100th Birthday

[Bulldog9]

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.

[Dirk_S]

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!

[ohiorider]

Nice air cooled four!  Happy combined birthday to both of you!

Bob

[krglorioso]

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

[Bob Wegman]

Happy Birthday to you both.

[blu guzz]

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.