> Algiers-Tamanrasset at the speed of light...

At the start, there was the somewhat crazy bet of a trial journalist named Fenouil: to cover Algiers-Tamanrasset, a 2000 kilometer ribbon of asphalt, in less than 12 hours, between sunrise and sunset.
Great, some will say, stupid, others will say.
After a Paris-Lyon run in 2 hours 32 minutes on a six-cylinder Honda CBX 1000, the questions arose: "What are these exhibitions about?"
Quite simply to demonstrate that not only are modern big cubes capable of fantastic performance, but also that they can flawlessly withstand running at full power on very long journeys.
Edifying, but keep in mind that we are in 1978, at a time when speed on 2 or 4 wheels was erected as an unbreakable totem and constituted one of the main selling points along with the power developed by the engines.

> 2000 kilometers at an average of 175 km/h.

A look back at the eventful life of this Yamaha XS 1100.
It leaves Sonauto (importer of Yamaha motorcycles for France at the time) after 350 kilometers of break-in, with its travel belongings: a fork crown, a large oil radiator, a luggage rack, 3 jerry cans of water and gasoline, 2 tires and 4 spark plugs. That's it, no extra tool and no other special preparation.
In 2000 kilometers traveled at an average of 175 km/h between Algiers and Tamanrasset, (note that the crossing of the villages was carried out at 50 km/h) the motorcycle consumed on average 10.5 l/100 km with peaks at 13 l when the speedometer needle showed 220 km/h on certain sections.
Oil change after 2000 kilometers, the oil level hasn't even changed! Back in Algiers after 4000 kilometers, it was necessary to add only a quarter of a liter of oil to reach the maximum level on the gauge!
On the other hand, well started in Tamanrasset, the rear tire was completely smooth back in Algiers. Fennel never had to check the air filter or anything else on the Yamaha XS 1100, everything worked perfectly.
On arrival, the bike was like new, except for a few scratches on the tank due to the magnetic fasteners.
On the Trans-Saharan, we don't brake often, so no wear on that side.

> The Yamaha XS 1100, a legendary Grand Tourer.

Back in France, the XS 1100 made a Paris-Le Castellet round trip in the company of another brand new Yamaha XS 1100, this one. The comparison is interesting, the "African" XS 1100 is actually not shabby on the outside.
The finish is serious, everything has aged well. A good cleaning, and after 8000 kilometers on the clock, the Yamaha XS 1100 still looks new.
On the mechanical side, the picture is just as satisfactory and the 1100 which returns from Tamanrasset has exactly the same performance and the same road behavior as the "brand new" which only has a gentle break-in under its belt.

> 4 cylinders in line, 1101 cm3, 95 horsepower, 256 kg, 24 liter tank, cardan transmission...

It should be added that oil consumption is almost zero, that the machine does not ooze anywhere, that the saddle is not packed, that suspensions, brakes, various accessories, everything works as on the first day.
There is only one engine problem to report: one of the studs which holds the exhausts to the cylinder head broke suddenly and for no reason upon arriving at Le Castellet.
The results are therefore more than positive. Only the rear tire, in intensive use, it is true, needs to be changed after 4000 kilometers.
44 years after its release, the Yamaha