Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126282
Macho Excess~ XS 1100' The fastest box-stock production motorcycle on the market in 1978 will be a Yamaha . . One of our editors went 136 mph on this new wonder. What has not been excepted is that the big, 4-cylinder flagship of the Yamaha line is, in reality, one thousand, one hundred cubic centimeters or, as Yamaha calls it . the "XS Eleven" . The fact is that the long-awaited " WOO" has always been an 1l00cc machine. Yamaha always referred to ... the bike as a "WOO" simply to fake out the competition. It 's a super bike fit every sense of the word . The engine is a double overhead cam, fou r-stroke fo ur , built for performa nce. The shaft drive is smooth, silent and almost maintenance free . It is the narrowest shafty on the road, for sporty handling. As a "safety feature ," the engine automatically shuts off when tipped beyond 60 degrees! . The XS Eleven also features new transistorized ignition, with no points. Servicing of worn pa rts is significanlly reduced and the system provides a more even spark across the entire RPM range. A unique vacuum advance system gives a cleaner burn with more efficiency. The vacuum safety petcock, electric starter, new type easy control levers with dust covers, constant-mesh five -speed -------~ transmission, and angled -back instrumentation with MPH , KPH , and fuel ga uge, all make for easy riding. There are larger (and thinner) dual front disc brakes and a single rear disc, self-cancelling turn signa ls. and a wide (5 .00 x ,17) rear 'tire to handle-a ll the power. All this and alloy wheels are standard equipment on the Yamaha flagship. The paint color is " Macho Maroon." - ,/ SRSOOStar To the great many who wrote to Yamaha saying "W hy don't you?" they can now say "W e havel " The SR 500 , with its big-bore " th u m per" power plant. will find a welcome among motorcycle traditionalists. Its origin dates back to the BSA Gold Star, Matchless and Norton-Manx, It is a heritage worth preserving and advancing. Yamaha has perfected easy kick starting of the powerful single cylinder fou r-stroke by means of a combination of an automatic advance mechanism, piston position indicator window, and compression release lever. Kick- backs are a thing of the past. Examples of heritage advanced in the new street star, include front and rear disc brakes , cast -aluminum wheels , angled- back -instru men ta tion with meters and miles odometer, selfcancelling turn signals, and oil -inframe lubrication. An all ball and roller bearing engine design for less friction and longer life gives a broad power band for over-all memorable performance. The SR 500 is the lightest of all the street bikes in the mid -range classification , and has the most banking angle of all due to its very narrow profile. It comes in black or red. ~jj;:=!"'"-~-----~ World Handicap SpeedwayChampionships Reno Park, Nevada November 4-5-6,1977 Ticketron will handle the spectator ticket sales in California. Adm ission for eac h of the th ree days of th e exciting do ub le header (mo rni ng and_afte rnoon ) raci ng is TEN DOL LARS. A reasonab ly pr iced buffet lunch will be served at mid -day. Mo m lnqevents begin at 10 a.m. and afternoon events at 1:30 p.m. Speedway ride rs who are interested in this event shou ld co ntact one of these Ame rican Speedway League members: Stu Mor ley (213) 392-6141, Ken Maley (714) 735-0540 or Steve Bast (at large on the No. California Speedway circu it) Rider Entry Fee is $5.00. Early entrants will have best chance for any individual Casino sponsorsh ips . 29