There is the Yamaha RX50, and then there is "Midnight Special" version...

[chuck peterson]

Who knew?

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/d/yamaha-rx50-midnight-special/6423761897.html

[Sheepdog]

I remember that entire Midnight Special fiasco. It was gilding the lily. A decent XS650 was tough to find after 1976...

[wymple]

I remember that entire Midnight Special fiasco. It was gilding the lily. A decent XS650 was tough to find after 1976...

My favorite 650 Yamaha was my 1973. My 1981 was a much better bike, tho. On the XS forums, most of the sages think the 1977 is the most desirable. I also liked the Midnight stuff, as did a lot of people, the Midnight Virago being my favorite.

[pmillar]

I remember that entire Midnight Special fiasco. It was gilding the lily. A decent XS650 was tough to find after 1976...

Yep. I had a roommate who owned a 650 Heritage Special (or something similar). What a horrible bike... my wrists would ache after 20 minutes. My second bike was a 750 Special (triple)... something of a pig but not a bad touring bike (shaft drive) once I tossed the crappy bars and installed a superbike bend. But yeah, the whole "special" thing ruined decent bikes with poor geometry, horrible riding positions and just a general focus on style over substance.

[JJ]

Back in the day, I bought a brand new 1980 Yamaha 850 Midnight Special like this one...(What was I thinking?!?)   Actually, it was an "OK" cruiser, and I remember buying it at a Yamaha dealer in Beaverton, OR and riding it down the coast to San Jose, which was memorable...

"Gilding the Lilly indeed..."

[twowings]

But WAIT! There's more...if you call now!!!!

[Tom]

anddddd.....you can kick start it too.   

[JJ]

Yes boys & girls...and let's not forget the 1100 4-cylinder version!!! "It's a Midnight Special Festival!!!" (lol) :1:




private image sharing

[JJ]

Then, there was the XV 1000 V-twin version!! (The hits just keep coming....and coming!!) 

[ITSec]

Gilding the lily?

More like putting a tutu on a pig...

[JJ]

Gilding the lily?

More like putting a tutu on a pig...

C'mon now Tony...you know EVERYONE likes a porker in a Tutu!!!

[ITSec]

C'mon now Tony...you know EVERYONE likes a porker in a Tutu!!!

I knew that was bait that someone couldn't resist!

[pikipiki]

I knew that was bait that someone couldn't resist!

Looks more like one of those strange wasps that's just too skinny in places it really aught not to be-

[ITSec]

Looks more like one of those strange wasps that's just too skinny in places it really aught not to be-

That puts the 'thore' in 'thorax'!!!

[Bulldog9]

I'm a life long XS owner. Never really got into the Midnight fad though. Bought my first XS in 1984, an XS1100SF "Special"  I still have the bike, and it has 127K miles, retired it from daily riding in the mid 90's when I went to a Concours, then a Couple RT's and an FJR untill I went Guzzi.

I've had several of the XS series bikes, at one time had the XS400, 650, 750 Triple and 3-4 of the XS11's set up various ways.  I sold the XS400 & 650 due to being characterless and underpowered. I love the XS11 and 750, but too old to ride the distances and all weather I do, but still love to ride them.

[Arizona Wayne]

Another Yamaha rider here converted to Moto Guzzis.   I rode Yamahas for 20 years before my 2nd wife bought me a Guzzi, because she decided she wasn't going to ride on the back of my `78 XS650 Yamaha again!    Actually she paid the down payment for a used `81 CX100 and I made the monthly payments on it.  I'd just gone thru a divorce and $ was tight!

Today is our 30th Anniversary 

[Sheepdog]

Say, Bulldog...I really like the red triple.  Very cool setup.

[tazio]

Today is our 30th Anniversary 

Congratulations!!