Timing '81 XS1.1H

[dbeardslee]

If you look at the old set, are the outside slide covers (tops) chromed steel or aluminum? The 78/79's will be aluminum. The 80/81's will be chromed steel. You can also tell by looking at the mixture screws. The earlier model carbs have the screw tops exposed, while the later models sit down in a tunnel.

[Athedra]

Old set was two chromed (The outer two) and inner two was aluminum. The set screws was exposed.

The new set is all four aluminum with the set screws exposed.

I wouldn't go much on the old set. Bought the bike from a guy that wanted to chop her up and use the motor on some project he had going. Gave him a old XT500 (thumper) motor that needed attention for the XS that needed ATTENTION. Just never got round to fixing her up till about 2 months ago.

I stripped off a lot of "nonsense" off the bike before taking her out for the first run. Nonsense is like carbon fiber indicators glued to the head light etc. I like the "Retro" look, so tried to keep her as retro as possible. The titanium exhaust is just something I like as well, so need to compromise somewhere.

I did however get stuck on the round mirrors, so had to settle for a set of rectangular chromes. They go well with the rectangular headlight, and if you didn't know any better, would think it came out with them.

[DGXSER]

Searched a bit on the net, found this picture. This is what I have, so definitely a '79 XS1100. Mine is same colour, but spraying it Lancia Ebony Black (LEB 502, if I remember the paint mixture correctly) in the next few weeks. Also considering airbrushing the fuel tank top.



Thanks for all the help sofar.

Everything about that picture screeams standard and not a special at all, including the exhaust. The Special exhaust stopped short of the rear axle but the standards extend past like that. The front brakes and wheel mounting is a standard, the tank, the gages, the headlight, all of it.

As to the midnight special, it was strictly a looks thing, with the exception of the brakes as Bug described, mechanically and electrically it was identical to the Special version of the same year.

[Athedra]

Also narrowed my bike down to the '79 XS1100 standard.

I cant go on the exhaust because I have a after market system on. It stops about the same spot the pictures does. As mentioned my pillion section is not raised as much as the picture. But apart from the few minor differences, it's the same thing.

Think mine is a bit dirtier too.

[DGXSER]

Yeah I have two at the moment. The first one came home looking liek this



The second one, not nearly as pretty....yet..



Just a touch dirtier ehh??

[dbeardslee]

I should have thought of this before - particularly since Don already alluded to serial numbers. Check your frame and motor's serial numbers and compare to this table. Should tell you definitively what you've got.

[Athedra]

Looked at a similar chart last night. What throws me off is the Pearl white on the '79 XS1100 European. This is definitely New Yamaha black. But this might have been the change to the South African model. Read somewhere (Think this same thread) someone mentioned that some Australian versions had a few cosmetic differences. This might be the case here.

[Athedra]

Yeah, can see some elbow grease coming up for you on that one. Might be faster to re-spray

[dbeardslee]

Did you check the frame and the motor to make sure the numbers match? After 30 years, who knows if it's the original motor. JAT

[CatatonicBug]

Will open an album in face books just for my XS, and will link the pictures from there as soon as I can.

That does not usually work, since you have to log into Facebook to view anything there. It's not public, and the pictures will not show up when linked here.

[DGXSER]

Yeah, can see some elbow grease coming up for you on that one. Might be faster to re-spray

She is actually coming along pretty well. A few more parts are being purchased than originally planned. But it is coming along. There is a thread in the Members lounge about it. Need to update it soon. The back half is mostly completed now.

[Athedra]

Did you check the frame and the motor to make sure the numbers match? After 30 years, who knows if it's the original motor. JAT

Yes, frame and motor matches. Thats why the pearl white thing is confusing everything. But apart from the paint colour, everything is definitely a '79 XS1100 standard

[Athedra]

She is actually coming along pretty well. A few more parts are being purchased than originally planned. But it is coming along. There is a thread in the Members lounge about it. Need to update it soon. The back half is mostly completed now.

I popped in at the members lounge a few times, but just shows me no threads. Thought it was a dead area. Will check it out again. WOuld love to see her completed.

I felt to sorry for mine to take picture when I got her, but maybe I should have done it. I have my eyes on another one in the back of a guys yard on my way to work. It is a real rust bucket, and might just be my December project if I play my cards right.

[Athedra]

Went through members lounge from top to bottom, dont see your project there.

[DGXSER]

Here is a link to it. Be warned it ain't pretty....yet.