MIdnight Specials

[ninjajim]

I'm wondering how many Midnight Specials are left out there? How many are still all original? I have an '81 unmolested.

[motoman]

Really?.......being an XS, it likely has been molested by the right hand anyways.......

[ninjajim]

OK, I'll give you that. As an old MXer and highly modied 600 Ninja rider, the right hand has wicked the throttle a few times. I've tried to behave myself with my second Midnight, trying to preserve it.

[jmnjrpa]

Jim

Post a poll if you want to know. It won't be accurate, but might get some good pics........Hint Hint

[cheezy]

i've got a mns, but it's too far gone to restore back to original. i also have a midnight maxim(750), but that was in the same shape when i started, parts are hard to come by, so i settled for cleaning it up and running it. my dad has it now.

[Pat Kelly]

I have an LG. I have everything saved to revert back to original.

went from this:


to this:


(only now it has a 4 into 1 exhaust and the 1200 big bore kit)

[CatatonicBug]

I'm wondering how many Midnight Specials are left out there? How many are still all original? I have an '81 unmolested.

From your other post, I assume you are trying to veryfy the myth that there were only 250 MNS's made in each of '80 & '81. We did a Serial Number thread a while back, and unless Yamaha decided to play with the numbers to intentionally prevent an answer to this question, there were WAY more than 500 total MNS's made. Into the tens of thousands, IIRC.

[jmnjrpa]

????

I wondered about that also. Consider the lineup and the fact that they were sold worldwide. Also consider that it would have been the smallest production in the lineup. Just the XS1100 alone had 4 different models. If there were tens of thousands in the US then Yamaha would have had 1,000,000+ bikes sold per year. Nada, Nope, No Way. So the serial numbers are most likely not true. The press releases of these bikes said 250 per year for 80 and 81. A large percentage of the bikes running now were brought back from the dead. Couple that with most all the owners looking for answers to problems have probably found this site. With a total of 6000+ members and not removing membership due to PO status it would be fair to say there is not more than 100 left running of either year. Outside of this club I have never seen another MNS (80 or 81) except the one I saw on the showroom floor in 1981 and mine.

[yamtom]

got one

Hi,
Like you all, I had heard the 250 per year statement before also. I have a MNS, it could be a combination of eighty and eighty one since the title is a rebuilt title. The wheels appear to be eighty, the carb synch covers may be 81 since there are four of them in gold. The engine documentation is eighty, 4H3. This is one of them brought back from the dead ,what with the title. It has chrome blinkers, and gold trim elsewhere. I am going to paint or powder coat the blinkers to get them consistent with the model unless someone else has a better idea.

Andreas told me that he has never seen a MNS come thru as being scrapped, so I imagine that there are proportionally quite a few more of them that exist as compared to the other models when compared to the number built originally.

I changed my airbox out for pods, but will be keeping everything in order to put it back if the time ever comes. The original muffs are long gone of course.

[Rasputin]

I have an 81 which has a 79SF motor in it now, but the frame is a 81LH. 4w1 is the first 3 in the serial number I believe. that and the fact I am trying to find a maker for the linked brake seals...

[mro]

Mns

I just happen to have a LH I picked up some years ago.
Have most all the parts ... just not the time to get to it yet.
Only a couple more "project XSes" left to do before it's the MNS's turn.

Would seem to be a shame to not restore a MNS but to each there own.


mro

[ninjajim]

I'm glad I'm getting feedback on this. My current '81 MNS is bone stock, everything but the tires and battery.
I had an '81 MNS I purchased new but the engine got destroyed by my cousin or one of his buddies. So, minus one '81.
I also picked up from ebay several years ago, a front wheel/fork assembly from an '80 MNS. So, minus one '80 as well.
My current MNS has been tucked away in the garage for the last 19 months. Figured I needed to get him out and breathe a bit. Due to the low numbers of existing MNS out there, I'm almost afraid to ride it very much. That and the low mileage, I want to keep the value up.
Keep on posting all. I'm getting more educated every day.
Last 4 on my serial number are 1067.

[jmnjrpa]

When it gets

right down to matching numbers you may find only a couple dozen left with original engines. I have seen several fake MNS on Ebay and Craig's list. Often the PO's don't have a clue as to what they have. 19 out of 20 XS1100's still on the road today are frankenbikes. I'm not talking about SS brake lines and such but rather missmatched numbers and parts from donor bikes. Even the scrapped bikes are donors because of the high demand for parts. I'll bet the parts from that 80 and 81 are spread all over the country.


Here's mine



Soon to have a special Tank "larger".

[mro]

19 out of 20 XS1100's still on the road today are

Has not been my (limited ) XSperience.
The last 8 out of 9 had matching numbers and the few I'v worked on for others had matching numbers too...

There may be a lot of frankenbikes out there but there also seems to just be a lot of XS11's out there.
Most seem to have had some minor problem and wound up sitting for years neglected.
Supply and demand, XSes are still relatively chee ... inXSpensive
One or two pop up for sale around the bay area regularly XSept for MNSs.


mro

[XS1100 Newbie]

I have a 1980 MNS that has 14500 miles original on it. The only thing that has been changed is the front forks, and handle bars, because the PO put it down. As far as being afraid to ride it, i say phooey. The bike is meant to ride, and you have at least another 200,000 mile left in it with proper care. Ride it and enjoy it.