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**MarkD** · 03-06-2014, 06:42 PM

HCore-- Sorry to hear about your dad-- always a hard thing to see parents ailing and sick. As to your question, I'm sure others will reply, but, if you are a cyclist, OF COURSE that 81 MNS is a keeper. I have a '79 Standard, and would love to own a Special. Parts are readily available, and someone else can inform you on the paint, etc. The mileage is incredibly low, so it may be dirty, but I'll bet it's a beauty. If you can, post pics, and all of these guys on this forum are extremely knowledgeable and willing to help you out in any way they can. Welcome!

**cajun31** · 03-06-2014, 06:45 PM

Welcome to the frustration

First off yes on all questions. These are great bikes and have scary raw power. Sounds like you have just inherited a labor of love that you will only mean more to you as the years pass. As crazysteve suggested to me in my thread concerning nebula gold paint just a few posts down from yours. By the way that is what the wheel color is called "nebula gold" by Yamaha. Anyway check out this post http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35802.

Mack did a fantastic job restoring the exact bike you now own. I have been conversing with Mac the past few days to get pointers from him. As you can see from my signature I am the original owner of the 1980 Midnight special.
Mack had his gold plating done by http://www3.sympatico.ca/gary.courville/.

All the 80 model xs1100 had the G nomenclature on the model. Mine is the
XS1100LG, yours is the XS1100LH model. The major difference in the two years is the brake system. You have to be careful buying replacement parts for the 81 model year especially when it comes to the brake system.

Read the tech section of this site... it is full of how to do things. Hopefully you are mechanically inclined. That is the nice thing about these bikes, you can fix just about everything on them with the help of this forum and EBAY.

Does the bike run? How long did it sit up? Tell us all a little more about the bike. Especially problems you are seeing. We are all full of advice and most years of experience.

**James England** · 03-07-2014, 05:09 AM

It's not a nice way to acquire a bike but you'll be able to look after it for him, and keep it running, and get loads of great advice here. And, as I found out when my mother died, lots of heartfelt kindness and support, a shoulder to cry on if you want and kindness from people, many of whom you've never even met.

If you have one of these bikes, you can't go wrong here..

the best forum on thee net, IMO

**DGXSER** · 03-07-2014, 05:54 AM

Wow, I recall getting the same news about my father many years ago. It still hurts, but my best advice is to just do what ever you can with your father while he is able to do things. Take a weeks vacation and go do whatever you two enjoy together.

Is the bike worth keeping, well, of course we believe it is. Question is do you appreciate its lines, stance, and pure raw power. And really, you would not be happy if you sold it in years to come, it is a piece of your dad you can hang on to forever.

These bikes handle decently, they are no crotch rocket corner carvers, but they do quite well for a big heavy bike.

Some parts are available, some are easy to find used, and some are only available used and not very easy to find. Almost anything you need to keep it running is pretty easy to find. But the gold stuff on your Midnight is harder to come by in good condition.

Clean it up best you can, get some chrome polish, the gold stuff is gold colored chrome except the wheels, those are painted. Otherwise, its over 30 years old, if you are to I bet your not in as good of condition as when you were new either.

Ride that bike, and enjoy the incredible feeling and your dad's memories.

**H4rdcore** · 03-07-2014, 07:12 AM

Thanks for the kind words..

I do not intend to get rid of the bike...I like the inline 4 look...
I have not got a chance to really look over the bike yet as its -14 here and too damn cold...
But spring is coming and i want to go over it and make sure its all good.

From what ive had a chance to read on these forums it does look like theres nothing on it i cannot fix.

**Crusty Snippets** · 03-07-2014, 02:57 PM

Bike

Certainly I would keep the bike, hoping that you are a bike rider.
I have a 79 Special that I enjoy riding. Mrs Snippets also prefers the back of this bike. Sorry about your dad. All the best to both of you.
I am to your left in BC.

Unkle Crusty

**XSive Okie** · 03-07-2014, 04:35 PM

If you ride, keep it. If you don't ride, take it for a spin, and it will make you want to keep it! I have a '79 Special, but a MNS is on my wish list. If you do decide to sell her, there's lots of guys on here that would gladly take it off your hands, and (obviously) we all love our XS's, so you know it would go to a good home. I am sorry to hear about your dad, hoping the Good Lord will intervene and allow you two as much time together as possible.

**XS 1100 Rick** · 03-07-2014, 05:38 PM

Welcome to the Forum H4rdcore

Sorry for your dad's illness

If you're not sure what to look for and need some help I live here in Lethbridge also PM me.

I can assist you on your 81 MNS if you want would love to see it.

An old friend from the 70's bought one new like your dad's they were great cruising machines and as for cleaning with some elbow grease that puppy will shine.

Rick

**BA80** · 03-07-2014, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by H4rdcore View Post

Hello all, I am new here as you can tell.

My father was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, so he gave me his pride and joy. 1981 Midnight Special.

Heres what i dont know about the bike...

Is it worth keeping?
How does the bike handle?
Is it easy to obtain either orginal parts or even repops?

Heres what i do know...

Its in great shape
Always maintained
Only 3500 orginal KMs
However it is dirty and some of the gold paint is fading...
How can i clean this bikes rims and gold to make it sparkle again..?

Any suggestions are welcome, also the bikes missing the battery side cover.
Was wondering if i cannot find one will one of another bike fit and i can paint it?

Thanks

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1981-y...ht-special.htm

These specs and pictures are of an 80 MNS but you get the idea.....the pic at the bottom is an 81..

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...ht_special.htm

**MPittma100** · 03-07-2014, 06:18 PM

Battery Side Cover

A side cover can usually be found on Ebay. You may or may not have to repaint it. The side cover emblem for the MNS can be a chore to come up with.

**BA80** · 03-07-2014, 06:29 PM

Mike is correct about that side cover. An 80 or 81 Special cover will fit, it doesn't have to be an MNS. Be glad it's not the left cover, those are getting scarce for ones that the lock tab is still intact on.

**mack** · 03-07-2014, 06:59 PM

emblems

I didn't put the side cover emblems back on mine. PM me and i'll mail them out to you.

**H4rdcore** · 03-07-2014, 07:12 PM

Thank you..
Heres another question..Are the Handle bars suppose to be black or chrome?

**H4rdcore** · 03-07-2014, 07:24 PM

It is the left side cover i need..The cover over the battery...

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