Greetings

[Kezrith]

Well met everyone, awesome site you have here!

I actually found the site when a co-worker asked if I wanted to buy his bike before he moved ('79 XS1100 SF). I was looking around to see what the bike looked like and a google image search led me here, that was back in January.

Purchased the bike (unseen) for $150 after being told it just needed the shims put back in, tank remounted and the seat secured. Brought it home late January and it has sat in the garage awaiting some TLC since.

This is my first bike, I have ridden friends bikes (years ago), and have never worked on, let alone rebuilt one, ever, so this will be interesting to say the least.

It has been in the mid 60's this weekend and the itch to get working on it hit hard, however after 3 months of reading the majority of the newer threads here, I have found some "issues" with the bike, nothing major, but I will need to tap into the knowledge base that resides here.

So far I have found:

Headlight and front signals are wrong
Seat looks to be wrong
rear fender doesn't "look" right (hard to explain)
cam cover has been off and cam lobes have surface rust
left engine cover cracked on the bottom / one bolt dog ear broke
fuel tank has minor rust spots inside
4-1 header rusting / muffler (supertrap) connection loose and leaking
no side covers
battery tray rusting out.

I guess at this point my biggest fear is not finding parts to bring this machine back to it's former glory. I have not had much luck in finding parts in the Green Bay area to even get an idea what this endeavor is going to run me... but I am stubborn and it will run down the road again.

I have photos of the bike and areas in question, which I will post as soon as SWMBO downloads them off of her camera and sends them to me. (I can either post them on this thread or if you prefer, I can start a thread in the XS1100 discussion area - moderators choice)


I look forward to hearing from those with the knowledge, which should be just about everyone on the board since I know little to nothing at this point.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Kezrith,

Welcome, glad you found us before you got the bike!

Yes, it would be best to post your tech questions into the TECH discussion forum, you get more views and responses that way!

The photos will help us to help you figure out why the fenders and seat and headlights don't look right!?
T.C.

[ross]

welcome to the family.....

hey there kezrith....you have come to the right place.....the members here have helped me numerous time with problems both big and small.....as far as finding parts....just search the links and i'm sure you'll find what u r looking 4.....if not, i'm sure one of the members will have at least 2 or 3......bought mine for $400 and over the past 2 years have a bike that turns heads faster then any custom bike i've seen....i like ol' school and ya can't get more ol' school than the XS11....if ya want, check out my "rebel devil" posting and imagine the power that is lurking out in your garage.....good luck and good wrenching.....ross

p.s. GO PACKERS!!

[fredintoon]

Take care out there!

Hi Tim and welcome,
First, my usual bleat of warning:- the XS11 is a very powerful bike that will run out of brakes & handling well before it runs out of speed.
Unless he takes extreme in care riding one a beginner has a good chance of becoming a smear of forensic evidence.
That said, don't sweat the cosmetic stuff, Yamaha parts swap between years and models like Lego and over the years your SF may have adopted some orphan parts that don't perhaps look quite right but do work OK. Some of us do this on purpose.
If you need a replacement cover casting or other parts Andreas Weiss can be found in the parts section, he usually has what I need and has always been great to deal with.

[Kezrith]

Thanks for the welcoming, photos have been sent and are being resized in photobucket right now, as soon as I am done I will have them posted in the tech discussion forum.

[xswilly]

don't forget ebay, sometimes you can do ok with them

[Guest]

welcome kez

well you found a great site here with awsome people as you will find out! check your area for motorcycle salvage yards no telling what they might have.

[DJinNH]

Kez,

Welcome! I'm going through similar experiences as you. In Dec I bought two from ebay, an '80 XS1100SF and '81 XS1100SG. Both run but need a lot of work.

I guess it was a nice time to buy them as I had all winter to search internet sites and catalogs for parts. Between that and the members on here sending me in the right direction, I pretty much found everything I needed...at think I think I've got it all.

I took my tanks and battery covers to a shop to be repainted, the seats in to be reupholstered and Wednesday, I'm taking the bikes to a guy here in NH to help do the mechanical work I feel I am not techinally smart enough to do myself. I sure want my brakes to actually work when I need them....I'm funny that way.

Back in my high school days (early 80's) I owned a new '81 850 Special so I feel I am familiar somewhat with the bikes, I sure didn't have to worry about replacing anything on a new bike.

Good luck with your new project and stay safe on the roads.

Don

[79XS11F]

Welcome to the board and welcome to the "XS1100" experience. Don't worry too much about finding parts for you bike. Anything you can't get from the dealer you can find here among the members or on e-Bay. To find out if your dealer still has any given part just check out Bike Bandit. Anything they list as not discontinued the dealer can get. Engine side covers are still pretty easy to find as are fenders and many other parts on e-bay. these bikes were produced in large numbers and they last so long that there's still parts around. Post some Pics of your bike.
Rob

[Paintman]

Welcome

Hi and welcome im new to here to ive found about anything ya need just from the tech section seems we all have had the same problems at one time or another. Good Luck with ypour bike.
John
PS remeber sarcasism is just a way of expressing ourslves LOL

[lakecountrydave]

Welcome! Always great to see another Cheesehead on the board! It seems that we are partial to 79 Specials here in WI. You, me, Dragon Tamer, Glarusguy and Oseaghdha. That from just a quicl check of the Frappr site! I have to go check out your pics now

[Cobia]

Welcome Kezrith

Hey,
All of the above is true so you won't have any prob getting you bike going. This from a Badger living in FL. Good luck.

[Special Ed]

Wellcome, but dear God man, an XS 11 for a first bike!!! I strongly recomend takeing a motocycle safety riding course. I have been riding since 1958. I took such a course several years ago as part of the process of becoming a certified motorcycle safety instuctor. Even after years of riding I learned a lot. I can't recomend it highly enough. The XS11 is one bad ass f%&! bike!
Having said that, enjoy your ride.
E.Liberty