Built Xs

[quikergixxer]

I've been toying with the idea of hotter early cams and later big valves. Along with a big bore kit and of course a 4into1 Kerker. Some years [decades] ago I "Match Ported" and Polished my old XS11 head which required a jet change but it RAN! So I'm considering doing it again with this one but I really want to make it handle better first. I love this bike as it accelerates, stops well but doesn't turn for beans. And if you try any combination it stands up NOW, not a good idea when in a corner! Maybe I'm spoiled with my ZX10's handeling but DANG! Does anyone know how to get a bigger tire on front and rear ? How about better shocks, Ohlins ??? Rear swingarm brace ? I'm considering doing a C-notch on the drive shaft housing to fit a wider tire. Any thoughts???

[Pat Kelly]

TKat forkbrace and Progressive fork springs. Progressive rear shocks. That should get the bike up to OK (modern standard) handeling.
The bike is what it is, a 25-30 year old, 600 lb, ex-muscle-bike.

I have no problem with those that want to modify the heck trying to make it a new bike. It's your bike, do what you want with it. But I equate that to the newest Rocky movie.

I have 2 XSs and I don't see another bike out there that Id rather have.

This is not a slam to those working hard doing things they want to their bikes. Keep-up the good work.

[LoHo]

Right on, Pat!

I see a lot of threads about chain drive, fuel injection, or hotter cams, and I wonder why they want to take a bike like the XS and do all of that work. If it is a basket case and just parts to be used, well, okay. But if it can be an XS in any real sense, keep it that way.

I think older Harleys are the usual target for customization because there was a lot of room for improvement. I understand the desire to create a bike that is one's own, that bears the mark of the owner, but some of these bikes go from being an XS to not really being anything at all. Upgrading a rusted out exhaust is not the same as rigging a single swing-arm just to have a single swing-arm bike.

Making it different is not necessarily making it better.

[webbcraft2150]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Pat Kelly
[B]ex-muscle-bike.

************************************************** **
I must take exception to that. Once a rig gets "muscle" status, it cannot be taken away. XS11 is still a muscle bike, an icon in muscle history. Same as the H1, KZ900/1000, GS1000,
396/454 Chevelles, CJ Mustangs, 6Pac Mopars. While all these are "old school" muscle, still muscle non the less.

I now return to place of subservance.

[Crazcnuk]

I always cringe when someone wants to 'hack' any vehicle over 20yrs old.

I am of the opionion that you modify relatively new vehicles and 'restore' classics.

Of course, I am only talking about irreversible changes. I have no problem with changing parts, I just keep the old ones around in case I ever want to revert to original!

Even my '83 Monte can still be reverted back to original with very little problem. I can take out the Ford 9" diff, etc. and put the stock parts back, if desired.

I just realized, the other day, that the '1983 Monte is now older than the '57 Chevies were when I first started noticing cars!

[81xsproject]

I can answer the question easily. I equate it to being absolutely in love with your wife..........but, wishing she had a better rack or tail section

[ccogswel]

Well I'm all for making something better maybe a little faster. But I have had a really bad reminder on the 21 of December that I feel I need to share with everyone and anyone willing to listen. No mater what you do or how far you go with your project just respect it and mother nature as you can have this happen to you. I have 20 years of blood, sweat, tears and alot of long nights twisting wrenches just to have it all taken away from you in 30 seconds.

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[kf4anm]

what a waste of a mopar. that had to hurt. I would love to have a 440 like that for my 69 satellite out in the driveway.

[Crazcnuk]

Makes me wish I had a shot of my Monte carlo, when it was still an '85 Gran Prix.

First summer, after the complete rebuild, Tempo came across an intersection, caught the front 2ft and spun me around 230deg.

Totalled the Gran Prix, luckily a friend had a Monte Carlo laying around, so all the stuff went into it, and it was back on the road less than a year later.

[ZXDavid]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by webbcraft2150
[B]

Originally posted by Pat Kelly
ex-muscle-bike.

************************************************** **
I must take exception to that. Once a rig gets "muscle" status, it cannot be taken away. XS11 is still a muscle bike, an icon in muscle history. Same as the H1, KZ900/1000, GS1000,
396/454 Chevelles, CJ Mustangs, 6Pac Mopars. While all these are "old school" muscle, still muscle non the less.

I now return to place of subservance.

You hit the nail right on the head! A wise man no doubt.
What I think is fun is to take a bike like the XS and make it handle better and make it faster but make it look stock or nearly so. Maybe a big bore kit and a small boost hidden nitrous to suprise a few folks with.

[ccogswel]

Yeah it hurt. Hurt like hell. Part of me died that night. I had drove that car all over the Midwest from Colorado to West Virginia in all sorts of bad weather and to lose it to a wet road and a rock wall. I have a lead on another car in El Paso Tx but trying to find a way to get it here to me. I plan on doing what Crazcnuk had done. I have all the parts.

To kf4anm, if you ever find your way down here close to Bowling Green I have an extra 440 I can let go. Real Cheap. It's a 77-78 block with stock bore. Still good engine just needs to be rebuilt as it's all a part.

All I have to say is, what ever the project. Just make sure you enjoy it. I know I did. And I will again.

[Crazcnuk]

I was lucky, #1 that I wasn't hurt, and #2, that nothing but the body and frame were damaged. the engine (over $8000CDN back then) was fine as was the rest of the drive train.

The battery got shoved onto the fan, broke off the water pump shaft and the right front frame (upper A-arm) hit the headers, and that was all the damage to the engine.

I had actually picked the G body for just this kind of issue. They are still a dime dozen, but now starting to get harder to find in good shape.