I cant believe the list price in 82!

[tribaltalon]

i paid 1,300 for my 81 xs11 special, with 3,500 miles, and original EVERYTHING, even tires. tires have some dry rot so those are getting replaced asap, the bike is absolutely pristine. well, it was. it was in a garage for all of its life, until i got it. now since its outdoors the header is starting to rust a little, but i'm gonna clean it up and get some ceramic paint on it and wrap the exhaust. the front fender and rear fender and seat will all be for sale soon. i'm putting a hd rear fender on along with maybe a rigid and stretched rear end and custom solo seat and extended forks and drag bars. turning mine into a chopper, i've already priced everything out and with 300 to spare, i'll have about 1,000 in mods. not too bad considering the bike runs perfect with 4,500 miles on it now, i'll be riding this 2,500 dollar chopper for years to come.

[81XS11LadyRider]

I got my 1981 XS1100SH as a gift in March of 2004 from my boyfriend at the time. I told him that I wanted to be able to ride beside him instead of behind him, so he bought my bike from a coworker of his for $300. It had been sitting for 2 or 3 years. We got it started and he began teaching me how to ride it. We broke up and I let it sit in my garage for a year.

Since, then, I took the MSF class, passed it, got my motorcycle endorsement in July, and I have been working on my bike ever since. I have spent about $800 so far in tools (carb sync stick, rachet set, sockets, calipers, extractors, shop vac, motorcycle lift and tie-downs, etc.) what most of you guys would call normal maintenance and standard shop tools. The first thing I did was buy new tires and had them installed at the dealer which cost me $75 an hour for 2 hours of flat rate labor in addition to the cost of the tires. After that bill, I decided to start working on my bike myself. I found this website (a real goldmine ) and bought the Haynes Maintenance Manual (an eBay find). When I got the bike it came with the Yamaha service manual.

So far I have worked on the brakes (master cylinder res was full of rusty brake fluid and the res had striped and rusty screws), replaced the broken starter/horn button, replaced the battery and negative battery cable, new air filter and missing fasteners (wingbolts and washers to secure OEM airbox), new spark plugs, changed the oil and oil filter, and I am in the process of rebuilding my carburetors. After the carbs, I need to adjust the cam chain and replace the gaskets to get rid of the small oil leak. I think that is about it, but like I said the bulk of my expenditures would be considered "normal maintenance items" and setup costs for my workshop.

[oldbiker648]

I've got 3 of these old gems, each with its own story. The '80G was in the local paper for $1300, but I didn't know what an XS-11 was then, so it was sold by the time I realized it was exactly what I was looking for. It turned up in the paper again a month later at $1650 with a bunch of extras. I test rode it and paid cash, no haggling, that day, for a 23 year old bike with 48K on the ticker.
The 79SF was a $700 buy on E-bay. It ran but has a bunch of issues, could end up a parts bike, or maybe rebuilt, time will tell.
The '81H "Dresser"only has 13 K on the clock. I test rode it when the owner was playing golf, but didn't like the asking price. Six months later I called him and we agreed on $1500. I should be able to get it on the road for $200 max and plan on taking it cross country when I retire in 2-3 years.
Three bikes for under $4K total, and I will have $10K worth of fun working on them. Who needs a $20K Harley to ride 3000 miles a year?
What a hoot to be able to check this site and start to see the dynamics of interaction between the gurus and moderators and get good info on solving routine and unusual problems. Everyone seems ready to share info and parts for a common cause and there is true appreciation for the engineering in these old bikes. I slapped an antique plate on my '80G this year, replacing my old vanity plate, "80XS11" , that I got 2 years ago. In VA, the antique plate is a one-time purchase, no annual fee and no state inspection. Next year I'll get one for the "81H. Maybe we should all give a high-five to the folks that started this site!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Oldbiker,

I didn't realize that we didn't have to go thru the state inspections with the antique plates, not to mention that it is a one time purchase!? I, too, have an 81 down here in southeast Va., but I don't want to give up my personalized plates:
GDZLA

BTW, a small group of bikers that I work with are leaving work Friday pm Oct. 7, heading to Lynchburg from Hampton, for a little rally in the mountains on Saturday. I'm the only XS11, there's a V-rod, a new BMW, and I think another V-twin cruiser. I've never ridden a long rally ride with them, so should be interesting! I'm hoping for a rematch against the V-rod. I sorta lost my roll on contest with him last year Perhaps I could stop by on the way back home Sunday if you aren't up to joining us!? I'll PM you soon!
T.C.

[Shuriken]

Paid $650 for my beat up 80g a few years back. Sold it for less than that to get rid of it.

Got my 79sf for $450. Restoring it now.

All bikes I get are trashed before I get them.

Ben

[oldbiker648]

TC,
You will be eligible for the antique plates next year on your '81. I think they are $12 (have to check my receipt) and are a one time only purchase. You can get them in the black and white option or a blue and yellow (I think). The black and white looks more classic to me. As soon as I mounted the plate I peeled of the expired inspection sticker.
My old vanity plate was "80XS11" but I don't think a couple of people other than this group on line knew what it meant. Your plate would sure get a lot more recognition. I don't think vanity plates are an option if you go the antique route.
Better luck with the V-Rod this year. I PM'ed you about the trip, so let me know what's shakin'.

[Shuriken]

Make us XSives proud: beat the V-Rod.