XV 1000 SE Midnight Special

1983 Yamaha XV 1000 SE Midnight Special Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around Yamaha's custom - cruiser motorcycle platform, the 1983 Yamaha XV 1000 SE Midnight Special features a 981 cc (59.9 cu in) air-cooled v2, four-stroke configuration. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 68 HP (49.6 kW) at 6,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 69.3 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 XV 1000 SE Midnight Special measures 240 kg (529 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.28 HP/kg (3.53 kg per horsepower). The 13-liter (3.4 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 172 km/h (107 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Yamaha archive, this model family spans 2 indexed model years from 1983 to 1984, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.