a 79 special all the way. This is what it looked like new and all stock.