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Would you buy a Yamaha XS 1100LH Midnight Special

I had an earlier (non-special) version of that bike. Stonking motor, terrible handling, a blast to ride, though, and comfortable.
 
Yeah I figure with those crazy bars its meant to look cool and not exceed 60 or deviate from a straight line.
Its heavy but not crazy heavy.
 
Stonking = potent-and large.

Mine was the standard version. I had superbike bars on it, did pods, a 4-1 and jetted it, repainted it, re-covered the seat, stainless brake lines, overhauled all the hydraulics. Rode it for two years trouble free. You have to check 2nd gear on them, because it seems every big bore Yamaha of that decade had issues with them.
 
The "Special" (Midnight or otherwise) was Yamaha's version of Suzuki's "L" models.

Decent engines, at least as uncomfortable as an "L" and hobby-horse handling.

.
 
Suzuki "L", Honda "CUSTOM' Kawa "LTD", & Yamaha "SPECIAL" all after the same crowd, cruisin for burger bikes. "Midnight Special" is black & gold. To me, the Specials didn't feel as heavy as the standard XS 1100. For some reason, the Yamahs shaft drives, under hard acceleration, seemed to lift up the rear of the bike, a lot more than the Suzuki shafts did. Like said, Yamaha is known for weak 2nd gear. I've never heard of, or don't remember the "LH". Possibly a left hand bike for the mail carriers. Just my opinion, from memory, haven't been on one for 35 yrs.
 
I raced my buddy on mine when he first got an '87 VMax. He wasn't a great drag racer (though he went on to become pretty damned good), and I beat him from one light to another on the XS. He couldn't believe the old beast could go that well. Funny story: Next time we dragged, 2nd gear went screwy on the VMax.
 
I have one for grabs in my neck of the woods but 2nd gear is toast...
I know this was a common issue with allot of Yamaha's in this era (as Pilot stated) Vmax, XS1100, XS750, Voyager... I know I'm missing some more.
So go for a test ride put it in 2nd and give her the beans in 2nd. If she pops out of gear I'd pass...
 
........FJ1100. Mine does it if I'm nailing it, but I just take it easy till third or skip over second if I'm jamming through the gears. If you like the bike, get it. Second gear can be fixed if you really need it. If your not hammering it, it won't jump out. The dogs round out and will jump out if too much torque is applied. Suzuki has been having second gear issues for a decade now with the Busa and M109. The dogs just need to be undercut and then no more problem. M109 involves more than undercutting second and its adjacent gear. The one I did at work need shift forks, rails, drum and second and third drive gears. The PO was holding it in gear with his foot, so more damage was done. About an 18 hour job. XJ, maybe a few hours less.
 
The XS I owned had had the 2nd gear repaired, and it was bulletproof, but few of those big Yamahas retain the original, unmodified 2nd if they're hammered on, and those motors are fun to hammer.
 
I had the 1.1S version of the XS1100, looked great, went great, handled.... no. It's a big b'stard but there was some racing success and the wheelies are quite good. The second gear mod is easy enough to do, just swapping a washer on the second gear shaft, but getting to it is a bit of work.

Overall, comforatable with buckets of torques, but doesn't go far on a gallon (US or otherwise).
 
The bike has a claimed 40 mpg. Of course that is under ideal careful riding conditions and throttle openings,.
 
GS1150Pilot said:
I only get about 35 or so on the 1150. I don't remember the XS being quite as thirsty as the 1150.
Click to expand...

I better check my 1000E to see if it has the 1150 engine it in. I only get around 36 maybe as high as 39 on a good tank. I just figured it was my heavy wrist.
 
I have owned an 80' xs1100 special...it got "released" in favor of my current GS850G. It was my first bike back after a full 10 year motorcycle layoff. I just could not do the "L" type seat anymore.

Funny this topic comes up, I just finished the carbs for a 78' standard XS1100 last night and am anxiously awaiting the beast up and running so I can check 2nd gear!sss1.jpg
 
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