Hello from Conway Arkansas

[andysutt]

Hello, I thought I'd just say hello and introduce myself.

My name is Andy, Im 25 y/o and I just bought my first bike. Its a 80 Yamaha 1100 XS. Not much has been done to it other than a 4 into 1 header. It runs pretty good and not bad shape for a starter bike.

Just thought I'd say hello and introduce myself before I look around

[DJinNH]

Welcome Andy.

So I gotta know....why is it pronounced Arkansas (Ar-can-saw) when Kansas is pronounced (Can-sas)?

Been losing a lot of sleep over that one.

Don

[fredintoon]

Small world

Hi Andy and welcome,
Conway eh? That's my adopted sons' surname. They'll be pleased to hear there's a town named after them.
But your XS1100 is your very first bike ever? No several years experience riding dirt bikes or racing bikes even if they weren't yours?
If so, watch out. The XS1100 is a real powerful and heavy machine that can be "too fast for owner" in 2nd gear. Let's be careful out there.

[DGXSER]

Hey Andy,

welcome to the asylum. Lots of great folks and awesome information here

Like Fred stated, the XS11 is a VERY strong bike for a first time rider. And it is a heavy pig to be sure so it takes some thinking to make it go where you want it, alot more so than a Kaw 400LTD or the like. So just because you have ridden a buddies Nigthawk 450 or whatever they make em in these days, don't go out twistin the grip on this beast the same. Hope you have at least experienced either a big bike, or true big block HP car. I have an 84 G-body Cutlas with a 502 ramjet, it is about the same HP to weight ratio as this bike in my opinion.

If you have not yet, I would HIGHLY recommend taking the MSF basic rider course. I took it last year and learned from it as an experienced rider. Not tryin to scare you off of it, just keep you from becoming a number on a chart somewhere is all.

[slow mo]

welcome andy

i hope you enjoy this site as much as i do ! lots of good advice. be safe out there; slow mo!!

[CatatonicBug]

Welcome to the site! My XS is also my first bike ever. Take it really slow, and respect the power of these things. The XS was the grandfather of all of the high-power crotch rockets out there today. Plus, these things are HEAVY! Make sure you can STOP before you try to GO.

What model is your bike? Standard/Special/MNS/frankenbike?

[CatatonicBug]

Welcome Andy.

So I gotta know....why is it pronounced Arkansas (Ar-can-saw) when Kansas is pronounced (Can-sas)?

Been losing a lot of sleep over that one.

Don

I believe it's actually one of those "Strange but true" laws in Arkansas that it's against the law to mispronounce the name of the state, purley because of that question.

Now if we could only get that law in place in Missouri! Even the politicians sometimes call it "Miz-ER-uh". Drives me bonkers.

[cloerts]

Welcome Andy.

So I gotta know....why is it pronounced Arkansas (Ar-can-saw) when Kansas is pronounced (Can-sas)?

Been losing a lot of sleep over that one.

Don

this from a guy living in NEW HAMP-SURE

[trbig]

There were a couple of us over in your neck of the woods this last weekend. Probably will be again soon..

Welcome to the forum!


Tod

[Rasputin]

Welcome to the site. I was down there a yr ago. Well close to there, I was in Beebe. I think we were thru Conway while we were there. I love it down there. You guys have great roads for riding and a lot of great scenery. I noticed a whole bunch of dead armadillos on yer highways too. I dont think I would like to hit one of those at any speed on my bike. My sister in law and her hubby live in Beebe and we had to come down for the nieces graduation.

[andysutt]

Thanks for all the nice welcomes.

As far as I know the bike is just a XS 1100.

I'll post some pictures of it.

I've ridden dirtbikes and stuff before, ATVs, and drag raced at the local track in a truck I built and several other things also.

Been around racing all my life, so Im used to the "power"

The last real bike I rode was my buddies new VTX 1300.

I liked that bike, but this bike actually fits me a ton better than that bike for some reason. Maybe because I wasn't worried to much about hurting the bike because it was mine and not someone else's

As for the Arkansas law.. it is true, you can't mis pronounce it, it is against the law. lol

Beebe isn't to far from me, and Id be interested in getting to meet some of you.

Currently my bike has no rear brakes. I have most of the stuff for it however.

I do need to fix a few things on my bike. THe wiring harness that goes to the headlight and such is unplugged and the white wire is cut for some reason. I plugged it back in and the headlight went dimmer and then it started to smolder. I unhooked it very quickly.
The headlight does come on w/ the key however, but doesnt have hi/lo

The gas gauge also doesn't work.

I may be trying to find a harness soon for that.

Im also interested in getting a pipe, or making something that makes it sound more like a cruiser, rather than the rocket sound it has now.

I respect this bike alot, as it is very quick, and with only one brake working right now, you better respect it or else. lol

[andysutt]

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...Picture001.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...Picture002.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...Picture003.jpg

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...Picture004.jpg

[Wildkat]

That looks pretty sharp!

Welcome to the board!

[andysutt]

Thanks. I plan to repaint it and clean it up some come this winter, but I've enjoyed it way to much so far to tear it apart now. lol

Im waiting for all the "extra" parts that come with the bike to show up here, so I can start sorting thru what I need/want to keep and get it the way I want for sure.

[DGXSER]

Yep, that is what is referred to as a Standard from the looks of it. If it is an 80 then it is also called a model G (started with E in 78, wen tup each year alphabetically).

Very nice lookin bike!

Glad to hear it is not your first bike ever or first riding experience. Since you understand what you have in the way of weight and power, you understand out thoughts in keeping a new rider that might start out on one of these from becoming the next statistic.