Hi, Everybody!

[Narcisist]

New Owner here. Just bought a new-to-me '79 xs1100 last week and found this place while looking around for info. Never a better place for info than a web forum full of dedicated owners. Just thought I'd share some pics with you guys and I look forward to learning from you all.

[DGXSER]

Its Special!!

Welcome to the board!! Looks like you got a very nice 79XS1100SF, or Special. There are two models a Standard and a Special.

Should you need some help with technical issues down the road, it will be very helpful to identify that you have the Special model. Most members add the year and model to their signature for easy identification.

Reaaly nice lookin bike!! Congrats on a great find!!

[Narcisist]

I'm really excited about it, got it for $850. If I may ask, how do you tell the special from the standard?

[Fddlefoot]

Easiest way is the tank itself the special is teardrop shaped like yours where as a Standard is about a gallon larger and as somewhat indentations for the knees. Not to say they haven't been switched but that takes a bit of work and knowledge.

[bikerphil]

how do you tell the special from the standard?

The Standard has a larger, squarer fuel tank, square guages, fuel guage, different handlebars, different front end, larger rear wheel. There are many other diferences, but the engines for the most part are identical.

[Ken Talbot]

Your Special also has the front axle in front of the fork tubes rather than directly in line below the fork tubes, it has round gauges and headlight instead of rectangular, it has rectangular mirrors instead of round, it has four position petcocks instead of three position, it has a vacuum controlled fuel distribution device (aka octopus) rather than vacuum operated petcocks, and the non-slotted brake discs make it a '79 which is the year the Special was introduced, rather than a '80 or '81 which had slotted rotors. Other than that, they're all pretty much the same.

BTW - nice looking bike!

[Narcisist]

Thanks guys. I'm really happy about it. Just had my father-in-law over, he's the one that got me into motorcycles. He's a Goldwing nut, but even he says he really likes it. Can't wait to go riding with him.
I do plan on fixing it up, I can't have something I like without wanting to tinker with it. Couple things I wanted to get too sooner, rather than later are some stainless brake lines, definately two seperate lines from the mc. Maybe a windshield. . .It's cold outside right now. . .brrr. Got some nice grips coming in the mail.

This is gonna be fun.

Btw, how do you post pics in the member photos section? I took a few more than I put here, but saw no reason to bog everyone down with too many, (possible?) pics.

[bobber]

can i work it.