XS11's forever?

[xs11lover]

DJinNH....I thought I liked the "new Yamaha Raider" when I first looked at it but now I think it looks like another vtwin piece of crap that I see everyplace. Why be like everyone else. I do see forward controls for xs's on ebay.
Hope your raider lasts long enough to pay for it. Does your new bike have to do with your new girlfriend? What are you raiding anyway?

[DJinNH]

DJinNH....I thought I liked the "new Yamaha Raider" when I first looked at it but now I think it looks like another vtwin piece of crap that I see everyplace. Why be like everyone else. I do see forward controls for xs's on ebay.
Hope your raider lasts long enough to pay for it. Does your new bike have to do with your new girlfriend? What are you raiding anyway?

You guys are probably a whole lot more skilled at making repairs on these 29 yr old bikes than I am. I simply got burnt out with it. I wanted a bike where each and every day, I could walk out, turn the key and go without having to get my tools out and fix something before I go.

I met my girlfriend almost a year ago. The new bike was totally my idea as she enjoyed the XS with no complaints. What am I raiding? Beaches, mountains, you name it. I guess it would be considered "raiding" since I've never needed an invitation to show up somewhere....I just do. I guess being a "Raider" is a bit easy than being "Special". Me, it's more like "short bus - special" lol

Hey, even the many Harley guys I run into in some of my regular hangouts have grudgingly complimented my "rice" bike. Besides, the Raider is something like a foot and a half longer than my XS so me being 6'02", it feels a whole lot more comfortable.

Don

[Trainzz]

My Turn

Before anyone gets all p!ssy, let me preface this by saying I love Thunderpig more than a couple of my kids.
That being said, lets talk realistically. I also love SWMBO and she absolutely refuses to ride two up more than 20 mile on the Pig. So in the next year or so, there will be a Royal Star, full dress, in my stable.

The plan is to have Thunderpig for my less than 100-150 mile jaunts. The Star for two up, and Cray Train (when completed this winter) for in-town lunacy and general lawbreaking and mischief making. Something along the lines of Jeremy's sweet ride.

Although..............a sidecar on Thunderpig may be a doable option. Heeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyy FRED, hook me up!

[ruffrider]

It's a keeper

I was lucky enough to inherit my 79 XS1100 sf from a friend who passed away 2 years ago. It took me several hours of patient TLC and research on this great site to get her running again.(It sat for 5 years). Those carbs can be a challenge. I've owned several bikes over the years and I got to say this bike is probably the best ever. I restored a 75 Wing that I love too, but I find myself jumping on the XS more than the Wing. It's way more nimble, fast, and just plain handles and stops better than the Wing. I've put 3k on her since aquiring in 07. The odometer now reads 13,500 or so and I'll probably make it to the 100k club with it if I live long enough. I LOVE this bike.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Before anyone gets all p!ssy, let me preface this by saying I love Thunderpig more than a couple of my kids.
That being said, lets talk realistically. I also love SWMBO and she absolutely refuses to ride two up more than 20 mile on the Pig. So in the next year or so, there will be a Royal Star, full dress, in my stable.

The plan is to have Thunderpig for my less than 100-150 mile jaunts. The Star for two up, and Cray Train (when completed this winter) for in-town lunacy and general lawbreaking and mischief making. Something along the lines of Jeremy's sweet ride.

Although..............a sidecar on Thunderpig may be a doable option. Heeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyy FRED, hook me up!

I sincerely hope, with all my might, that you're ridin' that big Star on the streets of gold, my friend. RIP, Lee.

[Montreux_Blue]

It's just so sad to read.

[Special Ed]

I just hate to hear about Xs owners who have trouble with their bikes. My '79 XS11 Special has been the most maintainance free bike I have ever owned. But upon thought, I must admit that more than a small part I owe to living close by to DiverRay, whose knowledge and selfless dedication to maintaining (as far as I can tell,) any XS11 has givin me the illusion of having a care free ride. I salute you Ray, and I'm sorry that everyone can't live next door to an XS11 Guru!
Special Ed

[lvrsnr]

YES the XS11 is a bike for all ages. if money were no object i would own as many as I could find and restore throwing in other interresting bikes i have seen or owned over the years. I have owned guzzis and H Ds and i guess i just demand more from a motorcycle than they can deliver, they're half the bike for twice the price.

[CruisingRam]

Well, I have moved to Hawaii, wouldn't mind finding an XS here in Hawaii! Chances are, will find one on the mainland and ship it over

[tommystinson]

Well...

I do miss the Falcon from time to time. It was a lot of fun. Frankly, working on my Special was cheap therapy. Nothing better than getting out my Colortune and Carbtune II and dialing in the carbs to the Nth degree. It took a bit, but that SOB ran like a top!
Although I'd like another XS, it could never be the only bike in my stable. It's fun, in the way an old wooden roller coaster is fun. Is it going to come apart or fly off the tracks? So much motor for a Flintstones era frame! LOL.
So, overall I'm happier with my new Z1000. It's brutally fast, pretty comfortable and handles like Jennifer Grey on Dancing with the Stars. I miss the days of having a total sleeper but...
Cheers!

[xs650mike]

Ditto!

I just hate to hear about Xs owners who have trouble with their bikes. My '79 XS11 Special has been the most maintainance free bike I have ever owned.

Ditto!

[mstic2000]

It's December, and the snow is flying and the roads are forzen and it's fricking cold here in Michigan. I'm all pissed off that all I can do is fire the old 78 up in the garage. So, all of you that are still riding in your bastardly warm weather, well you know, where you, can go. I fire the old gal up waiting and hoping and praying that in Michigan we just might get........JUST MIGHT GET A 50 degree day in December so I can put the Itunes in my ears and playing xmas music on my headphone in my fulll face helmet and RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mstic2000]

When I was just a kid back in the 70s, I dreamed of owning a Yamaha YZ250 and then a YZ500 which I thought was impossible to even imagine. I never dreamed I would own an XS1100 because the dream wasn't there yet.......................the cream of the crop!

[Special Ed]

In the spirit of Hanukkah, (my wife is Jewish
If I was a rich man,
Yada da da da da da da da da-a-h!)
I would buy myself a new bike
But I'm not just sure which one!

No, my brothers and sisters of XS,
I am proud to own what I think is the very finest iteration of the “standard” motorcycle. Not a dirt bike,(by any means!) not a “street fighter,” not a long distance “Iron Butt” bike, not a “Sport Tourer,” not a “cruiser,” but a bike that can serve all categories reasonably well, and with some modification, very well: well, OK, except for “dirt bike.”
This is the bike that I dreamed of having when I was buzzing along at 45 MPH on my Harley Davidson “Super 10” (165 c.c. Two stroke, 3 speed tranny,) when I was 14 to 16 years old. Or even when I moved up to a !962 Harley Sprint when I turned 16 or my 1958 650 c.c. Norton Dominator a year later.
This is the quickest, fastest, smoothest, most reliable bike I have ever owned.
Until my recent cancer surgery I road the bike daily, and used it to do estimates and pick up supplies for my wood floor business. I must admit that it was a bit heavy for my body weight when I road down unpaved mountain roads to do estimates.
My goal is to keep my cherished XS11SF, give it an unneeded top end overhaul and cosmetic face lift, and keep it for Rallies and special events, and get another, smaller bike for a “daily ride.” I'm thinking a 500 to 650. Maybe a XS650 street tracker. Maybe a SR500.
I bought my XS11SF with 28000 miles on it. I wore out the original odometer: it crapped out at 104000 miles. It still starts right up, has good compression, doesn’t burn or leak a drop of oil, smokes 90% of other bikes on the road, and sounds like a motorcycle is supposed to sound without breaking windows!
Any manufacturer that can turn out a good handling guitar and a well tuned motorcycle has my vote.
Long live the XS11!
Special Ed

[Special Ed]

In the spirit of Hanukkah, (my wife is Jewish,)
If I was a rich man,
Yada da da da da da da da da-a-h!
I would buy myself a new bike
But I'm not just sure which one!

No, my brothers and sisters of XS,
I am proud to own what I think is the very finest iteration of the “standard” motorcycle. Not a dirt bike,(by any means!) not a “street fighter,” not a long distance “Iron Butt” bike, not a “Sport Tourer,” not a “cruiser,” but a bike that can serve all categories reasonably well, and with some modification, very well: well, OK, except for “dirt bike.”
This is the bike that I dreamed of having when I was buzzing along at 45 MPH on my Harley Davidson “Super 10” (165 c.c. Two stroke, 3 speed tranny,) when I was 14 to 16 years old. Or even when I moved up to a !962 Harley Sprint when I turned 16 or my 1958 650 c.c. Norton Dominator a year later.
This is the quickest, fastest, smoothest, most reliable bike I have ever owned.
Until my recent cancer surgery I road the bike daily, and used it to do estimates and pick up supplies for my wood floor business. I must admit that it was a bit heavy for my body weight when I road down unpaved mountain roads to do estimates.
My goal is to keep my cherished XS11SF, give it an unneeded top end overhaul and cosmetic face lift, and keep it for Rallies and special events, and get another, smaller bike for a “daily ride.” I'm thinking a 500 to 650. Maybe a XS650 street tracker. Maybe a SR500.
I bought my XS11SF with 28000 miles on it. I wore out the original odometer: it crapped out at 104000 miles. It still starts right up, has good compression, doesn’t burn or leak a drop of oil, smokes 90% of other bikes on the road, and sounds like a motorcycle is supposed to sound without breaking windows!
Any manufacturer that can turn out a good handling guitar and a well tuned motorcycle has my vote.
Long live the XS11!
Special Ed