How Valuable is this Web Site?

[32bat]

Just a note on how valuable this web site is to me:

I was changing my oil and filter. I let it drain overnight and the next morning I wasn't sure where the spring went, above or below the filter. I checked my book and it didn't say. I looked on the Web Site and sure enough there it was: OIL FILTER REASSEMBLY by SID HANSEN. Even those little things are on here! So for those of you, that started the site and keep it going THANKS, and for my part I will keep sending a donation for web site upkeep! Bruce Tuxhorn, Hailey, Idaho.................

[sixtysix]

How valuable?

I have been to half a dozen rallys, even hosted my own rally, made a lot of good friends, (some I haven't even met yet) had some great times, been on fantastic rides that others only dream about, and I know how to put the filter back together again!

Sounds pretty valuable to me!

[sixtysix]

I guess nobody else likes it! It's just you and me Bruce! Should we have next years XS camp at your place or mine??

[TopCatGr58]

I think it's tremendously valuable, gives me great laughs as well, I'd put it at least a couple notches above my Bizarre News subscription

Okay, Gary, where do we address the check and to whom??

[32bat]

Well for me I had no idea a group of people had such an interest
in the XS's and XJ's. When I came across this site not to long ago, I was really excited. I am hoping to meet some of you guys and girls in the future and see what your rally's are like. I have in the past, ridden by myself and I rarely see an XS on the road. It sounds really fun to ride with a group with a interest in a Yamaha bike that isn't brand new. Also you guys gave me the guts to take my carbs apart and clean them. I have had my bike since 1988 and the only thing I have done to it was change the oil, several sets of tires and put on new rubber intake manifolds. Until recently no problems until my pulsor coil wire break. But finding your site help me with that. So Gary, now I check the site almost every day, because it is interesting and very informative. I guess it is neat to see the frendships you guys have, the help you give each other and to us that are new!
Bruce Tuxhorn.......

[sixtysix]

Ok then it's just you, me and TC........not sure about the other 400+

[kenkrieger]

Well I would say its invaluable,,,,I was given an XJ1100 5 years ago, stored for awhile, I was workin nights and going to college days , so absolutly no time,,,moved to anew house and finally started tearing it down to restore it and found this site in its old form, two to three years ago, it helped me find parts,,,,,get tank preservation info and sites galore for everything,,,I had been off bikes for more than 15 years, But always wanted one of these models back in the eighties when I was racing around crazy on Honda fours. It appeared it would take me awhile to get the XJ finished, so I picked up an XJ550J to get back on the road on, rode it for a year and got closer to Bike fever just lookin at the XJgetting done, so couldn't wait, and based on an add posted by one of the New Englanders, I found my 81 Special in Connecticut while working IBM burlington on an install. Picked it up for 1800 bucks it was in great shape, ran rough and with my laptop and this sites tech tips had half the problems fixed in my Sis in laws garage in Stafford Conn. I worked with the laptop hooked to the internet. Went back two weeks later to pick her up and brought her back to VA. That was March last year,,,had it running in good shape for XSEast 2001 due to tips from the guru's here. Ken Talbot, Sidkids,,Gary,,Rick Jemison, and the list goes on, got parts from Gary that will probably keep my bike running for years. With another add placed by one of the New York gang I picked up an XJ1100 parts bike nearly complete and have found the head and valve train that it was missing on ebay from a go look on this site, and this is getting long. My whole experiance with these machines is based from this site, so not much more I can say. This endeavor has enriched the whole of my return to Cycles. The ride reports make great reading. Hell it all makes for a great experiance. I appreciate the time and effort that has gone into it, and many thanks to all who have set it up and provided their expertise. Right now I can't say enough. I can't forget the Coffee and muffins at XSEasT2001 ,great stuff. We got folks from all over the globe here,,,,Strom has got me ready to go to England and by one of those XJR's. I first saw them on a German site that came from one of his posts. I can ramble ,so enough from me. You get the idea.

[Dragonrider]

Two dollars and ninety-eight cents!

[woodstoc]

I've found a lot of good info on the site. I've had my bike a long time now, but never spent a lot of time with it like I have lately. Was dealing with some carb issues (still am) and stumbled onto this site in a search for info.

I have been totally restoring a 82 Vette and spend most of my internet time on the vette sites, but I appreciate the work that goes into dealing with a site like this.

Thanks very much. Just as soon as my wife gets over the credit card bills for the vette restoration, I'll send a paypal donation to help out

[Bill]

This group has COST me a lot of time and money!

• I used to think that one motorcycle would be enough, but...
• Now I own 3 XS11's and 4 Suzukis
• I spend my vacation time riding all over the northeast US to meet other XSives who have a similar affliction.
• Is this a good thing?

[MartyA]

is this a good thing?

Far be it for me to judge, but, consider what else you might have been doing...

Great running old bike with LOTS of accessories - $1,000
Regular Maintenance for 8 years - ~$250
5 worn tires - $400
gas for 8 years - ~$700
Web site with everything you need - $1,000,000 (well, worth it)
Having too much fun wearing out tires, burning gas, sharing on the web site - $PRICELESS

Yeah, I know, cliche, but its true!

[Huron52]

Ok... Here is my 2 cents... I owned a 1974 Honda 550 Wanted something bigger more power. In the fall of 1977 I saw a Cycleworld road test on the Missile they called the XS11 At the time a freind of mine had a XS750 and just loved the power and hint that Yamaha might be coming out with something bigger. With out ever sitting on one I bought a brand new 1978 XS11E bare bones. There was still snow on the ground when I squeezed it into the back of my van. Paid $3650.00 Cdn.
Put 62,000 kms on it before the family developed that there was no time to ride. It sat in the corner of the garage and I kept telling myself next year I will ride it. After one too many years it won't start. Took it to the bike shop to get it running. After spending far to much money on it ,it still did not run properly. My life did a flip flop and the bike bit me and I had to ride again. The one that I had at the XS11 east rally2002 is my second 1978 XS11E I picked it up for $700.00 42,000 kms. The first year I had the second bike I put on 4,000kms. So far this year I have put on 12,000kms. No and I am not done either. No other model has interested me like the XS11 ... Ok until the FJR1300 came along.
The information from this site and the people on here has been great.
Also the new format is very user friendly. I am very much looking forward to the XSeast 2003 rally.
As for the cost ....priceless.... smell of the country, wind in your face, riding with friends.

[dasuchbe]

This site is priceless.

I am fairly mechanically inclined but knew nothing at all about motorcycle. {{Which is strange considering how much I really love motorcycles}} I have taken many of the tips and suggestioons that have been offered here and saved myself a lot of money. I have not got myself on the road yet, but I feel fairly confident that when I do, I will be ready.

I hope that sometime in the future that you all would consider a ride in my area so that I could meet some of you and thank you personally for the help.

But until then, Thanks to ALL you XS'ers.

David

[procamper]

this site helped me get my $60 bike running stupendously!

it took me for a day trip to door county (the "thumb" of WI) saturday. i just got on and headed north--i went till i ran out of road and decided id turn around--340 miles and 8 hours later, I had her back in the garage without even a hiccup! i didnt even have monkey butt!

ok, so i did find out that my brake resivior doesnt seal very well in the front, but some electrical tape got that all "fixed" after all, if everthing passes without the occasional glitch, life would be boring!

[T1ny]

I've had my XS for just over a month, and have racked up over 5,000 klms with very few glitches. The fuel problem I was having turned out to be a very simple fix, replaced a 20 year old hose and was back on the road. Once the snow starts I'm going to rip it all apart and drive everyone crazy with questions on how to put it back together. <G>