Author Topic: 100th Birthday  (Read 1281 times)

Offline Bulldog9

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100th Birthday
« on: January 29, 2022, 11:05:42 AM »
Today is a special day. 

I've been car and motorcycle obsessed for as long as I can remember. I started riding motorcycles when I was 10, and have had at least one motorcycle since then.  When I was in Highschool, we could go off campus for lunch, and just 2 blocks from the school was a Yamaha/Honda/Kawasaki Dealer. I'd go by 2-3x a week and drool. This was 1978-1980. Though ANYTHING was worth a look and dream, the 1979 XS1100SF was the one that got under my skin and my blood boiling. So, the year I graduated college, while doing my weekly read of the classified ads in NY Newsday, I came across an add for a mint condition 500 mile 1979 Yamaha XS1100 for a fat $2500.  My first job was in NJ, and I was visiting my mom on Long Island. This bike was in Brookyn. So I borrowed a buddies van (back when vans were vans) cashed in every extra penny I had and made the trip into the city.

The owner was the original owner, and the bike scared him to death, and after riding it a few times parked it in his garage, kept it under a sheet, and let it sit until his wife said 'get rid of it'. It hadn't run in 5 years, but he had removed the battery, drained the carbs , fogged the motor and put a couple drops of oil in the tank to keep it from rusting.  At the time it was the typical black and chrome (NOT a Midnight which I though was gimmicky) Almost the exact bike I sat on and drooled over for years. Bonus was a still in the box Rifle fairing.

Brought the bike back to moms, changed the oil, plugs, checked the air filter, bought a new battery from the same dealer I used to drool at, poured in a few gallons, primed the carbs, and the beautiful beast came to life.

Unbeknownst to me I was starting a 10 year love affair that would result in a collection of 4XS11's in all trims, a 750 Triple, 650 and 400 twin. This bike was my pride and joy, got me hooked on LD riding, MC camping, and I made at least 5 IBA rides on it. Took it to Canada, down the Florida Keys, dozens of trips up and down the East Coast. In 1996 at 120K miles, I retuned it to stock with exception of paint, mostly retired it from daily and LD riding when I bought a C10 Concours. It was in my home office for 3 years as decoration, and once or twice in the living room, but always in my heart.

About that Special Day?  TODAY is our combined 100th birthday. By ruining a couple sheets of paper, and taking the bikes date of manufacture and my birth, "Visitation" (the only bike I have ever named) I figured that TODAY 29 January 2022 is our 100th Birthday.

I painted it Pearl White in 1990, and she sits safely in storage waiting for when I retire and bring it and the 750 back to life. Not too many pictures from the early days as I was terrible with taking and keeping photos back then, but I did save a few. Thankfully, digital photos are easy.





I've owned many bikes over the years, and this bike reigned supreme until I threw a leg over a Griso in 2015.... One day, I will have both running and will be able to ride side by side.
« Last Edit: January 29, 2022, 11:11:03 AM by Bulldog9 »
MGNOC#23231
The Living: 1976 Convert, 2004 Breva 750, 2007 GRiSO, 2008 1200 Sport, 2012 Norge GT, 2016 Stornello #742
The Departed: 2017 MGX, 2014 Norge GT, 
In Stasis: 1978 XS750, XS1100SF

Online Dirk_S

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Re: 100th Birthday
« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2022, 11:19:55 AM »
One day, I will have both running and will be able to ride side by side.

Oh, you mean you’re going to mount them together in a twisted version of a sidecar rig involving your two favorite motorcycles???

DO IT!
Current: '18 Guzzi V7 III Rough, '17 Guzzi V9 Bobber, ‘78 BMW R80/7, 1986 Sputnik sidecar

Previous: '16 Guzzi V7 II Stone, ‘15 Ural Gear Up, '11 Suzuki TU250X, ‘86 Guzzi V65 Lario, '78/‘80 Honda CX500, '77 Kawasaki KZ400 Special

Offline ohiorider

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Re: 100th Birthday
« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2022, 12:13:33 PM »
Nice air cooled four!  Happy combined birthday to both of you!

Bob
Main ride:  2008 Guzzi 1200 Sport (sold July 2020)
2012 Griso 8v SE (sold Sept '15)
Reliable standby: 1991 BMW R100GS
2014 Honda CB1100 (Traded Nov 2019)
New:  2016 Triumph T120 (Traded Dec 2021)
New:  2021 Kawasaki W800

Offline krglorioso

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Re: 100th Birthday
« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2022, 10:01:16 PM »
I rode a friend's new XS-1100 in 1978, I recall, and I thought it was as fine a touring bike (as well as fine looking) as anything on the road then or now.  I was riding my '75 850-T, which was a nice bike, but I felt it was overshadowed by the big Yamaha four.

Ralph
Ralph
"You don't stop riding because you got old; you got old because you stopped riding".

2004 Moto Guzzi Breva 750
2017 Honda CB-500F
2021 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Offline Bob Wegman

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Re: 100th Birthday
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2022, 07:34:48 AM »
Happy Birthday to you both.
02 EV1100, 2010 V7 Classic, 80 Yamaha 650, 80 Yamaha SR500, 77 Yamaha XS650, 67 Honda 305 Superhawk, 66 Ducati 250 Monza(apart)
MGNOC # 20848
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Online blu guzz

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Re: 100th Birthday
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2022, 07:44:59 AM »
I finally got the 650Seca I had dreamed of in 1982.  It took until 1995 to get it, but I got it.  4 cyl. shaft drive, nice middleweight bike.  Then, went to BMWs for many years.
So, congrats, long may she run.
Blue Guzz

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