XS 1100

1978 Yamaha XS 1100 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around Yamaha's touring motorcycle platform, the 1978 Yamaha XS 1100 relies on a 1101 cc (67.2 cu in) air-cooled in-line four, four-stroke powerplant. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 95 HP (69.3 kW) at 8,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 86.3 HP per liter, the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the XS 1100 measures 286 kg (631 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.33 HP/kg (3.01 kg per horsepower). The 24-liter (6.3 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 215 km/h (134 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Yamaha archive, this model family spans 5 indexed model years from 1978 to 1982, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.