Hi there all. It has a long while since I have been active on this forum. Sorry Christian, I will do better. Anycase this is a thread I have posted on the UK site of my XS's.
It al started in a far away land, long time ago.... As a fact it started in 1978 when my dad bought his bike new. The second XS1100 in my home town, after the owner of the Yamaha dealer got his. It was a 2H7 American standard, and it was only the first year SA got that model, before the started importing the European 2H9 model. At the time I was still in school, and a year later was using the bike to school. I thought I was the coolest kid at school!
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evileric at 2011-08-28
After school, during my stint in the SA Airforce I bought the ultimate Yamaha XS1100, called the Rod Gray replica. Based on a Yamaha XS1100 sport, called a 'Europe' in SA, but modified to chain driven, 1179cc, 33mm smoothbores, plus many other mods. This bike rocked! I sold it to buy my first car in 1984.....
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evileric at 2011-08-28
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evileric at 2011-08-28
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evileric at 2011-08-28
Around 1987 my dad crashed heavily at high speed with his bike totalling the bike.
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evileric at 2011-08-28
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evileric at 2011-08-28
When he recovered from the fall, he bought a 2H9 (3X1), intending to use his old 2H7 as a spares bike. At this point I relieved him of the bike, and rebuilt the bike. I used it for a little while before I gave my dad the bike back, after which he sold his 2H9 as he preferred his 2H7.
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evileric at 2011-08-28
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evileric at 2011-08-28
There, my story stopped with the Yamaha for some time, untill my dad's bike required another rebuilt. This time I stripped it completely and over 12 years rebuilt it again, this time including the engine.
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evileric at 2011-08-28
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evileric at 2011-08-28
In the meantime I came across a pristine 2H7 non-runner, which I duely bought. A good service and two days later she was purring. What a beautifull bike. Low milage, as she was in a collection most of her life.
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evileric at 2011-08-28
While I was still busy with the restoration work, my dad asked me for another bike. I came across 'a bit of a used spesimen', but at the correct price, and bought it for my dad. After I sorted it, gave it to my dad. He didn't use the bike much before his passing in 2008, after which the bike came back to me. After some more work my eldest brother bought it, where it is now.
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evileric at 2011-08-28
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evileric at 2011-08-28
By chance, I was offered another Yamaha, this time a 3X1, with a price I could not say no too. This is how 'Ruby' came into my life. At this point I had (and still have) three standards.
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evileric at 2011-08-28
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evileric at 2011-08-28
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evileric at 2011-08-28
I soo wanted a Special, especially a Midnight Special. The first one came from a museum, who basically had this bike but it was incomplete, and non-standard. I got it for a steal. I have got plans for this one........
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evileric at 2011-08-28
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evileric at 2011-08-28
Not long after my first special, the second one came - this time a Midnight Special! They are scarse and this time I had to pay a premium. This bike is currently under restoration.
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evileric at 2011-08-28
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evileric at 2011-08-28
By
evileric at 2011-08-28
