New (to me!) 1981 Special

[jwhughes3]

Found a guy in Austin that bought this as 1st bike for 15 y/o son and realized it was too much - traded the '80 XS400 and some cash and now it's mine. Yeah - no more chain!

Runs OK - needs plugs I think - 51k miles - doesn't appear to have any rash - nice chrome still on pipes - and finally enough power to run the Texas Hill Country 2-up - SWMBO will be happy

Of course a pic:

http://hughesimages.smugmug.com/Moto...297_kLFrg-A-LB

and the 400 I traded:

http://hughesimages.smugmug.com/Moto...297_kLFrg-A-LB

Hope to see y'all soon on the road..

John in San Antonio

[mro]

Looks pretty nice.
A lota bike for a biginer, even a can 400.

mro
BYW, how's the right side look?

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Found a guy in Austin that bought this as 1st bike for 15 y/o son and realized it was too much - traded the '80 XS400 and some cash and now it's mine. Yeah - no more chain!

Runs OK - needs plugs I think - 51k miles - doesn't appear to have any rash - nice chrome still on pipes - and finally enough power to run the Texas Hill Country 2-up - SWMBO will be happy

Of course a pic:

http://hughesimages.smugmug.com/Moto...297_kLFrg-A-LB

and the 400 I traded:

http://hughesimages.smugmug.com/Moto...297_kLFrg-A-LB

Hope to see y'all soon on the road..

John in San Antonio

Sounds like a good trade off.

BUT, both of the pics you posted are the same. The 400.

Greg

[Ivan]

Up top there is a selection button for the two pics.

[Incubus]

I saw that bike on Craigslist. It looked pretty good from the pictures. I hope it treats you well.


Patrick

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Up top there is a selection button for the two pics.

I saw that bike on Craigslist. It looked pretty good from the pictures. I hope it treats you well.


Patrick

OH! Ok got it.

Yea, I saw that one too. Sweet

[dbeardslee]

Looks pretty sweet. Is it my imagination, or is it sporting a standard seat?

[DGXSER]

Very nice looking bike!!

Doug, the seat is off a 79 special I believe, bike is missing the seat rail of the 80-81 Specials. Side covers are from an 80 or perhaps 79 special. The final drive is form an 80 also unless it is a 750 transplant. The 81 special has a black FD stock.

Might actually be an 80?? Does not really matter, it is a sharp looking bike!

[jwhughes3]

good eye on seat

underneath it says 79 special - I guess a replacement at some point

The grab rail is indeed missing - I have a short sissy bar from an 82 special but it doesn't look like it will work as it has an extra mounting hole at the ends that doesn't exist on my bike.

I didn't get the FD info from PO - he really didnt know as he just got it from the original owner who bought it new and didnt get a chance to find out details but he is gonna get me his number and I will find out -

If it is from the 750/850 it might explain the slower accel in 1st than I expected - of course it could be plugs fouled or any number of things - once it is winding past 2k it really goes though.

pipes were replaced I think - I don't remember seeing any side outlets on these - thoughts anyone?

and the petcocks need attending to as they are very stiff to turn - can anyone tell me if the handle is supposed to point to what you select or opposite the handle - I cannot see any kind of arrow on the handle (of course my eyes get worse every day).

i am thinking of the corbin king/queen seat as a replacement down the road - but this one seems ok for now.

anyone need an 82 special sissy bar? 1980 std speedo unit (160mph)? I dont want to mix and match square and round tach/speedo.

and i will post pics of the 2 bobbers the PO had in his garage - one was an XS650 though you wouldnt recognize it as such - he's gonna do the same to the 400 - seems a shame but hey - everyone has his thing, right?
John

[Ivan]

petcocks have the handle point to the desired selection.

I have a 79 special that doesn't have a grab rail, so is it possible you have a 79? Look at the right side of the steering neck, and check the first three digits of the vin, then check the tech tips, that will tell you the actual year and model of the scoot.

[bikerphil]

Looks like a 79SF rear fender on there with the tail lite back by the tag.

[jwhughes3]

turns out 1980 XS1100SG

According to VIN its an 1980 XS1100SG

3J6xxxxxxx

So 1979 parts must have been swapped later...

Rides decent but hesitates before catching throttle - what do you think dirty carbs?

John in San Antonio

[bikerphil]

Rides decent but hesitates before catching throttle - what do you think dirty carbs?

Yep, probably dirty carbs, run some Seafoam in the tank first and see if it improves. Pilot circuit is probably dirty. Also check pick-up coil wires for internal breaks.

[jwhughes3]

need carb cleaner and different bars and seat!

Took SWMBO on an hour ride today out to Bandera for a nice hill country day - gorgeous really - and later met our friends with a new GoldWing - they were just heading out and wanted us to come - they let us borrow their old 85 GoldWing 1100 so Lisa would be more comfortable since we were going for another 2 hours - and she really liked the GW seat better. There was also a rack behind her so she didn't feel like she was about to slide off - though the GW doesnt accelerate quite like the XS does.

I really liked the pulled back bars on the GW better than the flatter drag bars I have - puts me too far fwd and leaning on them to be comfy - I will have to change them.

The fairing - I will get a windshield, but likely not a full fairing - I didnt like not seeing the wheel - dunno why.

Anyway - great day and I have the OK to spend more $$ ;0

John in San Antonio

[DGXSER]

Sounds cool John!!

Alot of XSers have spoke of the goldwing bars on the XS being a great upgrade. keeping an eye out for such a mod myself.

I have the fatter corbin seat on Thunderstruck. The project came with a stock seat. I love the feel and ride fo the stock seat for around town rides, but enjoy the comfort of the fatter seat for long distance rides. I have a backrest built into my cargo rack on the back.

Anyway, sounds like a great day and the end result being more funding for the XS!! wooohoooo, winner all the way around.