Yamaha XS 1100 Special

[Sylvester]

Looking real hard at a nice 1980 XS 1100 Special. Pix look very clean and the owner is going to take close ups of the aluminum and chrome for my viewing. Other than a Kerker 4 into 1 exhaust it looks great. The current owner bought it from a neighbor a few years back. He is the second owner and knows the bike well. I know it is a very fast bike and has issues with mountain curves, but is there anything else you members can tell me about it.

 

[Guest HdHtr]

I always liked the standard over the special. Nothing wrong with the special that I know of, I just prefered the standard. The two standards I had handled just fine, ran great and I put 150K on my 78 and 125K on the 79 before selling them.

 

How much they want for it?

[Peder_y2k]

I had a '78 and these bikes were known for high speed front end wobble.........as were most all bikes. They did not turn very well swinging wide at agressive speeds, but we don't ride like that anymore. The middle gear system was prone to failure. I liked the kick start along with the electric start, so a weak battery was a non issue. The kick start was gone by 1980. Gasoline was free back then, so economy was not considered, but I know my '88VR gets better fuel economy today even with 10% ethanol unleaded.

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

[Sylvester]

I always liked the standard over the special. Nothing wrong with the special that I know of, I just prefered the standard. The two standards I had handled just fine, ran great and I put 150K on my 78 and 125K on the 79 before selling them.

 

How much they want for it?

 

Asking $1500 but negotiable. I would post pix but haven't got them yet. The ones I did see were ad pix so not downloadable.

 

[RandyR]

I bought a new 79 XS1100 when it was the fastest production motorcycle made and had just set a world speed record for production bikes at Bonneville.

 

It had more of everything then the 650cc Triumph I had previously. I liked it, a really good machine. I was living in Maryland at the time, and rode the XS1100 all up and down the east coast for several years.

[bongobobny]

I almost bought a '81 California Special, black and all that nice chrome and gold accents. Nice bike. Ended up getting a better deal on an '85 Honda CX650 X which I enjoyed for several years but in retrospect wish I would have went with the XS1100...

[Max]

picked up a new 79' XS1100 because the dealer in Parry Sound at the time told me the front wheel could catch air in 3rd... had to have it... and traded the 76' Wing.

Can't remember what I paid for it. I do remember running it extremely hard for the 3 years. Stock tires were fairly decent, cornered like any overpowered 'muscle' bike,

ok, but not great on northern Ontario side roads.

In the 3 years I never had a problem or repair. Would have kept it longer but the second year I installed drop bars and an aftermarket cafe type fairing. That was a mistake,

it never handled the same. (never did lift that front wheel off the ground in 3rd) It was a great fun factor bike if you knew it`s limitations.

Wikipedia write-up .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_XS_Eleven

[Guest HdHtr]

Asking $1500 but negotiable. I would post pix but haven't got them yet. The ones I did see were ad pix so not downloadable.

 

 

Ahh ... buy it.

[Sylvester]

Got the pix today. High resolution pix, so I don't know it they will load on the site. I will try.

Won't work. I will try to reduce and send later.

 

[frankd]

The XS 1100, 850 & 750 all had the same driveshaft setup as the MK I Ventures, and nobody knew that they needed to be taken apart to be greased properly. There's a good chance that there may be some wear on the rear coupling, depending on how many miles on the bike.

[mm482]

They are great bikes. I have two 81s and two 80s. Two with titles and to are parts bikes. My son-law has an 80 Special that is his daily rider. This winter I hope to get one of the 81s back on the road. There is still a lot of parts on ebay and the XS11.com site has great info if you need help.

The Special is geared low for Interstate, but it will live out there. Twenty years ago I rode my XS11 to St Louis and back. The first day I rode to Nashville Tn., 650 miles.

1500.00 is not a bad price if it is ready to ride.

 

Earl

[mm482]

The Kerker 4 into 1 exhaust is one of the best after market exhaust for an XS, but nothing is better than the stock exhaust for all around performance. With some of the 4 into 1 system you had to remove the center stand.

 

Earl

[RandyR]

this thread is useless withiout the pics....

[Sylvester]

I think it will work now.

 

[mm482]

That looks like one nice XS1100 and I see it still has the center stand on it.

 

Earl

[RandyR]

It looks good. If it runs reliably, it could be a keeper.

[baylensman]

i had the XS 850 special and loved it a lot. Only reason i got rid of it was the Ex (she wasnt Ex at the time) worried about people getting creamed on bikes all over florida in the early 90's, so i had to sell it.

 

As far as handling goes when i switched rubber it handle realy well, i could dance it between the dashed lines at about 40 or so with no effort over that and i hit every other gap, but the middle gears were a bit wonky at times. always let me know when to change oil.

[Sylvester]

I have purchased the bike and will pick up next Wed. Low miles, complete history from previous owner, very clean and I got a deal. Guaranteed to run like stated by owner. Pick up in Dayton Ohio, owner will trailer it down from Ann Arbor, MI. I am excited. A true early muscle bike that I plan on a complete restoration keeping it as close to stock as I can.

 

[mm482]

Glad you were able to close the deal and trust it will all work out. I hope you will check out the XS11.com site. I have been a member over there for about two years and have attended three of their rallies. They have had their SE Rally at the Iron Horse MC Lodge for the last two years and it will be there again next year. There were twenty + XSs there and most were ridden in, from out of state, Ca, Ok, Oh, Pa, and one from Canada. There were a couple specials there like yours.

Earl

[mm482]

Hey,

 

Okay, at the bottom of most forum pages is a CONTACT US link, that will send an email to ME at forumadminxs11@hotmail.com , he just needs to include what USERNAME and tmp pswd he wants to use, along with the year/model/style of his bike, and I'll create the account and then email him back when it's ready, usually in just 1 day. Then he'll be able to log in with his own username and post, etc..

 

T.C.

[Sylvester]

Leaving early tomorrow morning and meeting the seller in Troy, OH and pick up bike. Be back on Thursday. Very excited.

 

[mm482]

Jim,

Did you bring that XS11 home?????

 

Earl

[stickhandle2]

That is a sweet looking bike, if it looks like that right now that is a good deal. From the way it looks anyway.

[Sylvester]

Jim,

Did you bring that XS11 home?????

 

Earl

 

It is sitting next to Sylvester and it sure looks small next to the 02 RSMV. I have ridden it around the county roads and it runs very nice. Everything works other than the turn signals. The light comes on but no blinking. Probably the flasher.

 

I will soon begin to flush the brake lines, change the final drive, lube the pins and gears, and I will replace the carb boots (that are cracked). Rebuild the front forks and look and the rear shocks.

 

Love the sound of the Kerker exhaust.

 

And I now belong to the XS11.com forum group.

 

[Sylvester]

I forgot to mention that this machine could get me in trouble. It will run out from under you if you are not careful. Great muscle bike.