Like most Japanese manufacturers, Yamaha offered a “Special” variant of their UJM to appeal to American consumers – these typically offered pullback bars, extra chrome/polished covers, different exhausts, wider rear tires, stepped seats, and different paint jobs. Yamaha also offered a “Midnight Special” version across several models (even on the tiny RX50 cruiser!), including the XS750, XS850, and XS1100. Here’s one of the last options, and it stands out as it apparently has covered less than 100 miles!
The main difference with the Midnight Special was simply a black and gold livery applied to the bodywork and wheels of the XS Eleven Special.
The seller of this example (VIN: 4H30023745) states that he bought it from an estate. “The gentleman’s family said he bought it from the niece of the original owner who passed away shortly after buying it. He owned it for several years but did not run it. I have had it for about 2 years and rather than start it, I have decided to sell it hoping it will go into a collection or museum where it can be seen and appreciated. The gas tank is like new inside, the carbs are also very nice. I did pull them and put new float valves in them along with a new air filter. The oil was also changed and the brake fluid was bled out and replaced, but no other brake service was done. It has good spark on all 4 plugs and my compression test showed 175 lbs on all 4 cylinders. The battery is new and all the electrical items work as they should. The paint work is original and nearly new looking as are the emblems and the gold trim. The pipes are nice but show the age in spots but have no rust issues other than a few surface spots on the lower left muffler. Overall not perfect but a very, very nicely preserved bike.”
Find this Midnight Special for sale in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin with bidding up to $2,125 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay.