Thanks to everyone

[dave1shere]

Just rode the bike up to Daytona's Biktoberfest. This was the first long haul since I completed this project of restoring this bike to life. Did some interstate cruising at 70 mph, bumper to bumper traffic jams around the speedway, got rained on during the ride home and she handled perfectly.

Went with a group of co-workers and while walking around the speedway looking at all the displays and custom choppers, (some $75,000) all of course Harley Engine Clones. One of our group got separated so we eventually met back with him in the parking lot sitting on his bike.

He said of all the bikes in the parking lot including some custom choppers, goldwing cruisers decked out and the likes, MORE PEOPLE CAME OVER TO LOOK AT MY OLD XS1100, he said he was amazed!!! I guess you just don't see that many still running around in such good condition and of course it brought back menories for many because of the age of the bike.....

One man told my friend that the XS was his first motorcycle and he had rode it from Florida to Sturgus one year.

This forum and all you great people helped me in more ways than I could ever thank you for....somethings you just can't learn by reading a manual...

Thanks again,
Dave

[Bubba1954]

Great ride report Dave,

I've owned over a dozen bikes; new and old, full dress and cruisers, since 1969' and I agree with your asessment about ridding a classic. Today Harley - like Cruisers are the craze in the US. At every bike event I attend the only thing that seperates them are the paint jobs. Why would you want to spend 20+ grand for a bike that looks like every other one?

Old classic bikes like ours stand out at bike events and draw a lot of attention because they don't look like erery other bike parked arround them. As you said, they bring out a lot of the old timers who remember owning one like it when they were new.

I owned a Harley myself and fell in love with the HP of the XSEleven back in 1980'. After just one test ride, I bought it and rode it until Honda introduced the V4 1100 with even more HP!

My 25 year old classic has been to Sturges and Daytona more then once over the years. The previous owner bought my current Eleven new and rode it every where. He parted with it a year after buying his new 1800 GoldWing. He still says he misses my Eleven though..

Bubba

[Hobbit]

Biketoberfest

Hey Dave,
I went to Biketoberfest yesterday, and I saw at least two other xs11s there.
What a great week for riding, last weekend at T.W.O. and this weekend in Daytona.
I've been riding all day today and plan to put some more miles on tomorrow.

Is your xs a Midnight Special?