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  • #1

    Fire down below!

    After 2 years in a corner of the garage I finally got my '80G running yesterday. Frustrated with rusty gas and rodent damage (PO left it outside for 6 years) it has been mostly ignored - until it finally rattled the windows yesterday! Ya know that feeling - one or two backfires - check the fuel - not sure - leaks - spark - maybe - not - try again - Vaarroom!

    So my teenage son hears the racket and comes to check it out... sees the gas tank and battery off the lawn tractor.. various puddles on the floor, jumper cables, heat waves off the engine as it's cooling down, head pipes with a new beautiful shade of blue... "Dad - why do you even bother with this junky old motorcycle - why don't you go buy something better?..."

    Fatherhood has it's moments - and I'm not sure where this one is going - So I take a deep breath - "Son - sit down here a minute and let me explain some things..."

    "What you are looking at may seem like a junky old motorcycle, but this is an XS1100! - The first Japanese SuperBike! When these babies came out in 1978 nobody could believe it! Yamaha changed motorcycle history with this bike! 95 horsepower at 600 pounds - do the math! Alloy wheels - no spokes, no chain drive - smooth drive-shaft power! These engines go forever! - double overhead cam, air cooled, integrated wet clutch - a proven design that Yamaha built to last... Disk brakes all around - duals on the front - this bike set the standard they are still copying 30 years later! I've wanted one of these since I was your age - and now - well - can you feel that power???"

    ... Pause... Wait... "Wow - Cool Dad... when can we ride it?"

    Someday son... someday...
    When the horse is dead, dismount.

    Bagapotomus - '80G Attempted Rescue, '78 Engine, Vetter Bags and Trunk.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    awesome!!!
    Nathan
    KD9ARL

    μολὼν λαβέ

    1978 XS1100E
    K&N Filter
    #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
    OEM Exhaust
    ATK Fork Brace
    LED Dash lights
    Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
    Green Monster Coils
    SS Brake Lines
    Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

    In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

    Theodore Roosevelt

    Comment

    • #3
      Abilene is close enough to Austin

      You should bring the bike and your son to the MOM in June.

      Then he will catch the XS bug.

      And maybe yours will leave running better.


      John
      John is in an anonymous city with an Alamo (N29.519227,W-98.678980)

      Go ahead, click on the bikes - you know you want to...the electrons are ready.
      '81 XS1100H - "Enterprise"
      Bob Jones Custom Navy bike: Tkat brace, EBC floating rotors & SS lines, ROX pivot risers, Geezer rectifier, new 3H3 engine

      "Not all treasure is silver and gold"

      Comment

      • #4
        Excelllllent
        "If A equals success, then the formula is: A = X + Y + Z. X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut." - Albert Einstein

        "Illegitimi non carborundum"-Joseph W. "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell



        1980 LG
        1981 LH

        Comment

        • #5
          That is a very cool thing!!! My son is 14 going on 24 and will listen to nothing, everything i a smartazz answer (Yeah, no idea where he gets that from. ).
          Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

          When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

          81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
          80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


          Previously owned
          93 GSX600F
          80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
          81 XS1100 Special
          81 CB750 C
          80 CB750 C
          78 XS750

          Comment

          • #6
            Hi Barnfresh,
            yeah, sons, they got no respect. Mebbe 6 years back I replaced the tired old family car they'd learned to drive on with a used Buick Le Sabre.
            I got this chorus from the pair of them:-
            "Gee, you went and bought a grandpa car?"
            "Can I borrow it?"
            Fred Hill, S'toon
            XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
            "The Flying Pumpkin"

            Comment

            • #7
              Thanks...

              I want my kids to understand that everything old is not junk and everything cool is not on the XBox. Appreciate the art and passion of restoration - like what this web site represents.

              Thanks for the invite John - Austin is not that far, but June may be pushing it. One step at a time - right now I'm dealing with three calipers full of water... Yuk!
              When the horse is dead, dismount.

              Bagapotomus - '80G Attempted Rescue, '78 Engine, Vetter Bags and Trunk.

              Comment

              • #8
                You hit the nail on the head man

                Hey Barnfresh: You got it exactly right. Glad your trying to pass it down. My son thinks my bike is cool too - & it took me a couple stories also - Dan
                '81 XS1100 LH - Midnight Special - been lookin' a long time for this one.
                1179 big bore kit, 80SG motor
                Rebuilt head, valves
                TC Bros Forward Controls (Brass Pegs)
                Tkat Fork Brace
                T.C. Spade Fuse Box
                Dyna Coils & wires
                Mikesxs shocks,controls,& bars (special)
                ISO grips with stelleto ends
                4 into 1 black Bassani exhaust
                Bridgestone Spitfires
                Tuned by Tinman905
                & a will to keep it.

                Comment

                • #9
                  But that is the beauty of MOM

                  Its a gathering of knowledge to gain experience from - I have missed out on attending previously but this year I am making it a point to set aside time to go.

                  Not just to meet you guys and work on bikes, but because it makes the XS experience more special.

                  So just pack it up and bring it the way it is if its not yet ridable and maybe we can help you get it a little closer.

                  John
                  John is in an anonymous city with an Alamo (N29.519227,W-98.678980)

                  Go ahead, click on the bikes - you know you want to...the electrons are ready.
                  '81 XS1100H - "Enterprise"
                  Bob Jones Custom Navy bike: Tkat brace, EBC floating rotors & SS lines, ROX pivot risers, Geezer rectifier, new 3H3 engine

                  "Not all treasure is silver and gold"

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I didn't have to tell my son any storys, I just took him for a ride on it. All he could say is "Man, that thing has some power!" He now keep trying to get me to give him the 80 thats in pieces all over the garage. I just tell him to get his own. (He's already talked me into selling the 68 mustang to him) He likes the old stuff.
                    Ty

                    78 XS1100E - Now in Minnesota
                    80 XS1100LG - The Punisher
                    82 XJ1100 - Current project - The Twins
                    82 XJ1100 - Wife's Bike - The Twins
                    82 XJ1100 - Daughter's Bike
                    72 Suzuki TS125 - Daughter's Bike
                    72 Yamaha Mini JT2 - Youngest Daughter's bike (She wants a bigger one now)

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Right on! It is such a rush when you get one of these engines to fire up -- congratulations!
                      -- Scott
                      _____
                      ♬
                      2004 ST1300A: No name... yet
                      1982 XJ1100J: "Baby" SS Brakes, '850 FD, ACCT
                      1980 XS1100G: "Columbo" SS Brakes, '850 FD, ACCT
                      1979 XS1100SF: "Bush" W.I.P.
                      1979 XS1100F: parts
                      2018 Heritage Softail Classic 117 FLHCS SE: "Nanuk" It's DEAD, it's not just resting. It is an EX cycle.
                      ♬

                      Comment

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