Opinions please!

[James England]

Update

I just received a PM via a Yamaha XJR1300 forum. Here's an extract from it, which relates to the bike this thread is all about.....

We have not communicated before, but I have seen your posts on the USA XS
Eleven forum, and, some time ago, your beautifully restored black XS1100 on
ebay. You might have seen my ex bike - the maroon XS1100E - currently for
sale on ebay at a rather optimistic £10000. Though the dealer is
advertising it as original, in fact I did a bare frame restoration of the
machine less than a year after buying it (new) in June 1978.


Looks like we had this one nailed, chaps!!!

[sparks]

Inquiring minds want to know: Why do a "bare frame" restoration on a bike less than a year old? And, what would one of those be?

It seems that different people have different ideas of what that is.

Lee
(sparks)

[James England]

Inquiring minds want to know: Why do a "bare frame" restoration on a bike less than a year old? And, what would one of those be?

It seems that different people have different ideas of what that is.

Lee
(sparks)

He said:

"I did a bare frame restoration of the
machine less than a year after buying it (new) in June 1978. Such was the
poor standard of factory finish back then"

Personally, I thought the standard of finish on my new XS1100 in 1979 was excellent. Perhaps he got a poor one though. I don't know. I believe that the standard of factory finish on Japanese bikes was vastly superior to that of British bikes.

Looks like our enquiring minds bottomed that bike out though I can't imagine for one minute that the seller will get £10,000 for it. It just isn't worth that.

[sparks]

I guess I'm sort of stupid.. However, when I spend the bux for a new bike nd find the finish not up to snuff, I give it back in exchange for one that is.. Seems like throwing a lot of money to fix something that the dealer should have done. That said, if all he did was fix the poor finish, it wasnt a restoration... It was a paint job.

Lee

[James England]

I guess I'm sort of stupid.. However, when I spend the bux for a new bike nd find the finish not up to snuff, I give it back in exchange for one that is.. Seems like throwing a lot of money to fix something that the dealer should have done. That said, if all he did was fix the poor finish, it wasnt a restoration... It was a paint job.

Lee

I think 'bare frame' means engine out, all bits off etc. Major stuff, if I understand correctly. It seems a hell of a lot to have to do to a bike that's a year old! It's debatable whether the word 'restoration' could even apply to a bike as young as that, I'd say. Unless it was a really tough year? It would take a lot of abuse in 12 months to get a bike to the point of needing all that work.

I pointed the chap in the direction of this thread actually and invited him to comment on it, so hopefully we'll get the full story of this bike. I'm curious re all the spares that come with it etc etc.

It does look a very nice bike though! I think it's just the price tag and the claim by the seller that it's not been restored etc which is offputting and detracting from the fact that it's still a good looking machine! OK, there's a lot of non-standard bits (especially the badged side panels) but I'd be happy to have it... at a reasonable price.

[crazy steve]

...Personally, I thought the standard of finish on my new XS1100 in 1979 was excellent. Perhaps he got a poor one though. I don't know. I believe that the standard of factory finish on Japanese bikes was vastly superior to that of British bikes..

Truthfully, I've never been impressed with Japanese fit/finish. Compared to British bikes, yeah it's better, but compared to automotive it leaves a lot to be desired. Their detail work is particularly poor IMO, especially on the chrome bits. But then again, maybe this guy was a bit anal; I knew a guy back in the early seventies that bought a brand-new car and then dropped another $5K into it having the paint and 'body fit' perfected. I spent about 6 hours detailing the XJ frame for powdercoating, dealing with all the welding slag and lumps, so yeah, it's not so good.

FWIW, I had most of the factory chrome on my XS2 redone when it was a year old for just this reason, but plating was much cheaper then...

[MaximPhil]

Getting right back to Bristol's Llandogger Trow pub being the inspiration for RLS' Admiral Benbow, anyone know how many Bristols there are in the USA?

Hi Fred,
I have had a few drinks at the Llandogger Trow
Nice Zummerset Cider if I recall
Phil

[MaximPhil]

Hi Fred,
There are a number of Bristol in North America.
One in Quebec FL TN VA GA CT PA i expect a detailed search would reveal a lot more.
Phil

[James England]

Yes, the chrome was tinny and the welding awful, I must agree. But, compared to what else was on offer here in the UK, they were streets ahead. We've always been backward here anyway... out cars in the 1950's had the heater as an optional extra. No automatic roof on soft-tops, no electric windows. Our domestic appliances were rubbish, compared to the USA (I know someone here with a 50 year old US fridge!). The bikes were regarded as a bit 'tinny' but at least bits didn't drop of them and they didn't rust after 2 weeks.......

Truthfully, I've never been impressed with Japanese fit/finish. Compared to British bikes, yeah it's better, but compared to automotive it leaves a lot to be desired. Their detail work is particularly poor IMO, especially on the chrome bits. But then again, maybe this guy was a bit anal; I knew a guy back in the early seventies that bought a brand-new car and then dropped another $5K into it having the paint and 'body fit' perfected. I spent about 6 hours detailing the XJ frame for powdercoating, dealing with all the welding slag and lumps, so yeah, it's not so good.

FWIW, I had most of the factory chrome on my XS2 redone when it was a year old for just this reason, but plating was much cheaper then...