Not sure what model my bike is

[crazy steve]

And Now The Moment We Have All Been Waiting For The Number is!

3H5001751 This is the frame number and whats on the title.

That makes the frame a '80 standard. If the first three characters on the motor match, then you have a matching-year/model motor too...

[GTXS1100]

Idk if i want to put up pics of my bike it is not the best looking bike in the world and i have been a tight ass when it comes to working on it. lol if i can rob a part off someting esle to get buy i will. Its also in the middle of gettin ready to be repainted again. Cant seem to find any thing i really like as far as paint goes. Just stole the tale light and brake out of another parts bike 82 yammy maxim 750. So its deff a frnkinstine monster !

[DGXSER]

Ohh..Come on....be a sport. We promise not to chastise you to harshley.

Can't be to mcuh worse than poor old Banshee when I first lifted her out of the farm field/barn she was left in.

[cywelchjr]

In Cali that may be, but I think Steve has stated that Washington wants numbers to match so they know it was not a stolen engine and such.

Can't be, and isn't possible. Washington would have to accept my Ca title with the different VIN and engine serial numbers, both of which are recorded on the title, meaning that both are part of the legal registration of the bike. However, if the engine number is NOT on the title is is indeed expected to match the VIN number of the frame. Many states track both the frame and the engine on the title, in those cases if you change the engine, you must get the bike inspected and the title amended to match. The amount of documentation it can take when this is done can vary depending on the workers at the DMV that you go to when this is done as well.

[cywelchjr]

Idk if i want to put up pics of my bike it is not the best looking bike in the world and i have been a tight ass when it comes to working on it. lol if i can rob a part off someting esle to get buy i will. Its also in the middle of gettin ready to be repainted again. Cant seem to find any thing i really like as far as paint goes. Just stole the tale light and brake out of another parts bike 82 yammy maxim 750. So its deff a frnkinstine monster !

Hey, we don't really care that much about pretty, if we did we would ride Harleys . Brutus is no beauty either, definitely a 20 footer, it's the mechanical stuff I concern myself with. Don't get me wrong, I try to keep him looking reasonably nice, but he's not a show bike by any means. Like many of here I'd rather be riding than polishing, or wrenching than polishing.

[GTXS1100]

Ill try and see what i can come up with.

[motoman]

What I had stated in thread #7 was a generallity, except for the fact this IS the case with Yamaha specificly. This came from the knowledgable dealer where I purchased mine new. Having said that, when I bought mine new, still sitting on the showroom floor, A Co.state patrolman came out to verify the letter/numbering on it. Now this is where it got interesting. Being designated as an 81 model year by Yamaha, there was apparently questions to the validity of that. The patrolmen started to do an acid test on the engine case, till I stated to him(being a CDOT employee I knew him)that unless CSP was prepared to purchase the bike....and pay for the order and delivery of a new same bike I highly suggested that that not be done! It all got fairly vocal as you could imagine as I had just paid out some $5,300 for this scoot. The dealer came over and seeing what was about to take place and told the CSP patrolman that unless the CSP was prepared to take on Mother Yamaha in a law suit, that what he was about to do was ill-advised. That's when he(dealer) explained that ALL Yamaha's showed the manufacturer year it was built, but was actually the upcoming year model. The descrpincey was with the amount of numbers as in the actual year of 81 the models had one more number to the amount, or something along those lines anyway. The patrolman decided it was in the best interest of the CSP to abanbon any furter investigation. This is not a story, and can still be verified today by this dealer as taking place, as it DID get very vocal in that dealership that day, and still is vividly in that dealerships memory, even today! The ironic part is, that when I got this bike back some fourteen years later, different location and all since I had moved, took the signed title down to DMV, and the same red flag showed up......again. So, I took the bike down too a dealer so he could come out and look at the actual stamped frame numbers on the right side of steering neck to confirm them to be correct and sign the form........which by the way cost me $15 to have done. Went back to DMV and all went well for the title transfer, etc. I think the Venturer's name was well deserved in part to the fact it was an adventure to own this thing..........both times! All I can say is if I were to ever sell this scoot(doubtful)....run the other way, quickly.........or have an Aventurer/adventure with the process!

[cywelchjr]

What I had stated in thread #7 was a generallity, except for the fact this IS the case with Yamaha specificly.

The only problem with that, is that I know that to not always be true with Yamaha. While it's true that a large portion if not the majority of a model year to be manufacture in the year before the model year, I have an XS400G (1980 Model Year) that was manufactured in Jan 1980. So at least SOME of a model year run is actually built in the same year as the model year. Now, I think the problem with the 81 model year is specifically because of how Yamaha handled their serial numbers, what with having both the long and short versions on the frame and the short version on the engine.

Not saying I don't believe anything you said, and it may well be true that not a single venturer was built in 1981 and all of the were built in 1980. This issue with year of manufacture is the same with cars, at least a part of the model year is built the year before.

[motoman]

Now, I think the problem with the 81 model year is specifically because of how Yamaha handled their serial numbers, what with having both the long and short versions on the frame and the short version on the engine.

Have to agree......in part CY. The problem was the apparent AMOUNT of numbers in sequence. The letter/number sequence IS an identical match otherwise on frame and motor. I gather from how it was explained to me back then was the actual 80 models and prior were one number less in amount than in 81 on Yamahas specificly. Don't know if that applied to their other models. May have been specific to the XS series only. For all I know, the XJ series may have one more number or letter to make the amount total different. What the conflict seemed to be at that time(and still) with CSP and the DMV pertaining to the 81 XS's was: and this was verbally stated to me and the dealer back then and again when I got it back was if the bike was in fact an 81(as we all know WAS correct for the Venturer model) and not an 80 model it would of had one more number in the sequence. The only thing I can figure is that state side this was never corrected in the system(least not in Colo.) to correspond with Yamaha manufacturing specs. to THEIR dating procedure. All I know, is it was lookin' like a PITA the first time, and became 'who has the power' backing the Colo. State Patrol in a corner(litterally that day at the dealership) causing them to not only back off, but also got a verbal apoligy from them. The second time, all those years later, I just took it as a de-ja-vu, and DEFINITELY wasn't in any position to argue. Took their form and jumped thru the hoop so to speak, had it verified for the $15 and went on my merry way, totally happy it wasn't gonna be more of an issue than that. I just brought this up as an interesting scenario that I'm fairly positive no one has has had happen, specially with the scoot sitting right there, new with only the 5mi. I put on it with the test ride, and still on the showroom floor!

[DGXSER]

When I bought my current 81 SH I had a small hiccup with the insurance agent in that this one only has a 9 digit VIN. It is a 4RO number, and so a 1981 Special. My fisrt XS11 also a 1981 Special, insured with the same agent at the time I was insuring the second one, had a 17 digit VIN.

As you might imagine, we had a few rounds of calls and discussions to clarify what was going on. I sent them a photo of the plate on the neck as well as the engine and the stamped numbers in the frame. This of course satisfied their curiosity, but it was a lot more effort.

[Joab]

Ill try and see what i can come up with.

Here, let me help you feel better GTX! It can't possibly look worse then this, so feel free to post up whatever pics you have!

[MaximPhil]

When I bought my current 81 SH I had a small hiccup with the insurance agent in that this one only has a 9 digit VIN. It is a 4RO number, and so a 1981 Special. My fisrt XS11 also a 1981 Special, insured with the same agent at the time I was insuring the second one, had a 17 digit VIN.

As you might imagine, we had a few rounds of calls and discussions to clarify what was going on. I sent them a photo of the plate on the neck as well as the engine and the stamped numbers in the frame. This of course satisfied their curiosity, but it was a lot more effort.

Hi DGXSER,
I had the same problem with my insurance agent.
Also had to take a picture.
Part of the Adventure of owning a Venturer
Phil

[motoman]

Actually not bad Joab,,,,,,,,,,,front half is worth more than the back half just for that hard to find Pacifico fairing.........

[GTXS1100]

Actually not bad Joab,,,,,,,,,,,front half is worth more than the back half just for that hard to find Pacifico fairing.........

Some of you guys may like that faring but i dont would traid for the round speedo/tack and round headlight. the one i have is missing the windshild tho. it also has some other plastic that went with it and a bracket i think its barried in the shed.
and i put up a little pic next to my name this was my bike last year.

[jimbyjimb]

Joab-

What you have there is the rare XS1100HI, hover/invisible model. It was a true factory custom built with transparent parts and a hovercraft rear-end. Supposedly it was the nicest riding bike of it's era. It's good too see such a rare bit in ridable condition.

But seriously, the front half looks great!