Special and Midnight Special?

[raqumup]

i have the 1979 XS1100SF. i was looking through the pictures page on this sight and i was under the impression i had a midnight special, but acording to this sight there was no midnight special untill 81. but in 81 there is a standard, special, and midnight special. what is the difference between the special and the minight special? and do i have a special or a midnight special?

[79XS11F]

I'm really not sure about this because i have a 1979 midnight special in my garage as a parts bike. It had black engine covers and the block was black. There is however no sign of any gold on it
Rob

[John]

The MNS was not built in 79. Only in 80-81. The MNS was blacked out , and any trim was in gold, and the wheels were gold. The only thing that was silver is the fork tubes, and the tank emblems. The exhaust was black also. What does your VIN start with, 3H3xxxxx?

[79XS11F]

VIN is 3H4 ..... what about all the black engine covers ?
Rob

[John]

Originally posted by 79XS11F
VIN is 3H4 ..... what about all the black engine covers ?
Rob

3H4 is probably a Canadian VIN for a 79 Special.
The VIN for an 80 Canadian MNS is 3U9-000101 and for the 81 Canadian MNS is 4H4-000101.
The black engin covers could be painted by a PO. My engine is black also, but I painted it myself.
If you look to the left of this page, you'll see a linkl for Specs. Click on it and then you'll see the second link is for serial numbers. That is where I am getting my info.

[raqumup]

so i guess i just have a special, and i thought it was a midnight special. but i guess its a good thing because i hate gold, somtimes things just work out for the better. that does make sence that everthing would be black for the midnight special. thanks for the input. is that the only difference, the black and gold? i wonder what the price difference was when new? i am really glad i have the special though, i don't like the look of the tank on the standard.

[GtrMn]

If I remember right the price difference was around $600. In december of '80 The list price was $4200 for the MNS...I got it for $3800...'cause it was cold! haha. Still rode quite a bit in the winter that year. The other difference...besides the black pipes, and what not, was the frame welds were supposed to be pristine. Check the articles link on the left too.