Proud new owner of an XS11

[thibtyson]

I'd just like to officially introduce myself. My name is Tyson and I live in Southern Idaho. I had been casually looking for a bike to turn in to a Cafe and I just never really found what I was looking for, then a buddy of mine sent me a photo of a bike at a pawn shop/used car lot and I knew I had to have it. The picture he sent me was of a 1981 XS1100LH Midnight Special. I had the money in the bank, but had to convince the wife that the bike was a good idea. Took me close to a week to convince her and I thought for sure it would be gone. I drove to the lot and didn't see it outside. I was disappointed, but I went inside anyway just to see what it ended up going for. The guy working the counter told me they still had it and that it was on consignment but they didn't put it out because it was Saturday and they close early. He took me to the back and I instantly knew this was the bike for me. I started it up and took it for a test ride. When I got back, I haggled a little and ended up getting the bike for $800. I immediately decided that the bike was "special" just the way it is and have thrown out my plans to convert it to a cafe. Maybe later I'll find a standard "11" and finish my plans to make a cafe. For now, I am quite content with my Midnight Special. This site has been an awesome resource and I thank everyone in advance for sharing their knowledge.

It has a 4-1 header and a disgusting shorty muffler that needs to go away (I've made a slip-on side dump, just need to powder coat it). A lot of the Gold Chrome has faded, but other than the exhaust, the recovered seat, and having the side covers painted all black, she's stock. Ohh, and I bought it with 28,700 miles and in just about 7 weeks of owning the bike I have it up to 31,200 miles already. Only issue I've had is between 5000 and 6000 rpms it studders. I have run some Seafoam through the gas and it has helped quite a lot. I'm planning on cleaning/rebuilding the carbs when it gets too cold to ride.

[jwhughes3]

Welcome!

Glad you are enjoying it stock and driving it awhile before getting into it so you get a feel for it.

John

[Old Red]

Sounds like you got a great deal and welcome to this awesome site. I am new to the site too. I am just getting back into riding xs11s. There is a world of good info on here.

Earl

[thibtyson]

I recently got in touch with the PO and he bought it brand new in spring of '82. He kept it garaged it's whole life and only had two spills, the first one destroyed the stock exhaust, that's the reason for the 4-1 header, the other spill destroyed the muffler that came with the 4-1 header. The last one was just over a year ago and was the last time he rode the bike and that's why he put a cheap shorty muffler on it. He loved it and now I get to love it too. This is my first XS11, but I had a '79 XS750 special when I was in high school. After high school, I joined the Air National Guard, and while I was in Basic Training, my dad scrapped it. I was a little pissed to say the least. His reasoning was that he thought it would cost more to get it back in to running condition than it was worth. He didn't bother to ask me what needed to be done to it, just scrapped it. All it needed was the carbs synced and cleaned. Oh well, 12 years later and I finally have another XS.

[lvrsnr]

ride it in good health. welcome.

[Bellerophon]

Welcome Tyson, these XS1100s are addicting. Ironically I bought my '79 last year from a guy who had it stored at the Jerome airport. My first ride was up and down the taxi ways.

Mine was in pretty bad shape when I bought it, and looking back it was a miracle it ran at all. After a lot of work she's in fine shape now though.

It sounds like you got a great deal. The link to your picture is broken. Please post another one, I'd like to see the bike.

[thibtyson]

That's funny that you got your bike in Jerome, because that's exactly where I live. Now let me try this picture again.