I saw my first XS11 other than my own in years!

[je2wheeler]

I just got back from a ride out to Morro Bay, California. While I was there, I saw my first XS11 other than my own since around 1989. I was making ready to ride back home as I was making one last pass down the main drag, I saw the almost unrecognizable XS backed in to the curb. I did a Bat Turn and backed in next to it. It would have been easy to miss as the bike was bobbed and ratted severely. Just the wheels and engine were enough left original to identify it. The engine number was 3H5. The engine had multiple oil leaks, a 4/1 with no muffler, no calipers on the front, ape hanger bars and the kick start sticking out the side. It was sad. I took an outside table at a nearby café to wait for the owner. About an hour later, he showed. A total match with his XS. I went over to talk with him and told him his was first XS11 I had seen in years. He didn’t know what an XS was. I pointed to my SF not four feet away, factory with a Windjammer 3. He humped his shoulders, put on his soup bowl, and kicked it to life. With plenty of noise and smoke, he was gone. That was depressing but a few miles on the road and I was fine.

[jjz28]

I see them a few times a year around here.

[MaximPhil]

You guys should coome to a Rally. I rode with 22 in September
Phil

[JeffH]

It was sad. I took an outside table at a nearby café to wait for the owner. About an hour later, he showed. A total match with his XS. I went over to talk with him and told him his was first XS11 I had seen in years. He didn’t know what an XS was. I pointed to my SF not four feet away, factory with a Windjammer 3. He humped his shoulders, put on his soup bowl, and kicked it to life. With plenty of noise and smoke, he was gone. That was depressing but a few miles on the road and I was fine.

What a let down! You get all stoked, made the effort to meet the rider just to discover the dude is on a different planet and couldn't care less about you or you xs11. That classifies as a Bummer.

At least you were out riding your machine and otherwise having a fun time . Like Phil said, try to hook up with an XS11 Rally if you can. It is a blast to ride in a Conga Line of XS11's on a curvy mountain road. Its easy to get hooked on that rush ................

Jeff

[jetmechmarty]

Other than the rallies, I don't see XS11's here in motorcycle Mecca, either. I've been doing the rally thing for about a dozen years. It is a thrill riding in a group of like motorcycles. Everybody is playing the same tune!

I think these bikes are getting rare.

[Rasputin]

Other than the rallies, I don't see XS11's here in motorcycle Mecca, either. I've been doing the rally thing for about a dozen years. It is a thrill riding in a group of like motorcycles. Everybody is playing the same tune!

I think these bikes are getting rare.

May be getting Rare down there but I see one around here every couple of weeks during riding season. Short riding season equals a lot of bikes that stay around for a long while, with low mileage, and as age is a factor, lower pricing.
It would be interesting to know just how many were sold in both the USA and CANADA but I doubt we will ever know.

[madmax-im]

I too almost never see another XS/XJ outside of a specific rally for them...Jeff is correct in that the rush of riding thru the mtns on these bikes is addicting...highly addicting at that... That is one reason I bought another XS after nearly 30 yrs of owning my XJ...their significance only multiplies every year. And bringing a non XS/XJ bike to a Yamaha rally (for me) is to be frowned upon....not criticizing anyone who shows up on a newer ride(I've done that too)but to me its about the vintage bikes that originally have bound us together. The 2 best SE rallies I've been to were on the XJ(09) and the XS this past Sept....You can bet I am looking forward to more vintage riding rallies...

[BA80]

I saw the almost unrecognizable XS backed in to the curb. I did a Bat Turn and backed in next to it. It would have been easy to miss as the bike was bobbed and ratted severely.

THIS is why they are getting harder to find. A temporary curb queen like this tends not to last long and ends up in a scrap heap or parted out for what's left of it.

More parts for us but one less XS in the world. It makes me ill.

It's like turning a Renoir or Picasso into a place mat.

[jetmechmarty]

I'm also an XS650 fan. Those things are falling to the Sawzall faster than WWII vets are passing on. I'm protecting four of them right now.

[IanDMacDonald]

The only XS11's I've ever seen up here in Michigan have been on Craigslist, lol. There may have been a time or two where I thought one rode past me on the opposite side of the highway, but I'll never know, as it had a Vetter fairing.

[TomB]

You boys should come over to a Euro rally and see a couple hundred altogether, you'd love it

[je2wheeler]

Dedication + obligation = little time for the je2wheeler

You guys should coome to a Rally. I rode with 22 in September
Phil

I can only be away for very short rides. The ride to Morro Bay was the longest one day ride I have been able to for a long time. I tell my daughter I ride there "Just for the halibut."
I ride eighty miles round trip to the VA hospital once a week plus I ride to the store, post office and such when I can just for the joy of the ride. Also my truck gets 23 mpg and my XS gets 37.
On a better side note, occasionally someone (older guy) will recognize my XS. Had a guy in a car pass me on the freeway once, slow down back to my speed and pace me for a mile giving me a thumbs-up. Once while at the VA, a guy asked me if it was a 650. He said he had an XS650 but had never seen an 1100.

[DiverRay]

So what VA to you go to?? I'm at Palo Alto/Monterey at least every other month. But then, up here in Santa Cruz there are a few XS bikes.
Morro Bay is close to one or two members. Next time, post a day or two before you go, if you can, and you may find a bike with a "friendly" rider.