The motorcycle as an artform.

[joceiphus]

Is it really all that black and white? So I like to keep 3 xs11's on hand and I part the bad ones out. One to ride and two to work on. Does that make me a bad person? I appreciate them and work to make them nice bikes again. That's a bad thing? Every bike I've ever owned has been far better when I sold it than when I got it. I don't just have a motorcycle, I have a hobby. Working on them is all you can do in north east Pa for 6 months out of the year. I've tried to keep in contact with the new owners of all my x bikes and they have all been happy. Without people like me how would you guy's bikes still be on the road, Yamaha sure doesn't care about you. I take pride in my ebay sales and it makes me happy when I help keep a bike on the road. Look at the feedback left for me. Does that sound like I'm only in it for a profit. Yes I've made some money at it, but I'm only paying the bills.

As far as the beautiful wife thing goes......I would say it's like having a beautiful girlfriend and two others to play with on special days!

My question was, should I make a nice bobber or stay stock? I really wasn't looking for anything more. I had no idea I would step on everybody's toes.

You horrible horrible person.
My opinion is, make it a bobber, and try to out do your last bobber. That's just me though.

[xs11lover]

Is it really all that black and white? So I like to keep 3 xs11's on hand and I part the bad ones out. One to ride and two to work on. Does that make me a bad person? I appreciate them and work to make them nice bikes again. That's a bad thing? Every bike I've ever owned has been far better when I sold it than when I got it. I don't just have a motorcycle, I have a hobby. Working on them is all you can do in north east Pa for 6 months out of the year. I've tried to keep in contact with the new owners of all my x bikes and they have all been happy. Without people like me how would you guy's bikes still be on the road, Yamaha sure doesn't care about you. I take pride in my ebay sales and it makes me happy when I help keep a bike on the road. Look at the feedback left for me. Does that sound like I'm only in it for a profit. Yes I've made some money at it, but I'm only paying the bills.

As far as the beautiful wife thing goes......I would say it's like having a beautiful girlfriend and two others to play with on special days!

My question was, should I make a nice bobber or stay stock? I really wasn't looking for anything more. I had no idea I would step on everybody's toes.

[Larrym]

Appreciation of Value

Just another facet of motorcycles as ART:

Those folks who buy it to own long term, ride, and appreciate as a vehicle.

Those folks who buy it to own short term, not ride, and resell for a profit.

Depends on whether or not one views the XS as a classic commodity or as a classic collectible.

Appreciation of ART value or appreciation of $$$ value as ART.

[xs11lover]

Give me a break. Sorry you feel that way.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

The only reason I'd sell it at 10,000 miles is that the value would still be high. We all know an xs with 10,000 miles is like new. I have a few xs's and it may take 3 years for me to put 3,000 miles on it. I don't like to drive the clean ones much. They don't stay clean.

What is the use of having a beautiful bike if you don't ride it?

It seems to me it's kinda like having a beautiful wife and you don't............................well, you get the picture.

[xs11lover]

The only reason I'd sell it at 10,000 miles is that the value would still be high. We all know an xs with 10,000 miles is like new. I have a few xs's and it may take 3 years for me to put 3,000 miles on it. I don't like to drive the clean ones much. They don't stay clean.

[Special Ed]

Ok, it looks like a good time to ask this question to the xs11 nation.
I have a 79 xs11 special 7,200 miles in nice shape vin number 950 or so. For now it's all original other than the 1980 tank ,I sold the seat and it didn't come with the grab bar. I've rebuilt the brakes, have the carbs on the way and a pile of very polished parts. I love the xs11 look but the seat has always been too big, too ugly, and too dated for me. I'm ready to cut the frame behind the shocks off and do a factory-ish, solo seat, truimph bonnie type grab bar, short fender bobber with a black and silver motor. I have the seat, and bar ect. It would be kind of like my orange bobber with more of a factory look. I'm doing it for me, but I would think I'll end up selling it at about 10,000 miles or when the next project is done. I'm so close to putting it all back together but I just can't bring myself to cut the frame.......I know I can do a good job, that most people wouldn't even notice it's not factory. Should I do it? or not.

Nice lookin' scoot! I also have a '79 Special. The odometer stopped at 104,000+ miles and I've been riding it that way for the past 4 months. And you want to sell it at 10,000 miles? Mine had 28,000 when I bought it. I think it is a very natural inclination for someone to want to place their own personal “stamp” on a bike. If I had the time and money that some have, I know what I would do to mine: I would lean toward the “Iron Butt” touring direction. To each his own. I would say put your stamp on it and hold on to it. Sell it at 10,000 miles? Are you S*&#ing me?
Special Ed

[crazy steve]

not sure about the looks of it but from an engineering standpoint I am drooling to figure out how its done!! The rear wheeel especially since you see absolutely nothing inside the "hub" space at all!!

One of the 'chopper' builders did the first one of these a number of years ago (can't remember who). He used a rotor hub bearing assembly off a helicopter as his starting point. So I guess it really was a 'chopper'....

'78E original owner

[Larrym]

Picture Perfect

Hi Larrym,
Shercom Industries speedbumps featured on the XS11 site.
Fame at last!
My wife is Shercom's office manager and I have done some product design work for them.
Here is a link to show the complete product line
http://www.shercomindustries.com/index.html

'Lo Fred!

Give thanks to google images for that one. Seems like it's the image which most people think of/choose as the ideal.

Nice feature that the bump doesn't extend all the way cross the roadway like the "mound of asphalt" versions. Shercom's allows for less of an obstacle to proper water drainage.

Ya think that the hubless wunderbike could ride between the end of the bump and the curb?? Or would the bike have the slow speed stability/clearance to actually go over the speedbump without the rider having to put his feet down and do the duckwalk?

I guess those parts of the video are only available on the outtakes/blooper reel.

[DGXSER]

So is this artsy fartsy, cool or junk?

not sure abotu the looks of it but form an engineering standpoint I am drooling to figure out how its done!! The rear wheeel especially since you see absolutely nothing inside the "hub" space at all!!

[fredintoon]

It's a small world

Not a fair test drive video unless of course:



/headdesk.

Hi Larrym,
Shercom Industries speedbumps featured on the XS11 site.
Fame at last!
My wife is Shercom's office manager and I have done some product design work for them.
Here is a link to show the complete product line

http://www.shercomindustries.com/index.html

[b.walker5]

So is this artsy fartsy, cool or junk?

Dunno about art , but it's pretty cool engineering

[Rasputin]

Hi Fred. I don't know I never saw the newer Star Trek movies. I just posted that as it was easiest that way. If anyone is interested just google "Amen Hubless". There are loads of pics and info available. This bike is definetly not my style, but things we see on bikes like these that may be coming to a dealer near you. Who knows, some of the stuff created by these type of guys may be the base for the next generation of XS11 type bikes. New ideas and technology is coming whether we like it or not and it comes from many sources.

[Larrym]

HardTail Test Track?

Not a fair test drive video unless of course:



/headdesk.

[fredintoon]

So is this artsy fartsy, cool or junk?

Hi Ras,
the hubless wheels are a neat trick, Didn't the latest Star Trek movie have the young James Kirk riding a bike with those?
The clip is junk art. Too dark, out of focus and no details.