Won the bid, not sure if I will be awarded the 1979 YAMAHA XS1100

billt460 said:
A high school friend of mine bought a new Kawasaki 750, 2 stroke triple back in 1974 I think it was. That thing was scary fast, and handled like a Schwinn 10 speed with a lawn mower engine.

He rode it one night from Chicago to Carbondale, Illinois, cruising 80+ MPH all the way. He said he averaged about 18 MPG with it, and had to stop for gas several times.

When he drove it easy, around town in traffic for a day or two, then got on the expressway and nailed it, it left behind a cloud of blue/white smoke you couldn't see through. A bit like those military landing craft when they beach. He bought 2 stroke oil by the gallon jug.
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In 1971 I bought a brand new Kawasaki 500 Mach III I really loved that bike it did every thing good . I would have to say that bike probably spent 50% on its life over 100 mph. I remember almost every day going to Jr. College from Millbrae California to the College of San Mateo on the 280 freeway at wide open throttle and every Sunday going on the Marine city Sunday morning ride that was similar to the IOM TT. I was an idiot but it was funand I am still here despite my stupidity. My #1 rule when riding is every vehicle on the road is out to kill you.
 
I believe Suzuki came out with a water cooled 750, 2 stroke triple in the mid 70's. I was a bit more reliable because it kept engine temperatures at a manageable level. Those air cooled 2 stroke Kawasaki triples ran hot as hell, with 3 big cylinders banging on every revolution.
 
atikovi said:
The auction does basically the same amount of work selling a $100 car as it does a $1,000 car. Paperwork, vehicle processing, taking pictures, inventorying, unloading, etc.
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Maybe, but still, the buyer's fee is typically a percentage of the winning bid, a percentage usually far less than 80%
 
slacktide_bitog said:
Maybe, but still, the buyer's fee is typically a percentage of the winning bid, a percentage usually far less than 80%
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You would think, but that's not reality. You go to a restaurant for a cup of coffee and a donut for $2.50. Do you leave just a 50 cent tip? I mean, in the time it took to serve you, the waiter could have served a $25 steak. Besides, buyers know, or should know, the fees up front.
 
That's the "excessive" model. Once you take off that ugly windjammer fairing and all the other junk from it, it will look great.
If you can bring it to looking something like this, it should sell for around $4k quite easily.

hq720.jpg
 
GON said:
Think I am maybe going to have to take the approach of this being a flip or part out to the Wife....... And if I get it running, might just be hard to find a buyer.......
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So what happened to the Triumph from several months ago?
 
GON said:
Wife is going to be very, very unhappy when she sees this........ there is a expectation I would not be buying (riding) a bike.
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Yes I totally understand. I am ok with my Monkey but I kind of bought it without asking. Once she realized it was kind of cute she told me not to sell it hahaha. I was told to ask before I bought stuff like that hahaha. Still very happily married though!
 
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Nice snag. Not much risk here at all, even with your fuel cost you can get your money back quick parting it out.

Can’t wait to see some close up pics once you get it in your possession.
 
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That bike was one of the first with electric instruments. Most tachometers were cable driven at the time. It also had an ignition system with a vacuum advance which no other bike had [that I can remember]. Also known for a bit of a weak transmission, they lose 2nd gear. Shaft drive doesn't give the best ride as the un-sprung weight is rather high in the rear. Most bikes will squat a bit at the back under hard acceleration but the torque of the drive shaft tends to lift the back of the bike. Valve lash adjustment is an expensive time consuming job.
I would love to have one.
 
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GON said:
It is not the money my Wife will be upset about, it is the safety of a older guy riding a bike. She counts on me to not take unnecessary risks, as we both depend on each other.
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Yep. I recently got the urge to buy a bike after not having one for over 50 years. I sold that one after a guy in a Dodge Monaco station wagon ran a stop sign and hit me (only broke my leg, lucky me.) With my reduced reflexes (75), everyone seemingly texting while driving, and two local motorcyclists killed in the last week I dropped my plans to start riding again.
 
There's probably more money to be made in parts, than selling it whole. With a bike that old, there's no factory support anymore, so selling the popular stuff should be easy. When the interest dies off and there's nothing left that anyone wants, you can probably sell the remains mostly for the frame and title.,,
 
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I owned one of the same year and the things I remember about was the dual fuel petcocks (one on each side of the tank) and the nightmare of fuel and vacuum lines under the tank. Mine got horrible gas mileage as I recall at around 30MPG and would run a honest 135 MPH top speed.
The ignition is electronic so no points to deal with and it has vacuum advance. They also featured a tip over switch so if the bike exceeded 60 deg it would cut the ignition and kill the motor, kinda handy if you would happen to drop it while running.
 
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