1978 xs1100 2 choices high milage

[Korr]

Hi guys i'm new here just wanted to say hi and get some help on choosing which bike. The are both 1978 XS1100's. One has 86,000 miles and is selling for $700 and looks like it needs to be cleaned. The other is selling for $900 and has 80,000 miles on it, but looks CLEAN! I read the poll on everyones mileage and i am amazed at how long these engines last!! I am still fairly new to being my own mechanic and am leaning more towards the one with the lower mileage. Could i get some help on what to look out for when i am inspecting the bike before purchasing it? Things that would not be obvious/hard to see/hear? thnx guys!

[dbeardslee]

Korr - Welcome. Here's a good place to start. 6k isn't a lot of difference in mileage. I'd lean towards whichever one runs better, assuming cosmetics are roughly equal.

[Korr]

OK just looked at the add again and the 80k mileage one is a 1980. Yeah you're right i should see which one runs better first.I can't help it. I got the jitters from not riding for a few months after i sold my virago I shouldn't get too anxious.

[dbeardslee]

Korr - maybe you should pray the patience prayer. You know, Lord please give me patience - NOW!!!

[mason79]

be patient , keep looking for lower mileage, it is out there

get one with records and that was shown alot of love

[olebiker]

If you can test ride them and see if they need tranny work. A compression test is always nice too but not always possible.

[mro]

Depends on what you want

They will have a little difference in how they handle/feel
The 78 is a standard (E)
The 80 is a special (SG)

Not OEM exhausts
Both have been re-painted at one time
Emblems missing on the 80
Side covers missing on the 78
Looks like a "king/queen seat on the 80
Hard to tell more w/o looking at em up close and personal


mro
BTW, where abouts are you in the Bay Area?

[xschop]

decisions, decisions

I would take a ratty xs11 that ran good without the 2nd gear problem over a pristine one that was ragged out mechanically and had fried gears....my $.02

[81xsproject]

personally, I am looking for an excuse to get a big bore kit . The engine can be rebuilt, but deep ugly oxidation can't be fixed.

[mro]

originally posted by 81xsproject
personally, I am looking for an excuse

Jessie, there be NO excuse for you


mro
BTW,
how's your hydralic clutch mod holding up?

[Korr]

I went to see the 1978 bike and well i like it, but....I can hear a little tick in the engine, it has a mild smell of burning gas/oil, also is it normal for these bikes to have only 1 throttle cable so that you would manually have to roll off on the gas? I also noticed that it would slowly die if we let off on the throttle. Are these bikes usually pretty cold blooded?

[Tusler]

Check this one out No Reserve! Shipping Available

Hi,
Ran across this on ebay -
Do a search for this item number-
Item number: 250272409002
It looks good for what it's selling for.
Might be worth checking out!

[dbeardslee]

Tusler - Good catch. Pretty sweet lookin'. Personally I don't like those aftermarket seats. They put the family jewels right on the gas tank But if your doing a lot of touring out on the open road with your feet on the highway pegs it's probably more comfortable as you're sitting more upright and your legs won't get so cramped.

Korr - that's something to keep in mind - where and how you're going to ride. I like mine nekid but I don't take long trips, and it's easier to work on that way. If you're planning on touring it's probably cheaper to get a bagger than to try and turn one into a bagger later.

[Crazcnuk]

All of these have little 'ticks' in the engine, especially when cold, would have to listen to it to know if it was a normal one or not.


Yes, the XS only uses one throttle cable, but there is a spring on the carb to return the throttle to idle. Cable may just need oiling.

Does the idle come down immediately if you roll the throttle off manually?

As for the dieing, did you have the choke on? You usually have to have the choke on for a bit when cold. Then when it starts to stumble, you turn the choke off one notch.

[Korr]

thnx good to know that the throttle should return whew Yes the idle comes down when i roll off. I have another xs1100 to look at today and hopefully it will be the ONE! Oh yeah Mro i'm located in Union City.

anybody see these side covers? they would look pretty good and much cheaper than original covers

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Yamah...spagenameZWDVW