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.