Why the Devotion to XJ's?

[James England]

At the time, and even more nowadays, they had this aura of 'class' about them. Again, I'm referring to the Euro version which was the only one released here for several years.

The XS1100 was different (mechanically, electrically and in appearance) yet it somehow looked like a classic bike...deep maroon (Macho Maroon) or silver paintwork with a nice, two-line pinstripe (different widths too) reminiscent of Bentleys, Rolls Royces etc. No badges, just tasteful under-lacquer decals. It looked approachable but inspired reverence and there was an undercurrent of a jocular "want to mess with me?" about the bike. Refined, yes... classic looking, yes.....but that was just the shark's fin above the water. Underneath lurked some big teeth.....acceleration and power that belied its 'tourer' label. It didn't look sporty but it would burn virtually anything off from the traffic lights. I remember car drivers trying to beat me away from lights and many raised eyebrows.

Plus, they were so reliable. In 1977, Triumph were making the Bonneville at the Meriden Works...a doomed attempt to keep the brand going. A female friend of mine bought one new and parked it next to my XS1100. There was no comparison. Already there were little drops of oil on the tarmac under the Triumph. The switchgear was mediaeval, the headlamp feeble, performance was vastly inferior and, as the months passed by, it began to break down because of simple, silly design faults which should never have been there in the first place but had been there for 20 years or more, unrectified.

The XS1100 dwarfed the Bonneville and looked more of a classic than the Triumph! The build quality was simply light-years ahead. It was fashionable at that time for British bikers to refer to Japanese bikes as "Jap crap". A mate with a Royal Enfield Bullet referred to my Suzuki GT125 in that way, even when he usually ended up pushing the bike back after a run and my Suzuki never, ever broke down.

So, there's a beautiful piece of "Jap crap" standing next to the presumably 'quality' Bonneville...where the pinstripe (hand painted no less) wore off in under a month near the rider's knees because it wasn't under the lacquer... because there wasn't any lacquer on the paintwork. A slight splash of gas on the tank resulted in the paint coming off, right down to bare metal. Drum brake at the back!

I went from a well-used old 650 Bonneville, the bane of my life, straight to a new XS1100. I rode it back home 175 miles. By the first 100 yards, I was stunned, amazed and in love.

Yep, there are faster, more refined, lighter, better-handling bikes these days (I have one) but first love at first sight is difficult to better and therefore there's always a special place in my heart for these bikes. I suppose that's devotion.

Or am I just being a sentimental old fool, everyone?

[Rickabie]

Here's a few things to ponder. I'm referring to the UK version which I bought in 1979.

1. For a time, it was the world's fastest production bike

2. First production bike with oblong headlamp, indicators, clocks

3. Rare in those days to see a black engine

4. Physically bigger than anything else

5. Immensely powerful for the time

6. Many refinements... self-cancelling indicators. Allen bolts everywhere and not Suzi/Kawa/Honda crosshead screws made of soft metal. Electronic rev counter

7. First bike of 1100cc

8. Shaft drive... not so common in those days

9. Reliable.... unlike every British bike produced at that time. As time has shown, it was 'over-engineered' in that they last for years.

10. No 'bare' empty bits round the engine...just solid engine filling the frame.

The XS1100 was a tremendous head turner. EVERYONE stopped to look at mine. It broke the mould on bike appearance and yet still looked like a proper bike, not a piece of plastic.

I was 19 years old. I fell in love with the XS11 and things like that are not easily forgotten. I still look at an XS1100 and feel a slight adrenalin rush. They are, IMO, the best bike in appearance ever made.

And I agree... I fell in love in 1978 with the first model and I was also 19...
I made two trips from Sept-Iles to Daytona ('79 & '80) a 5,000 miles round trip and hardly had to add oil. Best bike ever, final. I'm trying to find one in my area.

[jetmechmarty]

Yamaha invented the Special. It was introduced in 1977 as a XS650 and XS750. Everyone ended up copying it. When I learned that they were done, I had to have one. I bought a new XS650SK in 1983. I still have it.

[jwhughes3]

mostly old age

In Greg's case

John

[BA80]

Everyone always gives me a hard time about how much stuff I carry but when they need something guess what?

Plus, I've ALWAYS got clean underwear in case of an accident.






Old age and treachery......................................... ..RULES!!!!!!

[motoman]

I demand equal time for the XS.



Put this fairing on last fall for a trip through Arkansas. Never took it off.

Even with old age and treachery Greg, still like that scoot with the fancy riveted soft cases and side-outs..........just keep the seat stacked up with a load..lol.....and old age and treachery....well, you know the rest.....

[bikerphil]

So there wouldnt be any doubt about keeping this as intact and original as possible.. right?

Ben, just don't make a dirt bike out of it and ding it all up.

[madmax-im]

Thanks for the + comments guys and Greg's XS is a set up really nice as well... So there wouldnt be any doubt about keeping this as intact and original as possible.. right? only mods done were either to improve performance or function... replacing parts that were no longer available thru the OEM like my exhaust by kerker.

[James England]

I bought my first '78E new in June of '78... it was the FASTEST production BIKE in the WORLD! Need I say more?....

The CBX was only a rumor at this point, and I've never been a Honda fan anyway. The CBX later became known for not delivering on it's promise; a good-running XS could take one...

Still have that one too...

The CBX was known to be a bit temperamental on carbs... I mean, with 6 of them, what do you expect? There were stories, possibly just myths, that dropping one on its side, stationary, could bend the frame. It wasn't the world's first 6 cylinder either, I think? Wasn't there the Benelli Sei?

I do think the CBX looks nice though, especially without the front cradle that other bikes have. The swingarm is notorious and looks like it's off a 250cc.

They are fetching a lot of money here....at least $7,500 for a good original example. The later ones, with monoshock and plastic bits all over, don't fetch anything like the money that the first ones do. I looked into buying one last year but, when I looked at the BHP and the possible expenditure just to keep one running (never mind restore),I decided not to bother...

[crazy steve]

I bought my first '78E new in June of '78... it was the FASTEST production BIKE in the WORLD! Need I say more?....

The CBX was only a rumor at this point, and I've never been a Honda fan anyway. The CBX later became known for not delivering on it's promise; a good-running XS could take one...

Still have that one too...

[BA80]

I demand equal time for the XS.



Put this fairing on last fall for a trip through Arkansas. Never took it off.

[JosephM]

Fantastic

That may be one of the prettiest I have ever seen.

[James England]

How could anyone ever question devotion to bikes that look like that?

[madmax-im]

Cant speak for others but like Motoman...am an original owner of my XJ...just had it out today for the first time in a few months. Loved the bike when i saw it in the showroom and love it now and its 30 yrs old...here he is...

[cywelchjr]

I drooled and then a very clever dealer sent me a 'free' publicity poster. I persuaded my dad to be my guarantor and, like only a 19 year old would do, bought it on credit $75 a month...in 1979! I must have been insane! Why my dad allowed it, I do not know. Fortunately, 6 months later, as the payments began to bite, it was stolen (in Amsterdam) and the insurance paid off what I owed, with enough left over to buy a Norton Commando. Awful...but... at least no repayments!

Yes, the CBX, even at the time, struck me as being a bit silly in concept but superbly engineered. The Kawasaki Z1300 was, IMO, ugly as hell!

Like Greg I had to wait till I was about 51 before I got mine, after having drooled over them in 79 and 80 as well as scratching my head over the CBX1000 (couldn't figure out why someone would WANT an engine that wide ). Now I've got it, with the Vetter fairing, bags and tailtrunk that I love (I've had the fairing on other bikes, never gotten the bags or trunk before, only soft bags and luggage racks), but I always wanted a full dresser XS11, and when I found this one ALMOST there (fairing and soft bags) I jumped on it, and when I found it had the mounting hardware for the bags already on it, all I had to do was find a deal on bags, and then a trunk. The rest is history, and brutus will be passed down eventually to my son or grandson.