New Gen XSers

[jimbyjimb]

jetmechmarty raised question as to why 'younger' people might find the XS desirable vs new techno-fab contrabulations. I just thought it would be interesting, for the edification of the more experienced XSers and XSives on the site, if we younger people could share what makes us fond of the machine, or whether or not it's just a budget beater to us.

My first bikes were a pair of 350 Honda twins, the 'kind-of' off-road version of the CB motorcycle. CK, or CL or something like that. Beaters not worth fixing. A few years later I stepped up to the most awesome machine on two wheels, IMO, the 1984 Honda VF1000F.

Sold in the US for only my birth year, the cheesey rectangle headlight and red/white/blue graphics, V-4, dual radiator bike was a beastly machine I managed to wreck in three days. It was a mint survivor. Poor thing. I was T-boned going 15 mph in the rain by some loser doing 30+ on city residential streets at dusk who 'stole' his parents car. It was a great bike performance and style-wise, but the XS is the superior machine in terms of everything but sheer performance and cheesy 80's looks. So I went with it.

The XS was recommended to me by a chopper builder of all things, in the 650 variety. Enjoying long highway trips, the big brother 1100 had more appeal and two years after my accident I bought a very well maintained 1980 Special from a nice older gentleman in Lakewood for the great sum (for an XS) of $1700.

I searched specifically for an XS. Being fond of vintage Japanese hardware, the 'classic' appeal of vintage motorcycle looks and maintenance (I prefer carbs to EFI) I have kept and ridden my Alberta since about 08/09. I'm a fair-weathered rider so I get about 3-5k miles in a year between now and September, mostly from two or three long trips and a few short ones.

The XS has been, hands down, the best auto-related purchase I've ever made. From a financial perspective, it's the best value in touring motorcycles today. With minimal yearly maintenance and a couple of TC's excellent logical upgrades and more than a bit of help from members on this forum and the technical articles on the site, Alberta has been the single most dead-nuts reliable vehicle of any kind I've ever had. That is, until my mom gifted me the family F250 last year (all original, not one speck of filthy electronics).

That was my path to the XS11. I weigh more and more the dangers of riding, and have considered selling Alberta and bagging it altogether or buying a newer bike like a BMW GS. Fact is, if I sell my XS I will likely never get another opportunity to own such a clean survivor ever again. I'm married now, kids and a house will be on the docket in a couple years, I just wonder if cycling is wise.

I've come to see my XS as an irreplacable companion on the long, solitary journeys throughout the Western US we take together. I often run into fellow riders with similar vintage bikes in more 'average' shape who love to stop and talk about how nice Alberta is for her age. Those XJ pipes sound real good too, like a vintage low-displacement V8. Not the nicest bike, certainly not on this site, but definitely one of the few bikes that old that hasn't been downed or left to rot outdoors. Still shines up well, no damage and the trim/paint looks pretty good. I take real good care of it.

[TADracer]

Great read and thanks for the insight. As one of the 'older' members here (age-wise that is) I appreciate your logic and thinking. I often wondered why some of the younger generations went for the older technology.

What you said about is cycling wise with a family, my answer to that is a resounding YES! True you must weigh the inherent dangers of riding but in my opinion (no, its not a humble one) riding is an essential part of life for anyone who has ever had the passion to be up on two wheels.

Hope you keep your XS.

[MarkD]

JBJB-- good insight, your perspective is appreciated here. Life is about choices, and there are a lot that aren't black and white. Always makes it interesting.

[IanDMacDonald]

I'm younger on here. I went with the XS1100 because I have three 750's and an 850, and wanted to see what the 11 would do. I have many other bikes that out-perform the 11. At the time I bought the 11, my 750 was my daily rider. First impression riding it? I expected more seat of the pants kick at the top. I certainly was scared crapless regarding the brakes! I was also comfortable working on it, as it was another similar XS. I enjoy telling people about the bike, enjoy older males nodding their heads in appreciation, and even get the occasional hottie next to me giving a thumbs-up. Would I buy another XS for anything but parts? No. For me, one is enough, I enjoy it, and have newer bikes that are more reliable. Just my take on things.

[Mullineaux]

I'm in the middle at 38. Three years ago I'd never ridden a motorcycle and decided to change that. I was on a naked kz650 starter bike that I resurrected from a barn. That was great to learn on but I'm old enough I wanted bags, then I put a windshield on it, highway pegs, etc. Then I decided I wanted a kz1000 preferably a police model. I was looking at those and the couple of kz1100's I saw which were all in the $3k+ range. I was looking around at other options and the XS1100 kept cropping up and they're cheap around here. I read a lot about them including old motorcycle reviews and initially thought "No way, that sounds too scary!" But the more harrowing reviews I read the more I thought "I gotta try this!" Then along came this $1980 XS1100G full bagger with 23k miles for $1200. I had just passed my motorcycle riding test but hadn't officially gotten my endorsement on my license so he (understandably) wouldn't let me test ride it. I offered him asking price if he delivered it. He rode it to my place a couple towns over and it was mine. First rides felt really weird, heavy and fast compared to the kz650 and it sat really high. I had the front forks rebuilt and a new front tire put on it. That made a huge difference in how it rode. I watched ebay for a cut down seat for months until I found one. That also made a big difference and got me off my tip toes. Now I ride it all the time, love it, it's a quick comfortable bike that takes a bit of getting used to. Still have some issues to sort out (dim head light, need a new rear tire). But I'll be on this girl for a while.

[MarkD]

Mull..x-- Did your bike come from a guy in Vassar? I saw one on C'list, I think it may be the one. I passed on it, now I wish I hadn't.

[Mullineaux]

Mull..x-- Did your bike come from a guy in Vassar? I saw one on C'list, I think it may be the one. I passed on it, now I wish I hadn't.

Yup Vassar, I watched it for a while, more than a month and the price kept falling. Once it hit $1200 I couldn't resist. I asked the guy why no takers and he just had me sit on it. I'm 6'2" and was on my tip toes. I will say it *needed* the fork rebuild and the new front tire. Rode like like complete crap before I had that done and it would hunt so bad it'd creep me out. Still hunts a bit but it's way better now. Combined with the XJ air shocks, RR tracks are just a blip. New back tire is next, it's a '99.

I screen capped the original ad:


How she looked after her start of the season bath:


I still have the lower fairings and put them on in the fall when it gets cold. Too hot in the summer for 'em.

[IanDMacDonald]

Wow, wow, wow is that nice! If that was on CL when I was looking, that'swhat I woulda bought!

[MarkD]

That's it, Mul..x! I called, and was a little scared off by what he said on the rough running, although he said it pretty much disappeared after warm up. Little did I know I'd become very adept at tearing off carbs in about 10 minutes, and tearing into for cleaning them, etc. I regret not getting it, and I suppose another reason I didn't, is I wanted a replacement for the 79F I sold a few years ago. But......do you remember, he had one other XS in his pole barn, (along with many MX bikes)? It was a '79 F. Well, I got it last March. Turns out, I had his brother-in-law as a student while I was teaching in Kingston, and we still keep in touch, he is quite the mechanic. Your XS was a good purchase, it looks really sweet.

[alaskey2]

I'm the son of two Harley riding postal workers. Been around motorcycles my whole life. At 18 I got a Suzuki 125 motard, never took my licensing test, never got it registered, moved from Michigan to Chicago and left it in the garage of the house I was living in.

Flash forward to 28, I'm riding my friends BMW R75 around the block and I realize I NEED a bike. So I end up getting a 1978 Honda CB400. Ride it for 2 years stubbornly thinking it's not to small for all 200lbs of my 6'4" frame.

I decide I need something bigger, try out my friends CB750, it's honestly not much better than my 400, both in power and peg-to-seat height. Guess what, if you're uncomfortable on the highway, it doesn't matter how far the seat is from the ground because your feet are on the pegs!!

SOOOO, one day I'm at a BBQ and my friend has a GL1000 in his garage, his father in law's homeless handy man who has been missing for years is storing it there. I had found the bike that fit me. Only one problem, no kickstart.

Don't get me wrong, electric start has a bunch of blah blah blah, I don't care... blah blah... Kickstart is just cool. If you'd rather push a button to start your motorcycle you are either old or lazy. Marlon Brando didn't push a button, he stood up, put is 15lb boot on that kicklever and let it go with all his might. Needless to say, I had found my engine size but not the right make.

I ended up on the 1978 XS1100 standard because it is a "ridiculously large bike" (a.k.a. it fits me fine) and it has a kick start. Did I forget to mention that it is beautiful, runs like a dream, has a (mostly) maintenance free shaft drive, and is beautiful?

[duc]

I dont know what is considered young, but I'm 31. I didnt get into bikes until about 4 yrs ago. But have always rode scooters (whilst on holidays in Asia) and bicycles here at home.

I have 4 bikes - 2 are XS's (xs650 and xs1100) and 2 are supersports (both R1's). I dont know the thrill of riding a xs1100 yet since my is still in the assembling stage but its appeal to me goes back to being a motoring icon. A bike that is relatively simple to work on and hopefully puts a smile on my face when I eventually ride it.

[Mullineaux]

That's it, Mul..x! I called, and was a little scared off by what he said on the rough running, although he said it pretty much disappeared after warm up. Little did I know I'd become very adept at tearing off carbs in about 10 minutes, and tearing into for cleaning them, etc. I regret not getting it, and I suppose another reason I didn't, is I wanted a replacement for the 79F I sold a few years ago. But......do you remember, he had one other XS in his pole barn, (along with many MX bikes)? It was a '79 F. Well, I got it last March. Turns out, I had his brother-in-law as a student while I was teaching in Kingston, and we still keep in touch, he is quite the mechanic. Your XS was a good purchase, it looks really sweet.

Yup I remember he had 2 XS11s in his garage with a bunch of off road bikes too. The other one was a naked IIRC, maybe black? Said he got this one for touring with his wife but that only lasted one short ride. Seemed like he took good care of his XS11s. It's still a little choppy under 3k so getting it moving takes a little finesse. I'm pretty used to it now, but when I have it in for the tire I might ask them to clean and sync the carbs. I learned my lesson on the kz that I'm a bit thin on patience for that and wound up running pods pretty quickly.

[MarkD]

The (black) one was an indigo blue 79F- pretty much all stock, 'cept for the exhaust. I completely rebuilt the carbs, bought a motion-pro sync, and got it running super smooth ( with help from this forum). I like the stock look, so replaced his pods with the one he included. I'm sure your bike will be capable of super smooth running, too. A lot of the forum guys are very weary of having their XS worked on by shops, as most of the mechanics don't know diddly about these older carbs, etc. If you have a reliable and knowledgeable mech. , I guess it might be ok. Just takes a little patience and experience on carbs, which happens when forced to DIY. I'll post a vid which helped me, it's a great educational 30 min.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95nlrP-yn2I

[Mullineaux]

The (black) one was an indigo blue 79F- pretty much all stock, 'cept for the exhaust. I completely rebuilt the carbs, bought a motion-pro sync, and got it running super smooth ( with help from this forum). I like the stock look, so replaced his pods with the one he included. I'm sure your bike will be capable of super smooth running, too. A lot of the forum guys are very weary of having their XS worked on by shops, as most of the mechanics don't know diddly about these older carbs, etc. If you have a reliable and knowledgeable mech. , I guess it might be ok. Just takes a little patience and experience on carbs, which happens when forced to DIY. I'll post a vid which helped me, it's a great educational 30 min.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95nlrP-yn2I

Great video! My problem was getting the carb rack off and then back on the bike, getting old, hard, shrunken, rubber breather box boots onto (or off of) the carbs. Here in Saginaw there's a place called Area Cycles on Dixie Hwy which does excellent work for reasonable rates. Practically every biker in the area knows of them and they're the first recommendation for metric bikes.

[TheRev]

I'm not sure if I am considered a young rider. I'm 37 and started riding as a kid on the grandparents farm in Ohio. I picked up the hobby again a few years ago. I purchased a 85 Honda Shadow VT500 and took the riding class at our local community college. I rode the Honda for a couple years and then upgraded to a Honda VT7750. I liked the cruiser look at first. Then I became interested in the standard style. I had a friend who I was talking to at church and he said that he used to ride but his second wife dosen't like motorcycles. I asked him what kind of bike it was and he said a 79 XS1100F. He told me the bike has sat in his mothers garage for quite some time. I told him he should restore it and sell it. He asked me if I might be interested and he said if I took the bike out of his mothers garage he would give it to me for $1.00. This is what it looked like when I picked it up.





The bike hadn't been ridden in 16 years. The air box had a bunch of mice in it and something was living in the exhaust pipe as well. I have spent two years rebuilding the bike. Every bolt, bearing, wire, etc. This was a complete frame off restoration. However, I didn't keep everything stock. I am not going to sell it so instead of just restoring it to stock I decided to upgrade it (in my opinion) and make it into my perfect bike. I made a bunch of upgrades that I think makes a awesome bike even better. You can see my upgrades and mods in my signature. I should be done in the next couple of weeks.

I have owned many other bikes. I have currently a Honda Shadow, Kawasaki GPZ 550, Yamaha Varigo 920 and the XS1100. I also had a xs750 for a while. Why does the XS1100 appeal to me. Because I believe it is one of the best bikes ever built. Modern bikes are way to expensive and have no class, soul or personality. They are built for one type of riding, ie Adventure, Touring, Sport, Off Road, etc. There are very few bikes that can appeal to multiple types of riding. And the ones that can like the Ducati Multistrada is way over priced.

The XS1100 with a few modern upgrades can handle a bunch of different riding styles. It was built at a time when bikes were built to last. The pros out way the cons ten fold. The problems the bike had are easly overcome with simple mods like blade fuzes, stainless lines for stoping power, and some better fork springs. I love the look of the xs1100 standard and if you believe anything you read it was a considered one of the best bikes of it's day and class.

At first I thought about rebuilding it and selling it to make some money. Why keep it when I have many other bikes was my initial thought. Then I did some research and realized I had just been given a classic bike that was a leader in it's time. I would be foolish to part with such a classic bike. So I will sell my other bikes and keep the XS. I may be young but I know a classic when I see one. Modern bikes have no soul or personality.

One more thing. This forum has a lot to do with forming my opinion on this awesome motorcycle. I still have a lot to learn but I have a lot of fun. I will post pics of my finished bike in a few weeks.