XS1100

[florence]

Has anyone here owned a Yamaha XS1100 and, if so, what did you think of it?  I'm thinking of getting one, any thoughts anyone?

[SteveD CB500K0]

I've got one.  It's a beast.

It's also quite difficult to keep running cleanly as I don't ride it very often and it suffers from poor running through the carbs. Needs a strip and clean I suspect.

It's also for sale if you are interested.

[florence]

Wow, what a beauty.

What is the mileage?

Does it jump out of gear?

MOT?

What year?

Swap for 500/4, excellent runner?

[Yoshi823]

Crikey, i'd forgotten about those bikes. I think that the rear mudguard used to hinge up so that you could get the back wheel out.

Not bad as a next step up from the XS750 triple, but heavy or what, made even heavier when they bolted on that massive fairing & painted it in Martini colours for Mike Hailwood to ride on in the Isle of Man in 1979.

[SteveD CB500K0]

Does anyone remember the "Bike" magazine road test of the day that was titled "Nothing Exceeds like XS"

[Yoshi823]

I most likely have that copy & a spare of that road test. I'd need to spend a bit of time looking for it though as most of our stuff is packed away for the house move.

[UK Pete]

When and where ya moving to Tim?

[Yoshi823]

Not 100% where just yet Peter...waiting for a few bits to fall into place just yet, then Teresa & I will start to look a bit more seriously. I like the idea of Herefordshire, but 'er indoors wants to go to Sussex/North Lancing area. I think that as i'm paying, I should have more of a say, but we'll see. She could always live in Sussex, but I don't think that she'd get everything of hers into the bus shelter.

One stipulation is that the new property has a big double shed/garage, preferably brick built as it'd need to be secure from thieving toe-rags, & have electrics fed to it. There'd be no point going from what I have now to nothing, as you know what's in my shed at the moment & there wouldn't be a room in a house where I could even temporarily store the bikes while I was planning & building a shed/garage.

[K2-K6]

XS1100, rode some way back when they were current. Rise and fall on/off throttle like a battleship in a hurricane, heavy, soft, big torque and fun. First thing I rode that really seemed like you're connected to a giant elastic band like a turbo-diesel.

You have to heave it around but they don't actually handle too badly, saw some old films of Aussie production racing with these things on road tyres and they were really smoking them around with massive tyre wear so they obviuosly have reasonable handling balance.

Spose they're like a great big comfy / fast armchair if that's what you want.

[daz]

Nice bike Steve, have you still got it? cheers Darren

[SteveD CB500K0]

No. Sold it last Saturday.

Clive Brooker bought it. He runs a CR750 in his European Classic Endurance Racing team (Jim Redman rides it in parade laps occasionally)

www.cbracing.org.uk

[daz]

Shame would have been interested in that, Daz

[florence]

Blast! Should have acted faster.  The search continues...