How I fell in love

[Squatch]

most people my age would think that a 79 XS1100 special is a hand-me-down, but honestly, in my youth, I have come across one great conclusion, that I love the XS1100.
It all started in a town caleed brainerd MN, I was riding my ex bike, a 2003 Yamaha FZ1, great bike for my tall self... but I digress, one day, riding around one of our many lakes, I had stopped in parking lot to find a vintage un-named motorcycle witha nother tall person perched atop it, naturally, my friendly spirit took over, and I introduced myself, I began asking about the bike he was riding, found out it was an XS110 base model (i think), eventually, I asked if he wanted to try out mine if I try out his, we both liked the possibility of riding something from a different world, but still fit on it...
eventually we decided to trade for a while, this is when I found out about shaft rise, and how much fun it is for me, only a few issues arised, it wasn't in perfect working order, I guess the carbs were out of synch, and the points needed replacing, but I was hooked on the fact that this bike was older than me... yet ran at least better than I thought...

fast forward to now....
I'm surfing craigslist, trying to find something to scratch the riders itch, looking was getting old, and I was gaining a tolerance to it, so one day, I was prepared to buy anything that I could fit...

I saw the ad... nestled between two junk bikes... a diamond in the rough, a 1979 XS 1100, slightly modernized (air filter, brakes, and clutch plates),
I knew at that moment, before clicking that this was it, I sure am happy that I happened to be looking at that ad... I found her, a redheaded Excess special...

I am happy to be reunited to the bike of my dreams again, and in such pristine working order...

[cywelchjr]

Glad to hear that you found the bike you were looking for. The one you road before, assuming it WAS an XS1100, didn't have points that needed replacing as there was never an XS1100 made with points, all versions came with electronic ignition from the first model in 1978. However, it's possible that it might have had the dreaded pickup coil wire problem, which has been known to plague almost every year of the model run, with the only one I've not heard of having that problem being the XJ1100 most likely due to it not having the mechanical vacuum advance which is what flexes the wires and causes them to break and is present on ALL the other models.

[BA80]

Good lookin' SF. They are addicting.

BTW......an XS has no "points".

[cywelchjr]

Good lookin' SF. They are addicting.

BTW......an XS has no "points".

You type too slow Greg . But let's be clear, an XS11 has no points. Many others, at least before 1980 did have points.

[BA80]

You type too slow Greg . But let's be clear, an XS11 has no points. Many others, at least before 1980 did have points.

And you are a wordy son-of-a-b........iker Cy.

[cywelchjr]

And you are a wordy son-of-a-b........iker Cy.

But I still got mine posted before you. And from my android tablet as well, which has is slower to type on than the computer.

[cywelchjr]

Darn you auto correct!

[natemoen]

Darn you auto correct!

Hmmm....I see others have issues as well...

Glad you found a bike you love squatch! I have spent a decent amount of time in brainerd.

[Squatch]

sorry

didn't realize that it didn't have points, I was generalizing problem, and that was the advice I received, she felt sluggish, and died with the clutch in as well... and the lights in the cluster kept going out... but besides that, I fit on an XS, which rules!!!
you know how hard it is for me to ride a motorcycle without looking like a dang fool

[BA80]

didn't realize that it didn't have points, I was generalizing problem, and that was the advice I received, she felt sluggish, and died with the clutch in as well... and the lights in the cluster kept going out... but besides that, I fit on an XS, which rules!!!
you know how hard it is for me to ride a motorcycle without looking like a dang fool

I'm only 6' but sometimes feel silly sitting on a bike too but I soon forget after riding for a while.

I ain't out to impress anyone but me anyway.

[dpotter58]

I ain't out to impress anyone but me anyway.

dang good thing too

[ddragon63]

I'm 6 foot 218 lbs. I sometimes feel silly on my R1... but always feel comfy on my XS. I also am not out to impress anyone. But I will tell you the little guy @ cycle gear got a kick out of watching me pick out new street leathers around xmas time. I asked him where the Gorilla sizes are and he about died laughing. Damn Euro sizes! US Size 50 jacket is alot of leather

[BA80]

US Size 50 jacket is alot of leather

Hell, that's a whole cow! Lay off the cheeseburgers.

[cywelchjr]

Hell, that's a whole cow! Lay off the cheeseburgers.

Hey! I have one of those whole cows I wear riding in the winter. I wear mesh in the summer. Living in Ca though I need to get some @ssless chaps to wear with the leather gear in the winter though and mesh pants for the summer (gotta have matching gear you know)

[ddragon63]

Hell, that's a whole cow! Lay off the cheeseburgers.

I tried BA
I like to eat

The lil 5' 5" 125 lb kid helping me tried to be nice.. asked me if I was a 42 or 44 I told him its best to start with the biggest one you got and work backwards. the 52 was a little loose and the 50 was a little snug. they don't make a 51 without doing a custom order. so I got the 50 and smothered it in leather honey and stretched it..