4Yr Rehab or Sell?

[Dhost]

Greetings!

Where were you guys when I needed ya? What a fine site you got!

My beautiful Midnight Special (below 6000mi) has been sitting 3or4yrs now, due (probably) to an unaware mechanic who said the bad intermittant miss (dropped to three cylinders after warming up) was due to a bad computer (~$900 to replace in his shop). He did not test the computer and could not get it to repeat the miss during his tests. The issue was bad enough that I was not willing to risk it, so I stored it and just started it occasionally (untill ~3yrs ago).

After reading your FAQs it's almost certainly coil/wiring related and the diagnostics done were not complete.

Anyway, now my dillemma is the cost and hastle (I've no work area) of stripping it down and rehabilitating it..

I'm in the South Bay (SJ area) and wonder if you've any affiliates here that can help me or provide support.

Better to sell?

Anyway, just thought I'd join this discussion and see how you all felt about it.

Did I mention what a great site you guys run?

[Winterhawk]

It's priceless, so think about that when somebody else loads it up with a big smile on their face and heads on down the road with it.

KEEP IT!!!!!!!!

Bite the bullet, spend some money on it and it will last you forever. I know someone who has 218,000 miles on his and it still looks like brand new. Still runs better than new also.

[Czekus21]

Alot of parts that you need or require to fix electrical components, (ig: wireharness, coils, igniter, etc..etc..) can be found on Ebay farelly cheap. Keep in mind that you always take a chance that you could be buying someone elses junk. Some parts, ( if you don't want to spend the $ ) you may have to fix, like the pickup coil wires, wire connectors throughout the harness etc. If you do decide to sell. Let me know. My dad lives in San Jose, in the piedmont hills area ( right off of Landess ave/Montegue expressway, and my mom lives about 35 miles out of Sacramento.
This would give me a good reason to go and visit them. (LoL)

[Dhost]

Thanks... Encouraging!

Thanks for the prompt replies! Very encouraging!

OK, so if I do go for the restore I still have the problem of where to do it. I'm a renter and have no workarea. Does anyone know of an "Midnight Specialist" in my area?

I thought I was taking it to one of the better Yamaha repair shops here in Santa Clara County, but (to my knowledge) they did not even use the obvious troubleshooting points that are found on your site. There is a shop that specializes in American scooters that my buds have recommended and maybe if I print out the relevant pages, I can ask 'em to check off as they do the work. But how mad would that make an experienced mechanic?

Anyway thanks for the chatter...

[xssiveone]

Don't take it to a dealership to be repaired... you will live to regret it if you do. If you can manage to find a shop that is willing to work on a bike this old, chances are good that none of the mechanics have even seen an XS1100, much less worked on one. And, once you get it home from them after spending a ton of money on it, you will only have to go thru and fix the mistakes they made.

[rneal55555]

Where are you storinmg it you can always work on it there or just move the couch out of the living room

[Dhost]

Ya, I wish I could work on it there but that is the last place I want to see my scooter's vitals spread out.

The suggestion of removing the couch was a good one too but I already did that to accomodate my telescopes. My old lady is still freaked about that... anyone lookin' for a great 8" reflector w/ring mounts? (just kidding)

No, I'm afraid I should wait and find a real XS or J11 enthusiast in the area before I proceed further. Also for the most part, my knuckle crunchin' days are well in the past after I got out of fixin' marine D's in Hernando Beach.

Hopefull, someone from Northern california will see these posts and respond with suggestions.

If I have to toss it on a trailer and work on it only on weekends, that would be OK too.

[TopCatGr58]

Just a thought, but don't know if there are any rules/regs regarding it? Do you have any of those storage places near by, you could rent a modest sized stall, bring some lights, open the door for ventalation, and have at it, then just leave the parts on the floor if you want/need to, close and lock the door and come back whenever you want to!?

You said you used to work on Diesels!? Then, the XS should be a vacation!! Mine sat outside for over 9 years, I put a bit over $2500 into it, but that included a topend rebuild, pistons, bore, valves, new fork upper tubes, new seat, lots of $$ parts! You should be able to do it for 1/10th of that!!!! Most of it will be cleaning, carbs, gas tank, brakes.....MC's and Calipers, wire connectors, possibly new tires, and any other cosmetic goodies you want to add/fix!

Like Brian said, most of these yahoos don't know/care/want to work on these "wonderfully aged" bikes, and so to get it done right, you will want to do it yourself! Get a manual if you don't have one, read the tech tips thoroughly, and then post questions as you go!!! We're all here to help!!!!

[Dhost]

Thanks for the input, TopCatGr58!

The use of a storage unit for repairs is almost out of the question here in the Silicon Valley but some have suggested going down to Holister for that.

While looking for a manual, I noticed quite a few related items on ebay.

[macnut xj]

Do you have the space to put a small storage shed in your yard? A 10x10 metal shed with a plywood floor wouldn't cost much, and would be plenty of space to work on a bike.

[Dhost]

Thanks for that suggestion. The most crumpled down house on a lot in this town starts at $400k. Only those making 6 figures own houses and renting one starts at about 1800/mo unless you know someone. I'm renting and the new slumlord just wiped out 7 years of plants I had outside my door to make way for "landscaping". Rumor has it he'll sell this place soon.

Anyway, I can't put up a nice shed like you recommend but I am hoping someone from this area may see this post and recommend an alternative. Here is a pic of the bike that I just took: http://www.geocities.com/gmlcp/80XS1000LG.html

Any ideas on how to ask local enthusiasts?

[rneal55555]

I was on a boat with a guy that moved out of a house with a 2 car garage(that housed his wood shop) into a Navy House with a carport. He was only going to be there for a year and didn't want to take a bath on a new house so he bought an 20" enclosed utility trailer installed some power and turned it into a mobile wood shop. You could do the same and would'nt need but about a 12 footer.

[Dhost]

Time to part with my scooter

Czekus21, if you are really interested I am selling my scooter. I've put a new thread up tonight on this board discussing that.

Let me know if you're free next month and I'll cut ya a deal. What's your range? Did you see the state of the bike on my profile? I was asking a grand for it and will have to hear the response but willing to chat wichya' ;-)

[Czekus21]

Thanks for the offer. There's no way I'd be able to make it out there for quite some time. I think that $1000.00 is alittle XSive, BUT, some one else in cal. that's looking for a good restore project might take it off your hands.
Have you checked for storage facilities around Gilroy, Madera, Los Banos? It might be a little drive for you but I think the rules of living in the bay area are a little more laxed. Over the Pacheco pass, you start getting into the farm community
Depends on how far south in the bay area you are. I know that in San Jose, Milpitas, Fremont, there are places to store/work on stuff. I wish I could make it out there, I'd give you a hand whippin her back into submission

[Pat Kelly]

I replied to the other post and will reply here too.

I'm just over the hill in Modesto. You can store it here and I will help with getting it running.

I don't have a garage but you can keep it here under a cover if you'd like.

I woke my 78E from a 20 year slumber so we can get your's on the road too.

Let me know if I can help

P-LKelly@sbcglobal.net