XS11's forever?

[cywelchjr]

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

And as well, some of the best piano's on the planet. And yes, I have worked on both the bikes and the pianos now.

[CatatonicBug]

And as well, some of the best piano's on the planet. And yes, I have worked on both the bikes and the pianos now.

So, what kind of carbs do the pianos use?

[1st bike]

i voted for lifelong companion, for the simple fact that i can hopefully make this bike WHATEVER i want, i mean from all of the different things that guys on this site have done, from full resto to rat rod, to cafe racer, with some time and a lot of beer and swearing, i can make this bike anything (i hope)

[Kit]

I also voted lifelong companion. I originally bought this bike as a stepping stone, to get back into riding before buying something brand new next summer. I've completely scrapped that idea. What can I say...I'm in love. She's a keeper.

[xs650mike]

From pianos to motorcycles

And as well, some of the best piano's on the planet. And yes, I have worked on both the bikes and the pianos now.

Yamaha started out making pianos. As a guitar player I have to mention their guitars and amplifiers which are of equally superb quality.

[remi]

I like to ride all kinds, but my xs11 is staying for good. I ride it to work almost every dat when there not snow or ice on the ground. Its only 1.5 miles each way to work now. But last summer it was 100 miles each way, and I put over 7,000 miles on it last summer, travelung through Detroit traffic and loved every minute of it!

[ross]

welcome neighbor....

understand what you are saying.....put about 6500 on the rebel devil per year in detroit traffic!!!!...ride hard, ride safe....ross

[tommystinson]

It's complicated

It's been just over a year since I sold the Falcon. Do I miss it? Yes and no. I miss the seat, which was second only to a La-Z-Boy. And I miss working on it. Hanging my Carbtune II off the side and dialing it in every other week. More of an excuse to have a beer or two in the garage I think! What I don't miss? The weight. Spending money on various parts that took me hours to find on ebay. Spooky handling. But I still miss it. If I had the room...

[XSive Okie]

I clicked worthy lifetime companion, but some day (when money allows), I would like to have a bike that lets me and the SWMBO ride a little further between fill-ups. I will have my Special forever though!

[Bonz]

No question the my 80 SG is a worthy lifetime companion, because of what it is. I.E. it was the top bike of it's era when it came out. Don't find many of those kinds of bikes from any manufacturer, especially one that does what it does so well, even 31 years after mine was made.

Since I've added a Plexifairing 3 and done the 750 final drive swap, my XS has become much more of an all around bike, so in it's current form, it's even more of a worthy companion.

If I could find a Standard that was in the same superb original condition as my Special, that would or could be the only thing that would make me think about swapping with someone or selling mine.

Otherwise, I really enjoy having a couple bikes at any given time to choose from, as my current other bike is an '01 ZRX 1200.

[Mendizale]

There are lots of great bikes out there, but so far my XS11 is superb. And I got it for way less than this bike, which is also pretty cool.

[g15usmc]

I have my daily driver and the XS...At the present time I dont see myself getting rid of either...I Plan to own them till I die!...However, that does not mean I will not buy another bike...I only buy cash so, its going to be a little while till i buy another new bike...I want a collection that tops Leno...then again, I want to ride each one as well...I think it'd be cool to have a different bike for each day of the week...better to have a different bike for each day of the month...and def. would be awesome to have one for each day of the year...but i'd like to have more than 365...no reason I couldn't ride more than one in a day...I mean its like wearing my uniform to work, going home, changing into some civies, and then going out to ride for an hour or so to return home and change again into something to go out to dinner in...ride one bike to work - the 'beater" - go ride on a "fun" bike - the toy - and then take wife out to a nice dinner - the "pimped ride"...

[figman]

The XS Eleven is a great bike for sure but I have this addiction for 2 wheelers and this addiction make me want to own and ride all types of bikes.

[blkryno]

I bought my XS1100 Special new in 81 I thought at the time that I wouldn't have to buy another bike for quite awhile. How right I was. It's in the garage ready to go, I picked up a 79 last fall the guy said it wouldn't charge. I found bare wires to the tail light fixed it that seems good. Anyway I look at the new stuff out today and I don't see any reason to change. I had a Ducati years ago picky, finicky bike that only ran well one or two days a week and never on the weekend. Had Honda's and others but this Yamaha looks right, rides right, feels right, and sounds right. At my age now I probably will ride these bikes for life. More bikes are always good but forced to choose, I'll keep what I have.

Hey g1usmc I was at 29 Palms in 72-73. They still got sand out there it seemed like it was blowing pretty hard when I left ?

Semper Fi to all who know.

Loud pipes draw cops.

[barberad]

The XS Eleven is a great bike for sure but I have this addiction for 2 wheelers and this addiction make me want to own and ride all types of bikes.

I too have this addiction that you speak of. I like most bikes and can see why different people have they're different tastes. I love the look and power of my XJ but I am starting to appriciate the feel and comfort of my new (to me) triumph trophy. It is no comparison to my yamaha by any means though. I can even appriciate the look of a lot of Harley's, even though I have a tough time not chuckling at some of the instant bad _sses riding them.