original 1981 midnight special

[cutthroatxs]

I recently picked up an 81 midnight special xs1100. I dont know much about bikes but its in great shape and I had originally planned on bobbing it. Then I recieved a message that strongly suggested against it because I wouldnt get much help from members on this site. I would like to know the value of the bike and any other input please. I would rather see a classic go to someone that would leave it original and bob something not so significant. Thanks everyone.

[CatatonicBug]

I must say I am relieved to hear of your decision to spare the MNS. Value is extremely variable, depending on all sorts of conditions, including who is evaluating it. A nice condition MNS might get you $1500-$2000, if you're lucky enough to find the right buyer. If nothing else, you could always trade someone for an XS650, which are commonly used for bobber modifications, and are a bit more readily available. How about some pictures of your bike? Post on Photobucket, and paste the [img] link from the picture into your post here.

[mack]

Lh

Welcome to the site. We'll need to see some pictures. You need a photobucket account for that. Price wise LH's complete can go anywhere from 1.5 to 3K up here depending on the condition and milage.
The people on this site are mostly purists but don't interfer with what you want to do, basically it's your ride and you can do what you want. Everyone will help out with what they know. Chopping these bikes up will definately affect the value downward , not to mention the ride and handling of the machine.
I assume this isn't your first bike and you have had the safety courses etc. Is it your first XS 11?

[fredintoon]

I recently picked up an 81 midnight special xs1100. I dont know much about bikes but its in great shape and I had originally planned on bobbing it. Then I recieved a message that strongly suggested against it because I wouldnt get much help from members on this site. I would like to know the value of the bike and any other input please. I would rather see a classic go to someone that would leave it original and bob something not so significant. Thanks everyone.

Hi Jordan and welcome,
good thinking about not messing with a Midnight. They are the rarest and most sought after of the XS11s and because of that they sell for more money.
So bobbing one will stab you right in the billfold.
Selling the Midnight and buying a different version of XS11 to bob will be to your financial advantage.
So what do you mean by bobbing?
If you intend to streamline and lighten the bike, there's lots of examples in the list that our admittedly quirky "search" button can find for you.
If you intend to hardtail, there's examples of that too although discussions about your self-hatred issues may ensue if you ask about doing it.

[fredintoon]

- - - you could always trade someone for an XS650, which are commonly used for bobber modifications, and are a bit more readily available. - - -

Hi 'Bug,
yes, with a 14-year production run there's lots more XS650s about than there are XS11s.
However, XS650 purists are just as militant as XS11 purists. I know because I are one.
Gotta tell you my true XS650 chopper story.
I was at a CVMG meeting and some newbie was showing off photos of his just completed XS650 hardtail chopper.
I asked him:-
why you do that, you f**king Vandal?
He said:-
I bought it after it's back end had been crushed by a truck backing over it.
I had no money to buy a replacement frame etc.
What I did have was a Harley rear wheel, a stack of steel tube and a welding machine.
I said:-
Nice bike.

[DGXSER]

Hi Cutthroat!

First off, there may be a few members who would absolutely refuse to offer you assistance based on the fact you want to hack, cut, or otherwise mangle a 1981 MNS (the LH model). However, I am not sure who that would be. The majority will probably disagree with your decision, but still help you out as much they can. You will not find a lot of experience with the issues you may encounter, only because most have never hack, cut, or otherwise mangled an LH. What we do know we will share, there is way to much competition amongst the members to be right for any not to toss their 2 cents in the ring. It is generally a friendly competition though.

As to the value of the MNS, yep, all depends who you ask. For me, generally speaking, I think they are ugly. I am just not a fan of gold trim on black. It was a fad popularized in the late 70s and maybe early 80s, but this is 2013 baby! I know bell bottoms made a brief come back, but I am not in a hurry to put shag blue and yellow carpet throughout my house either. That being said, they can fetch a few more sheckles than the other models as they were a limited production, in that they only made thousands of them and not tens of thousands. But they are far from a "collector" piece, as of yet anyway. You will not find one in Jay Leno's garage, or most other true "Collector's" museum like garage. So it's not like you would be carving the Mona Lisa or ruining a ten thousand dollar collectors piece.

All that said, I am not a supporter of folks chopping these bikes up, mostly because they typically never finish the projects, and it ends up a pile of scrap when it started out a nice functional bike.

[crazy steve]

While the purists here will decry any bobbed/chopped bikes, keep in mind that almost any mods you do will reduce it's value from a same-condition stock bike. With that said, you get to decide just how 'nice' your example is. If the stock 'midnight' finishes are showing their age (faded, scratched, etc), it will cost more than the bike will be worth to restore them to OEM (particularly the 'gold' accents, although the black chrome exhaust will be big $$$ too). Really pristine examples will bring semi-big bucks, otherwise it's just another old bike, if anything worth less than a 'standard' model due to restore expense.

If you do proceed with mods, it might pay to 'save' any excellent-condition MNS parts for resale to a restorer, substituting generic Special parts in their place.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Mns

This one came out of a museum a couple of years ago and sold for just over $4,000.00, thats less then i have in my 79 special At times when cash flowed in my life, I would have paid $6,000.00 + for one like this, but today, cash is tight

[cutthroatxs]

thanks everyone

Thanks for all the input everyone. I will get on photo bucket and try to get some pics uploaded. As a matter of fact, this is my first street bike (been riding dirt bikes forever) but im really excited about it. I thought they would be more valuable but thats why im on here...to learn. Thanks again everyone.

[DGXSER]

After we see pictures we can help you determine just how original it is as well. Most of us that are not original owners get some surprises as to how many things are not stock on these old bikes.

[Nightengale]

very helpful

no matter what you do to your bike everyone on here is very helpful and a great group of guys. if you are thinking of bobbing one of these bikes to do it right will take alot of time, dont expect it to happen over night. there are little or no aftermarket parts to just bolt on to these bikes to make it into a bobber, and will take alot of fabrication to make things work right. either way you picked the right site, these guys will help you with what ever problems that you might have with the bike. this site is a great wealth of knowledge use it to your advantage.

[MaximPhil]

Hi cutthroat,
Welcome. I hope you keep it as close to original as practical
Phil

[fredintoon]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I will get on photo bucket and try to get some pics uploaded. As a matter of fact, this is my first street bike (been riding dirt bikes forever) but im really excited about it. I thought they would be more valuable but thats why im on here...to learn. Thanks again everyone.

Hi Jordan,
it's all there and it runs? Just ride the effin' thing!