"XS1100" The Powerhouse

While Yamaha dominated the local grand prix classes throughout the 1970s, it had only limited success in production racing that had swept Australia. The Yamaha RD250 was the bike to have in the lightweight production class, but due to the lack of a large multi-cylinder muscle bike in its range, Yamaha could only watch as Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and even Ducati and BMW fought out the big-money endurance events like the Castrol Six-Hour.

In 1978, with the battle of the big-bore market booming and distributors and tyre importers pouring vast sums of money into production racing, the big guns had been brought out. Suzuki had released its GS1000 in 1978, while Yamaha unveiled its XS1100.

By mid-year, Honda launched its secret weapon, the six-cylinder Honda CBX1000. While the new CBX1000 and Suzuki were out and out sports bikes, the shaft-drive XS1100, affectionately called the “Xcessive’, was more of a muscle bike cum tourer. Heavier than and not as fast as its rivals, the XS1100 did have one particular ability – winning races.

In the lead up to the Six-Hour, the XS1100 had won the Adelaide Three-Hour, the Perth Four-Hour and the Surfers Three-Hour. The unlikely XS1100 and Pitman Yamaha rider Greg Pretty had upstaged the biggest, baddest production bikes around, confounding everyone.

The Yamaha could do the six-hour in just three fuel stops against the Suzukis and Hondas that both needed four.

The advertising copy writers had a field day. Greg Pretty was a big fan of the rock band The Who and said, “After we win a race, we go back, party on and listen to The Who.” The copy writers stole a line out one of Pretty’s favourite songs by the Who ’Won’t get fooled again’.

‘Meet the new Boss’ was the headline to a series of Yamaha ads that ran in the local motorcycle press rejoicing Pitman Yamaha’s extraordinary run of victories.

The spirit of the xs1100 lives on today just as much as yesterday, guys still love this bike. To some motorcycle of yesteryear it has become the mustang and chevele's of the 60's. I truely love seeing this bike on the road today. It has earned that right, and may its spirit live on forever.