These bikes never cease to amaze me

[8SpadeEpiphany]

Seriously, how these bikes can take a beating and keep on chugging is one of my favorite parts about them. Today is just a small testament to that.

I hadn't rode my 79 special since October of last year. A fuel line had cracked and the weather took a turn for the wet and cold, my excuses to not pay her any mind were plenty. Also, against my better judgement, and in line with my talent to procrastinate, I didn't drain the tank, or disconnect the battery.

Fast forward to today, almost four months of exposure later (my apartments don't have garages), and I finally get around to getting a few feet of fuel line and fix her right up. I turned the key, pushed the ignition, and she fired right up. I had a great afternoon riding around town running errands and making sure she ran fine, of which she did very well.

I just wanted to post about it in a place where some guys would know exactly what I'm talking about. I've had this XS for almost four years and I just keep loving it more and more.

[motoman]

............as they are suspossed to do.........have had mine set 6mo. or so having another LD scoot.....not an issue. Good to hear you had an enjoyable put-put.......

[3Phase]

Way to go! Yeah, I totally understand!

[soccer4m]

ahhhh the feeling

You are so Right 8Spade,,,,,these bikes are nearly impervious to age. So many of the bikes that are brought back still go great after years of neglect. Just got another barn find going, went through it, redid the carbs and it purrs like a freakin lion. It always bring tears of joy when these things fire up and roar. I have had a lot of different bikes, most of us could afford newer ones but these xs1100's are unique. Keep riding it 8Spade, forgot your real name,,,,, Mike- the old guy from Sun Diego

[madmax-im]

Yes the Yamaha XS/XJ 1100 engineers got it right...so much so that after 4 yrs of production they ceased...because back then the term "planned obsolesence" hadn't yet been coined. These bikes were built so well that nothing went wrong with them...I'd be willing to bet that Yamaha lost money on that one...Still a testament to the mighty and venerable XS1100

[motoman]

Actually 7yrs. BNE counting XJ's to Canada. Aside from that, have read many years ago that Yamaha unofficially stated they wished they never produced the XS11 as there wasn't enough come-back for parts or repair........so ride on it is.............

[BA80]

Ya know Brant, I've been reading that last line in your signature for years and I still don't understand what it means. Enlighten me?

Age is relative to the number of seconds counted 'airing' out an 85ft. table-top.

[desert1]

my parts bike

I bought this parts bike( a 79 special) for $200. it's engine is now in my 78...the parts bike, before I bought it, sat outside for 9 yrs. in all weather uncovered...after I got it home in my truck I disconnected the tank and reconected a lawnmower tank with fresh fuel and believe this it ran, on 2 cylinders immediately; after replacing one of the pick-ups that had corroded from water seepage all four ran! Didnt run well, but it idled....Yeah they are amazing. And that engine is still going today.
Bruce Doucette

[GARTHXS]

Catching air on a dirt bike

[TopCatGr58]

Ya know Brant, I've been reading that last line in your signature for years and I still don't understand what it means. Enlighten me?

I don't mean to steal Grant's Thunder, but a quick search revealed that
"airing it out over a table top" is a skiing slang term, I'm assuming on a downhill run, hitting a section where you get AIR, and doing it at 85feet above the ground probably makes one feel quite young, can imagine how much HANG TIME would occur!? JAT!?

T.C.

[BA80]

Guess I didn't spend enough time around dirt bikes back in the day.

LOL....and I've never been on snow skis TC.

[crazy steve]

Actually 7yrs. BNE counting XJ's to Canada. Aside from that, have read many years ago that Yamaha unofficially stated they wished they never produced the XS11 as there wasn't enough come-back for parts or repair........so ride on it is.............

But that's not why they quit selling them...

We shouldn't kid ourselves, these disappeared because they didn't sell as well as Yamaha wanted. They'd already spent the money on tooling, if sales had been there they would have kept building them (look how long Yamaha built the 650 twin). But by the early 80s the handwriting was on the wall, with the market splintering into 'specialty' bikes (started by Yamaha's introduction of the various 'Special' models) with the 'cruiser' segment wanting V-twins, the touring guys lusting after big water-cooled bikes, and the sport-bike riders not wanting anything with weird-handling shaft drive. The XS was designed as a 'do-it-all' bike (which it was/is very good at) but as a specialty bike it has shortcomings in every category. The market for big all-in-one bikes had shrunk too much so they vanished from pretty much everyones' catalog. Personally, I'm still sorry these went away, but marketing decisions are based on sales and the numbers just weren't there....

[motoman]

Actually that is the length of that particular tabletop. I could count thous 1....thous2....etc before landing the transition. .........yea, and did that at age 53 and it was a thous 4 sec thing.....throwing a tail-wip to chop speed in the air. Took me two years of getting seconds and thirds and alot of track practice to finially end up with a first in the RMXA(Rocky Mountain Motocross Association) for Colorado in the fifty+ class. Got into that again after a 20yr. departure raising a family. Even that class was VERY competitive, and yes, most all riders were still very fast........age was just a number. I was reaching the point again that if I had a 'get-off, it was REALLY gonna hurt. Acomplished what I set out to do, so gave the YZ250 to my oldest son in Tuscon before I REALLY got hurt. Still have all the gear tho...never know. He sold the scoot as he is now raising a family too. Ironiclly, got hurt pretty good four years ago going down on my ST @ 50mph locally avoiding a T-bone. No gear on, no helmet, sleeves rolled up. Bike went 325ft, I apparently flew 135ft. airborne. Ended up 5stitches in head, dislocated shoulder and a whole lot of pavement rash.....very fortunate to say the least. Repaired ST, replacing LOTS of tupperware and had all tupperware repainted three-stage pearl-white with red pearl......way more visible now. It can be seen in Jerry's pic album at the CalyRally three years ago. Definitely took what was left of the 'no-fear' out of me and since it's ATGATT! ......The saying IS definitely true......' not if.....just when.....

[BA80]

Ok Thanks.....now I know what it means.






We now return you to regular progamming

[motoman]

But that's not why they quit selling them...(

Know that Steve......just staing what I read some 20yrs. ago. Don't forget, I and many others here have been around these scoots since there conception, even tho I bought my Venturer new at the later date in 81'. The other thing I also remember back then was Honda trumped Yammy every time in the different classes of bikes. Yammy would come back with the quickest(V-Max) back then, but didn't have the variety of class choices and styling Honda had. The old adage still applies somewhat today.......'win on Sunday...sell on Monday....