Another newbie to the XS11/bike world!!

[enguita89]

hey guys im jordan, my brother rents out houses and someone left this bike in the shed. im just wondering what you guys think iv got ahead of me here. it looks to me like its in good condition but i figured you guys would know better then i would. it has all the parts and has 61k+ miles.

[motoman]

Looks like once upon a time it was an 80MidnightSpecial when new.

[DGXSER]

Welcome to the madness, hopefully you can get a title to the bike. If not, it does not work very well for off road riding.

On one hand, you have a fairly complete bike. Missing side cover(s), and looks like the bottom half of the air box, which means it has been sucking unfiltered air for a while.

You have some work ahead of you, but it is certainly worth some effort to see what it turns out to be. Look in the FAQ section of the site, there is a thread on "What to look for in a neglected XS11" very good starting point.

[thibtyson]

If you can't get it titled and decide to part it out, let me know. Lot's of parts I could use there. If you can get it titled, you could potentially have a really nice bike. I wouldn't recommend trying to bring it back to showroom, it would cost way too much money and you probably won't get it back if you decide to sell it. I'm currently riding an '81 Midnight and I love it so either way, good luck!

[brcree]

Lucky Sod....

Hello ENG...........yes...you lucky Sod you! It looks like the one I picked up for 300.00! No title here in S.C. means no ride! I had to swap everything over to a frame with papers. If you can turn a wrench with all the great help in here, you can have a very cool machine. I wouldn't let mine go for any price! Good luck man......ask away man!

[fredintoon]

Hi Jordan and welcome,
nice find if you can get a title.
BTW, if you are new to bikes fer chrissake take a rider's course before you take that overpowered top heavy underbraked widowmaker on the highway.

[GLoweVA]

Nice find! Definitely do some research into getting a title before you drop much money into her. Each state has different rules on that stuff. Check FLA's DMV site and they may have some info, but you might have to call and talk to a live person to get the exact answer you're looking for.

As for the bike, Most parts will clean up, those that you can't you can get from members here, or ebay, craigslist, or even some new parts from various online places.
Glad you found this site, us guys here will help in many ways. Welcome to our world!

[enguita89]

vin

ok i need the vin number to get the title but i cant find it anywhere. i read theres a number on the motor but i cant find it.

and also, when we loaded it on the trailor the back wheel turned freely but when we got it home it wouldnt budge. we went thru the diff gears but nothing changed. my brother pressed the foot break idk if that wouldve stuck to that point.

[GLoweVA]

2 places for the VIN, On the right side of the neck of the frame up by the handlebars, and on the top right side of the engine forward of the oil filler cap.

As for the rear wheel, it might have slipped into gear, thus no turning.
Once you get it up on the center stand, try rotating the wheel and look at the brake caliper. If it's stuck it'll wiggle a little in the caliper bracket. Also you can check to see it's in neutral, or just pull in the clutch, maybe that'll do it.

[brcree]

good find

My Master cyl front and back were toast. I ended up getting a new/used front cyl. on Ebay, I was able to rebuild the rear one. As for the front brake cyls. I had to break them down and clean them up....an easy way to pop the brake cyl piston out of the housing is to use a grease gun on the bleed nip....make sure you use a bolt to close up where the brake line hooks up at.

[GLoweVA]

vin locations

[enguita89]

those are all serial numbers. i can find those. is that all i should need to title it? the vin is what i cant find.

[GLoweVA]

The 14 digit VIN numbers didn't start showing up until about '83/'84 time frame.
So, That's the only numbers these older bikes have.
The DMV might have someone there old enough to remember the 'old' days of VINs that weren't 14 digits long.

So, if yours is a 80 LG, then your 'VIN'/Serial Number should be like this:
4H3-000101
If it's an 81, then it'll be a 4W1

[DGXSER]

It seems somewhere in the 81 model year they started the 17 digit VINs. MY first SH was VIN JYA4RO007BA004482, My current SH is 4RO000560. Thats the way the VINS were on the white tag on the steering necks. Now, only the 9 digit was stamped into the neck, and on the engine. So depending the year and how late in the 81 model year, you may have 9 or 17 digit VIN.

I am willing to bet the rear brake locked up when your brother used it. It will free back up once you remove it and clean up the caliper and the MC.

[enguita89]

ok so the vin is 4h3-000171. i also got the back tire free my friend said to go thru the gears while rocking the bike and i got it into neutral.

i also got the gas tank removed and there is deff some rust.



and i pulled a spark plug and they dont look too bad at all.




and one more thing. there are these 2 hoses under the seat/gas tank that arent hooked up to anything. any ideas?