Why I love my SG so much

[GLoweVA]

Not really a ride report, but more of a collection of thoughts while riding home today.

So, actually I was on my G, but my thoughts were about my SG.

As I ride, I come up next to a big tourer (Gold Wing I think) and I think that my SG with the fairing and bags are just as much a tourer and can haul stuff and a passenger if I wanted to. So I wave to the rider and exit to the next road.

I come up to a Harley type cruiser. He's got his legs way out on his pegs and I do the same and put my legs way out on my pegs and stretch out some and lean back into the back rest and think, this bike is a pretty good cruiser too.

As we are riding along, a punk in a crotch rocket comes zooming by and I get a little frogish and twist the grip and while still in 5th it take less than 2 seconds and I'm right up next to this guy and think to my self, this 4 banger really gets up and goes fast quickly.

So,
My SG is really 3 bikes in one. Tourer, Cruiser, Sport Bike. Whatever I want it to be.

My G isn't quite the cruiser, but still it's nice.

[BA80]

That IS the XS1100. It's pretty good at everything but it's not REAL good at anything but making you happy.

It's like a good woman.

[jwhughes3]

Yup.

Extra characters to get to 10.

[CaptonZap]

Yup.

Extra characters to get to 10.

Do smileys count as words?
CZ

[CaptonZap]

test

[jwhughes3]

I did not study!

[STEPPENWOLF]

33 years later still riding my same ride ..an SG..not the best at anything but being pretty darn reliable.

[Bonz]

When we damn the SG with faint praise, we aren't doing it justice.

Honda just "re-invented" the UJM in the CB1100 at a price of $9,999, with less hp going to the rear wheel than a bike that first saw the pavement 35 years ago, and I venture the CB is the same or slower in the 1/4 mile and to 60 mph as well. The Honda is getting great reviews and selling out as fast as dealers bring them in around here (Colorado Springs). That says something about where the XS stacks up, eh?


Yamaha XS 1100 SG/G
-Extremely reliable and serviceable
-approx 505# load capacity- what bike has that these days?
-bike proportions to fit a real size person
-good riding position
-will drag pegs
-Plexifairing III makes it a great tourer, along with some pannier/tail bag
-Period appropriate fairings and hard bags pretty easily found and mounted
-tires don't cost an arm and a leg, and are vastly better than in 1980
-SHAFT DRIVE
-will do 120+ mph
-will hit 115 in the 1/4 mile. For comparison a Bandit 1200S will make it to 120 in the 1/4 mile, as does the newer Bandit 1250S
-centerstand
-easy to maintain


80SG with Plexifairing and laminar lip... I've since ditched the laminar lip, no need with the Plexi III.



80SG posing for a pic...



I can't think of a better UJM to do it all, and to do it as well as anything else of the period. Fastest, highest load capacity, dead reliable, simple maintenance handling that I can't find fault with and I have a ZRX 1200 in the stable as a legitimate comparison. Sure, the XS has a few quirks in the handling dept, but quirks don't make the bike less than one of the best.

[650mark]

hey howard, I was just getting ready to order a laminar lip for my '80sg with a plexifairing on it. why didn't you like it?

[Bonz]

Keep in mind that I'm 6 feet 11 inches tall and the Plex 3 gives me good protection by itself with just some wind hitting my helmet. The laminar lip was taken off of my ST 1300 and adapted to the Plex 3, In this case it put the wind higher on my helmet but I really didn't need it because the Plex 3 directed the wind high enough that it was a comfortable ride already.

I have guys 6' 4"ride the bike and they said it was a still pocket of air behind the Plex 3.

I don't know if you have the same plexifairing but all my experience applies to the 3 only. In my opinion the 3 is more than enough height wise for great ptotection from the elements and comfortable on the helmet with wind noise being a minimum.

[650mark]

so, i'm guessing you don't have any trouble getting both your feet flat on the ground when sitting on your bike, huh?

[Bonz]

Lol, and no prob on flatfooting it...