1980 MIdnight Special tank ideas.

[Riobravo73]

I finally have this bike running and road worthy afer some TLC and cleaning. Now it's tank is pretty beat up and dimpled and the gold yamaha badges are broken and missing portions. Are there any years and models worth checking out for a tank replacement? I really like the Yamaha tanks with the flat edges back near the riders legs I see on some rides. I would like to keep the stock fuel capacity or higher since I will be doing some light touring.

1980 xs1100 Midnight Special.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey RioBravo,

The "other" tanks with the Knee Indents are the Standard models, they are larger capacity than the Specials, and will generally bolt on, although you'll need to use the petcocks that are on the Standard Tanks...which are vacuum actuated instead of gravity feed like the Specials....the specials use the extra Octy valve, which is the vacuum control valve instead of having that feature in the petcocks! Also, the fuel senders are totally different in how they work. I don't know IF you can swap the sender units, if the mounting plates are the same size/bolt pattern between the special/standards!?

HOWEVER, the MNS were the street cruiser/ sportster styled machines with the "sexy" teardrop tanks, and such, and putting one of the Standards SQUARE Box tanks on it IMHO would ruin the otherwise flowing sexy looks of the SPECIAL! Depends on whether you are trying to retain the MNS OEM looks, or you just want a larger tank for your cruising range!

Special tanks are more easily found on Ebay...although I've seen a fair # of standards there lately due to more bikes being parted out, but many folks want the larger standard tanks for like you said, RANGE! Your choice!
T.C.

[mro]

LG

Happen to have any pics of you MNS?


mro
BTW, welcome to XS land

[Riobravo73]

After going over to my Dad's place and sorting through all the boxes the PO left him he also had much to my surprise another MNS tank with a few tiny chips and a few small but manageable dings in it. I will work on the pics since I brought over a dead digital camera to my buddies garage. It is much better looking then the BB gun/ golf club target tank that was on it. It actually has potential for a nice ride coming from my friends and brother which are die hard Harley riders. They are pretty happy that it fires right up and I can ride with them. I was expecting more razzzing about it being a Japanese bike but they are going to help me get a new coat of paint on it and make it look great. A new head, valve cover and lots of other goodies are just waiting to be gone through and organized.13k Original miles on it and supposedly we are the second owner. $800 price tag is even better. This will be my first bike in over 15 years and that was a Honda Rebel . The PO retired and moved to Hawaii and didn't have the time or pull with his wife to move it with him. It needs just enough TLC to be a riding work in progress.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Rio,

Your HD friends may be smarter than the general HD crowd, and they may realize what power lurks in your new beast!!!

After a Honda Rebel, you'd better take it real easy on the wrist action, these machines were the Hayabusa of their era, and it will eat your HD friends bikes for lunch and have plenty left over for a snack!

Take your time, learn the machine and what it can do. IF you haven't ever taken an MSF course, highly recommend doing that, for a refresher if nothing else. These machines WILL bite you big time if you don't respect it!

Be sure to clean your mirrors real good, because that's where you'll be seeing your HD friends most of the time once you get it running right!
T.C.

[Poprock]

Rio, you may be able to fit a tank off a 82 XJ 1100 on there. 5 gallons, real swoopy shape. Great lines.