Eyes Wide Open

[Tracer]

Gang,

I just registered on the site. It comes highly recommended from the guy I might buy a 1980 Special from.

With that said, I'm open to any ideas and thoughts about what I should pay attention to when buying the bike. I've owned a few of the Universal Japanese Bikes in the past, and I know they each have their own quirks. So I'm open to hear any that the XS/XJ1100 crowd knows of regarding this particular Yamaha bike.

It seems that there has alsways been some kind of electrical or chargning matter with my previous bikes that I "got" to iron out. I'm not averse to tackling something like that with the Special, but it would be nice to know more if so.

Thanks for any input in advance, and I look forward to becoming active on the forum with my own XS1100 Special in the near future.

Best.

[SanDiegoMike]

Welcome...

...to the site. You will no doubt find a LOT of very useful information about your bike from the knowledgeable folks on this site. Spend some time going through the tech tips section, and you will get many of your questions answered. Once again, welcome!

[fredintoon]

Quirky for sure.

Hi Tracer & welcome,
as an XS650 owner you will understand this. I've formed the belief that the XS650 and the XS11 designers were allowed access to the same pile of parts but were forbidden to talk to one another. The XS11 engine runs backwards, it's gears shift like a Russian tractor and the swingarm pivot design has sealed ball races rather than plain bushings and that's just the gross differences. And you have the Special. Don't panic and toss them like I did, the Special's brake pads are supposed to be tapered, it's to do with that weird swivelling caliper design.

[BrianB]

This is from the Tech Tips section so would be good info for you to start with.

http://www.xs11.com/tips/misc/misc2.shtml

[TADracer]

Hi and welcome.

You have probably about a day worth of reading on this site alone so pick a rainy afternoon and click on every topic and do some searches too. You can probably learn everything you need to know right here.

After you purchase your prospect then the very next thing you should do is get a manual. Factory manuals are still around and Clymers manuals are still available here and there. Either one is invaluable.

Good luck and have a blast.