1981SH Special Illinois

[MPittma100]

Here is a fine example of an XS1100 Special. I don't think that he is asking enough for it. But what do I know?

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/mcy/4275436341.html

[Hak]

I am about to purchase this bike! It is in amazing condition!

[jetmechmarty]

Good! We're all impatiently waiting to hear all about it! Welcome aboard!


It looks like a good one.

[madmax-im]

I am about to purchase this bike! It is in amazing condition!

Awesome find...and Welcome to CH11!!! seen this advertised for a while...Looks to be in exc. condition...Thats a steal at that price...

[Hak]

Yeah I thought the price was great too! Oddly enough there seems to be a lot of XS11's around still I had already looked at a few in the area that were pretty rough haha (JB welded cam chain tensioner .... ) This guy is really great too, one of the few very honest people you'd find on craigslist haha He just had the carbs redone and I gotta say I was shocked to see how well it was running with this frigid Chicago air running through it!

This will be my first bike I used to be sucked into the car world. I'm going to do some really cool stuff to this bike before spring, I'll be sure to post up as it progresses. Going for the café look with my own twist on it.

Thanks for the warm welcome guys! I picked the XS for my first bike mostly because I found there's still plenty of support, parts, and appreciation for the platform! Nothing beats a good community. Looking forward to becoming a part of it

[madmax-im]

well the Specials are more collectable...if you cafe' it keep all the original parts to change back incase you evewant to sell it...I know there will be others who might dissuade you from cafe-ing a bike thats in as nice original condition as this one... this bike in nice original condition will be worth more than the same bike cafe'-ed or wosre chopped and bobbed. This website is dedicated to bringing back the old bikes and keeping them on the road...Alot of folks here are purists in the sense that they prefer their rides in as original condition as possible...However there are those that take matters their own and do waht they please...some results are very good others are not. I will say i would hate to see this fine example done poorly...but ultimately it is yours to do what you will...just hope it comes out well...

[DGXSER]

Yep, for as nice a bike as you got there, it does seem a shame to go Café on it. But, it is yours to do what you will. And we will certainly give you whatever help we can, no matter how far to the dark side you take it.

[Hak]

Haha I had a feeling that the idea would be taken with caution from the members here, and I do agree that taking such a great example of something and heavily modifying it must be done with great care. I never planned to purchase a special, I like the standard's tank more anyway, but that I can change haha. I assure you that even if it isn't exactly your taste it will all be very professional and I'm sure you will be able to appreciate it. After seeing the other bikes in the area I realized that I would be much better off with a good base since I plan to put quite an investment into this project. I'm going to be designing a few parts with a friend who has a CNC and makes many high performance car parts, so I may even end up with some products to offer the community. (Chain drive conversion?)

We will see. I plan to change out a lot of parts, so I may end up having some very good condition used parts for you guys too, so if anything I can take this great example of an old classic to help some of you guys get yours back to that new-old feel

[DGXSER]

Well, as long as you offer the parts you pull and do not use to the community, we will forgive your atrocity.

Chain drive has been done, we use to have a member XSChop that made a chain drive conversion, but I think he quit producing them now. His XS he heavily modded ended up in another new members ownership a while back.

Honestly though, I look forward to see your tastefully done conversion. And maybe even some unwanted parts.

[Hak]

Thanks for the blessings! Haha. Yeah I've seen the few guys that have done the chain conversion, doesn't look like there's much to it. I'd like to develop a whole system to use a common swingarm and go..

If anybody has any product demands I would definitely entertain ideas and see if it would be feasable to put into some level of production.

[MPittma100]

1981sh

I apologize in advance if you have a problem with my opinion. But taking a fine example of an XS1100 Special such as this one and turning it into anything else other than what it is, does NOT work for me. These are the ones that you leave just like they are.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and this is JMHO.

Mike

[Rasputin]

+1 ... and when you hack up the electrical to make it simpler, you will delete over 90% of us who may be able to help. Yours and yours alone so do with it what you will but many here will not appreciate it what you have done in the end. Sorry.

[IanDMacDonald]

Geeze, what happened to supporting a guy's dreams and individuality on here, lol? I say it's your bike, your money, and your creative vision. As other's have said, just follow-through with it till the end. I personally think the 11 is too big as an authentic cafe bike, but still think it's cool. Garangmus is doing cool things as of late with his cafe build. Welcome Hak, and I and many on here look forward to helping any.way we can.

[IanDMacDonald]

I do understand Ras/Mp's opinion above. It's like taking a mint cherry red 1964 1/2 Mustang and modifying the crap out of it. Makes me cringe just thinking about it. Some have "personally" set the value of these bikes higher than what they are seen as today: just another UJM that shipped-over across the pond in a crate by the metric ton. Don't get me wrong, many do appreciate the looks of my bike. Many more compliments received on this over my stock rice burners. But . . . many compliments received on my first GS750 cafe build as well. So, trust me, I do get it.

[Hak]

Guys believe me, I didn't plan on doing this to a cherry example. I looked at every other XS I could before I got this one and in fact risked losing the sale.. and most the other's were in very bad shape and the others asking much more than this gentleman. I did everything I could but this is the bike I want. If someone has an xs standard in reasonable shape I would GLADLY trade straight up even if theirs was higher mileage/etc just to keep this one true to heritage. I am a true gearhead and I fully understand why modifying a primo example of what has now become a classic is going to upset some. But ask yourself this, would you be happier if I ended up with a rats nest of a bike and my first experience with a bike I've fallen in love with was a complete nightmare? Also consider the generational gap. I am not as old as a lot of you folks here, so I already assumed my tastes are not going to match yours. But in the end, it is my bike, and I will mod it as I please to suit my tastes just as you would modify (or NOT modify) yours. Thanks for the supports and criticism. I am looking forward to ALL of your opinions as I continue on with this project! I have been known in the past to surprise a great many people with my tasteful modification decisions they never thought they would have liked. Thanks again everyone! I'm going to be picking it up tonight.