Defining the Rides 1

The Yamaha XS1100 has been called the best bike ever built. I am not sure about that, but no one who has ridden one can complain about the ride.

The XS11 was produced in Japan from 78 to 81. The xj1100 made in 1982 was basically just an XS11, with a brush type alternator, instead of the older technology of the stator, and is often cosidered along with the XS11's.

The XS line included a 400, 650, 750 and 850 engine displacement, along with the 1100. After the 1100, the 650 is the most popular, with a twin cylinder configuration. The 1100 has 4 cylinders in an in-line configuration, like a small car.

When the first XS11 was unveiled for review, it was actually called the XS1000. Yamaha's answer to the GL (Called a Goldwing by normal people), it had an engine displacement of 1101cc, far more than the GL 954cc, so it was not much a surprise that the bike far out-performed the bike from Honda. When it was released the name was changed to the XS1100, or XS11.

The first Japanese liter-plus bike, it was also the first production motorcycle to run the ¼ mile in less than 12 seconds. The 95 horsepower and 5 speed transmission provided more than enough power for just about anything.

Of course, newer bike have more horsepower, better transmissions, more comfortable seats, what is so great about the XS?

Well, Yamaha wanted to make the best motorcycle ever, and so when they were designing the parts, they went to great efforts to make sure they would not wear out in only a few years. While the XS came with the same warrant as other bikes, they did not start to fail or fall apart in a few years. In fact, the engines were immune to just about everything but abuse, and a tendency for 2^nd gear to fail (Fixable at the side of the road, if you have the tools).

So, as you might expect, while the XS sold very well at the start of it's production run, after a few years, the newer models just were not moving off the sales-room floors. Why get a new bike? The old one was fine. The Goldwing increased it's engine displacement, power and handling. The XS slowly evolved into the Venture (The 1981 XS11 had a factory option called the Venturer, with a larger gas tank and Vetter touring hardware), which some called Yamaha's Goldwing Clone.

Over the years, accidents and neglect have taken their toll on the XS. While Honda has their “Honda Line,” which provides parts for older models, the XS has become the haunt of trade shows and ebay.

So why do I ride one? The bike is smooth, responsive, and has massive power. I can keep up with modern sport-tourers, and know that if I break down on the side of the road, I might be able to find what I need at a hardware store. A friend of mine was recently on a trip with a new Triumph, broke down in Montana, and had to rent a uhaul to make it home. I blew the engine on my XS last summer, and managed to limp the bike 80 some miles home.

Try that on your Hya-whater.

Starting on the Road

Starting a journey normally requires some planning. You have to get your stuff together, figure out where you are going, and make sure your ride is good to go.

I love motorcylcing. I have 3 bikes. 4, techincally, since I have one that is just for parts. Two of the bikes are yamaha xs1100s, considered by some to be the best bike ever built. The third is a BMW k100rs, which was something of an impulse buy at the end of last summer, when both the Yamahas were down with mechanical problems.

Since then, one of the yamahas, the full dress touring bike, has returned to my garage, and I have been using it more. The BMW is still there, but need a new rear tire. I want to get that in the next couple weeks.

It is January, here in Milwaukee, and winter. But I am still planning on getting out today for a ride. You have to ride, you know. It just makes life a bit more worthwhile.

Be safe, and keep the rubber side down.

Yikes, so much for posting every day.

The quest is on for Motorcycle boots, not the $200 kind, either. I got a very nice pair of boots 15 years ago, but replacing mine, and finding a pair for my Significant Other, is turning into a real pain. More becuase we can't seem to shop together. All well.

I will get her boots. And maybe some chocolate. Chocolate makes everything better.

It was a good, and trusted friend. Perhaps I was not as nice to it as I could have been. I did, for a time, replace it with another, but we all stray from time to time.

My laptop. Dead. Lost drivers, bad hard drive, I don't think I will be able to pull it through.

In fact, ti has been a bad week for old mechanical companions (Okay, a laptop is not excatly mechanical, but it does have moving parts. I mean, doesn't it?). I have a Motorcycle (Okay, several, actually, stay with me here, people), an XS1100H. Graet bike, just got a new motor (long story). Yesterday the weather was just wonderful, it had to be in the 40s, blue sky, for December in Wisconsin, just amazing. So, out I go to the XS11, nice and warm in the garage hooked up to the battery charger. I have not ridden in a couple of weeks, and that didn't go well (And it was on another bike a BMW. THe XS11 wold not start, dead battery. hence, the charger).

Well, the bike turned over like a champ, but would not start. Seems someone (*cough*me*cough*) left the fuel lines on Prime, which completely flodded the engine. Probably got gas in the crank case too. The bike was not going anywhere. And I had christmas shopping to do.

Well, the BMW was sitting there, where it had been, outside in the cold (It got into the negatives, you know) half buried in a snow bank, bt I figure "What do I have to lose?"

The BMW Starts right up. Didn't even need the choke. A few minutes of shovelling, and it was free, and I got my ride. Those germans, they make a good ride. Need a new tire, though. I guess I will have to work on that.

Well, if anyone actually reads this, I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Be safe, and keep the rubber side down.

What is Sleep, really?

I work on an ambulance. It really is supposed to be a great job. Everyone seems to admire it. Of course, reality is not quite the same, and I see way to much stuff that was not included on the recruiting poster. Like GI bleeds. ugh.

Of course, working in EMS in general is a 24 hour a day job. There are no breaks, and our shifts start and end at all times of the day and night. Which causes, in me at least, a rather interesting side effect - my body has no idea when it should be sleeping, and when it should be awake.

As an example, right now it is about 430am. Bars are closed. No car has driven past my window in some time. Yet, here I am awake like it is 430pm. Tomorrow night, I will need to be at work now, and awake, yet Monday I had to be at work in 2 and half hours, and was sleeping.

Sleep has been called the Little Death, and I know people who consider themselves lucky to get 4 hours a day. I guess, really, that is about what I can get at a stretch too, though I definitly want more. Perhaps a little death is good for us? Makes us like life more.

Well, the sun wll be up in a hour or so, and bird will come out. The quality of TV programming will improve (marginally), and the day will start for people in this time zone. Me, I might still be awake, or my body, confused as always, might drive me back into the warm comfort of my bed. I might even be a little curious about how it will all work out. Time, as they say, will tell.

Be safe, and keep the rubber side down.

So, here we are. A first post. First one. You would think I had something momentous.

Nope.

I work in EMS, I have a really great woman, who I like to think adores me. You never can really tell with women, though, so I buy her chocolate.

And I ride motorcycles, a lot. She rides too, on the back normally. Of the bike, I mean. Though right now I am not riding as much, since it is winter. More the ice keeps me in, rather than the cold.

What else? I don't sleep much, side effect of work. And...hmm. I enjoy writing, I fence (With the swords, not the posts), and play the occasional RPG. And Write the occasional RPG tournament. Nice how that works out.

So, this is the beginning. The first. I guess I am glad I got it out of the way. Next time will be easier, you know.

Keep the Rubber Side Down.