1980 Yamaha XS1100 Special - Sat For Five Years…Will It Run??

A friend told me about this bike sitting at his neighbor's place. I wasn't sure if I should get it, but it was so complete and clean I had to go for it. Let's get it running!
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[@canutechristensen7148]

Love seeing home town guy doing good at what he loves to do! Keep tinkering Tom!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Thank you sir, I do like getting neglected machines back to operational status.

[@ZLT_90]

I love my 1980 xs1100 midnight special.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Those are nice looking machines!

[@bradphillips6081]

I just bought 1980 midnight special with 50ooo and mine's the last one made for 80.#250 I wonder how many 80 midnight specials are left

[@stevemchale6363]

​@bradphillips6081 I have a 1980 XS850 LG Midnight Special in VERY good shape. #380(Engine and Frame #s) I've had it since new. Of all the things I've lost,sold , ruined, ect. I've kept it

[@peterschott1500]

Tom-If you let the bike run and it stops because you ran out of fuel-Take a screwdriver handle and tap on float bowls-usually frees up a stuck float. I have an 80 XS1100 SG.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Yeah, that’s a good tip.

[@michaelwyllie7778]

had four of these bikes bullet proof , and fast , respect

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Yeah, these are great old bikes. This one is in nice overall condition too.

[@TheTapemeasureman]

1 st bike to break the 12 second 1/4 mile in 1978. It was also the biggest motorcycle you could buy at the time.

[@ClosetsMedia]

this was so helpful I just started working on one as my first project Great video

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Awesome, what year and model did you get?

[@mxss115]

Completely agree on keeping nice old bikes original if they’re still in this good of a shape. I bought an 81 xs1100 midnight special in similar condition last December, rebuilt brakes, carbs, and replaced the TCI after extensive ignition diagnostics. Now she’s running good enough to ride around, but the carbs aren’t 100% yet, and the clutch is slipping a bit so going to adjust the cable and replace the springs if that doesn’t help. Keeping it as a cool survivor for now, but once I have the means I’d like to fully restore this bike.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Just keep it going and enjoy it. These bikes are good on the road!

[@dustinbrown9768]

I've had a 1979 xs 750 special a 1980 xs1100 and currently driving a 1980 xs850 special very nice standard bikes I prefer them to the new ones

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

They were definitely well built bikes that are still plenty capable today.

[@rezabaghernejadkashani6054]

Thanks man!!!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

You're welcome. I should do a follow up on this motorcycle.

[@jblackacre2325]

Greetings from Chula Vista. BTW, thanks for videos on the DR350. Really has helped a lot.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Hey there, local! Always good to see more DR350’s out there.

[@highwayman1218]

Very cool! Great bike and buy!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Thanks, this one is in pretty nice condition. I’m glad it hasn’t been hacked up.

[@KowboyUSA]

That's the first shaft drive scooter I ever owned. If memory serves, it's the only shaft drive I ever owned.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I’ve had a fair number of shaft drive. It’s nice not to worry about the chain, or belt.

[@CCitis]

Cool, I have an 80 Classic... Bought it not running with a bunch of issues. Pretty damn easy to work on. Interesting bike to ride, bit of a porker... but something cool about a big 1100 air cooled motor.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s still a pretty strong bike, just an all around good machine.

[@iangriffiths9930]

Love these bring back form the dead videos! Always find them very enjoyable 👍

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Thanks, they are my favorite ones to do.

[@jaycounts4717]

The SHCSs on the carbs is a up grade, I did the same thing on my 82 kz ltd 1000.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

This bike is still running pretty good, my buddy owns it and he loves it!

[@billymaul8139]

i have a 1982 xj1100 these bikes are powerful and fun just hard to find parts for them.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Yeah, well built machines. Stuff is out there, just takes some searching

[@azdesertdog]

Another vintage Yamaha. You are right this one should stay stock.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s funny, 20 years ago I would have had no issues hacking this up. Now I won’t let anyone buy something like this if that’s their intentions!

[@roderickbriongos4178]

I have eleven special sat for 1decade.plan now to restore and live again in the road

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

They are great bikes

[@jerrybigrig9475]

Did you get yours running ..??

[@DW-ts5ki]

Bought that new 1980 XS1100. $3800. CASH off the showroom floor. Carburetor floats stuck open on the freeway ride home? Again a couple years later. Other than that it was a great cycle. Gave it away in 96 to a friend. Whole like new. HD now

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

In 1980 this was probably close to the baddest thing around. Bet you had some fun. Thanks for watching.

[@DW-ts5ki]

@Tom's Tinkering and Adventures the only thing better was the midnight special.

[@michaelwyllie7778]

take air box out before , replacing carbs , trust me air box will fit on fine

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

This bike is pretty easy to install and remove carburetors compared to other four cylinder biles

[@TheTapemeasureman]

You cannot put the air box in with the carbs already in place, or take it out with them in place.

[@mjt106]

Mega top 👌

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Indeed!

[@themeanaverage.1692]

I actually just purchased this exact same bike. Once it arrived I found a completely un molested bike. Now I was going to molest it if I being honest but I have decided if she made it 40+ years ill just bring her back to life in as original spec as I can research.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

They are a pretty nice bike in stock form, good luck getting it going.

[@bradphillips6081]

My 1980 midnight 11 has 160 spo🎉🎉🎉

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I don’t think any came with the 160 speedometer from the factory.

[@zrkn1]

Were the 2 center jets any different? Good bike for on video repairs and maintenance, look forward to seeing what you can stand recording of the process. We take what we can get and much appreciated.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

No, I was kind of expecting them to be. I did a little research, this year/model didn’t use different size jets.

[@michelbrown1060]

These poly-spheric combustion chamber engine were torque monster 😅

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Over 40 years old and it’s still a pretty good bike.

[@michelbrown1060]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures And with new fork and shock. it would ride really well. You know; the bikes since then, have improved trememdously in stability and performance . . But at the speed we usually ride, they are much more comfortable than new machines. . .😉

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@michelbrown1060 yeah, it could be an amazing cruiser. Cross country beast. Every day commuter. And the way it looks…just about perfect, the way a motorcycle should look!

[@jerrybigrig9475]

😎👍😎

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s a classy ride!

[@thetradinggoat5101]

I’ve got an all Original 1979 xs1100 midnight special I bought back in 2014. Hasn’t been started since 2016 tho. Gonna get back at it soon, batteries toast at the moment. I’ve seen that some of these bikes have a hidden kick starter so I have to check to see if mine has one. If so I assume with the key on, the bike should start or at least attempt to!,, it was laid up because the clutch plates are stuck and when you drop it out of first she stalls! Don’t have a quick fix on the plates by any chance? Gonna take apart and clean up was the plan for now! Cheers

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I know some early models had kick starter, so maybe you do. Put the bike on the side stand and see if you can break the clutch free rocking the back wheel a bit. Otherwise, the clutch isn’t too difficult to replace. Best of luck.

[@TheTapemeasureman]

I have 4 XS1100s and have yet to get one w the kick lever still there. You need the battery for them to start, they dont start making juice till around 3 - 4 K rpm

[@STARCROSSEDMOTO]

Looks just like my xs850. Is there no kickstarter on the 11?

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I think the first year (79 maybe?) had a kickstarter. It’s possible to install it, I think it would be cool to have.

[@phoenixarizona8441]

Tom what you prefer old school sports bike vs newer sports bike

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

New bikes are so awesome, very powerful/reliable/great handling and brakes but there's a charm to older machinery. I'm not an amazing rider, so I can't even come close to using all the potential that new bikes have (even though I love riding them) so cruising on some classic stuff that's working well is always fun and people love to see it out there.

[@wbw7509]

Great vid Tom ... I'm on a project much the same as yours .... I see #2 carb was leaking a bit initially ... did you have to do more work to cure that? I've heard it can be an issue with this model

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I pulled the carburetors and noticed that the float was hanging up a bit. A little adjustment cured it. I highly recommend replacing the float valves at the minimum.

[@rogeeeferrari]

Interesting, the 1980 xs 1100 had an 85 MPH speedometer...

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Yes. I got a couple newer ones, installed one on here.

[@keithmoore5224]

The engine should have a what i call a russel if it runs with a quet top end cheke valve clearence (buket and shims) i had 2 done 250 ooo miles plus with miner probs one was a side car fitted other a very long swedish styl chopper toured europe every year on my modles 79 81 the plastic covers over air jets do not alter set by factory 76 year old bike still. Building reiterd thailand

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It’s running pretty good, my friend owns the bike now. Great looking machine.

[@troymtodd1252]

Where do you get the parts to restore the Yamaha?

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

eBay has a few things.

[@michaelsellmer4910]

Hey Tom, curious as to where you find parts for these older bikes. Lookin to get a 79 for a heck of a deal and it has a few missing parts. Thanks!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

It really depends on what you need. Yamaha still carries some stuff. There’s a good XS1100 forum for some assistance as well.

[@TheTapemeasureman]

theres several pages for XS1100s on Facebook. The '79 XS11 is the most undervalued superbike on the market today. I have 4. It was the first bike to break the 12 second 1/4 mile

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@TheTapemeasureman I was on a few FB groups, good information but you gotta find it. These old bikes are still great highway machines

[@TheTapemeasureman]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures like I said..I have 4. And 22 others some very special ones Ol number 11 is my daily. Have run it from Birmingham at Barber all the way to the ATL at 135. Be surprised how long a tank of gas lasts at that speed. I know that's nothing compared to the new bikes, but not bad for a senior citizen on a 40 year old rice burner.

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@TheTapemeasureman my buddy has this bike now, he took it apart to polish it up and it hasn’t moved in a year. I need to motivate him to finish it!

[@jasonfranklin7372]

What will make my 750 Yamaha stop fireing

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I don’t understand what you mean?

[@stevemchale6363]

@jasonfranklin7372 A BAD IGNITION MODUAL

[@jesusmanuelcambranojimenez9658]

Alguien puede ayudarme con el orden de encendido de bobinas

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Are you asking about the coils? I didn’t have to do anything with mine so I don’t have any information on them.

[@jesusmanuelcambranojimenez9658]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures Gracias disculpe no hablo inglés lo que pasa q quería saber el orden q tiene los cables de bujías cuál es el orden busque diagramas pero hay diferentes tendrá alguna foto de como están ubicados sus cables de bobina

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

@@jesusmanuelcambranojimenez9658 I'm using a translate page, so hopefully it's working. You want to know the order of the spark plug wires? I know one coil is for cylinder 1 and 3 and the other coil is for cylinder 2 and 4. I sold the motorcycle to my friend, so I would have to go to his place to see how it is wired.

[@jesusmanuelcambranojimenez9658]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures las bobinas q trae solo traen una numeración iletras pero las dos traen las mismas informaciones asinple vista las dos son iguales

[@FordManiac76]

Delete the octopus! It’s a pain in the butt!!

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Yeah, a few weird designs on this bike. I wish it only had one petcock like every other bike on the planet too!

[@mrchili1603]

How many swear words came after giving yaself that black nail?

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

Fortunately it wasn’t live! 😂😂

[@jonathanwiebe]

Where do you gay parts?

[@TomsTinkeringandAdventures]

I think you have a word wrong. 😂 But I get parts online from eBay, or OEM parts from Rocky Mountain MC if they are available.

[@jonathanwiebe]

@@TomsTinkeringandAdventures Oh sorry. Ok thanks.