What did you do to your bike today?

[BA80]

On Thursday the weather in Kansas City was beautiful, so I jumped on the bike and decided i was riding for work. . First stop was a client about 20 miles away. Pulled into the parking lot, put in on the sidestand. Smelled gas, and thought crap, got a sticking float. Looked down and saw a steady stream of gas pissing all over my engine from a nice little hole that decided to open up near the front of the tank on the left side. Hit the kill switch, jumped off the bike, fumbled for my tool kit to get a wrench and pull the seat off then the tank. Of course I had just filled the tank and had a good 6 gallons in it. Day went from awesome to crappy in just a few seconds.

On a good note, at least I already have a spare venture tank in the garage. Started prepping it to paint today.

That's what you get for not riding. The bike is PISSED at you.

[Bigfoot]

On Thursday the weather in Kansas City was beautiful, so I jumped on the bike and decided i was riding for work. . First stop was a client about 20 miles away. Pulled into the parking lot, put in on the sidestand. Smelled gas, and thought crap, got a sticking float. Looked down and saw a steady stream of gas pissing all over my engine from a nice little hole that decided to open up near the front of the tank on the left side. Hit the kill switch, jumped off the bike, fumbled for my tool kit to get a wrench and pull the seat off then the tank. Of course I had just filled the tank and had a good 6 gallons in it. Day went from awesome to crappy in just a few seconds.

On a good note, at least I already have a spare venture tank in the garage. Started prepping it to paint today.

[BA80]

Not hard to tune Greg.......but are a bit more finiky with adjustments and float settings.

Been into then carbs 3 or 4 times. Runs great going down the road but at stoplights not so much unless you keep clearing the cyls........like an old hardly.

Idles perfect for a few minutes then just freakin dies.

And #1 needs the mixture screw turned WAY out to get a decent idle. Thought it was a bad carb body but I swapped it out and still the same.

[Schming]

Good to hear the bike is working out good for you! As for the Conti Go's, they mate with the XS11's frame and handleing design like they were made for the XS11. Over the 3+ decades, I've run bout every brand of tire out there on my Venturer. The Continentels had always been the make of tire that matched the handling/design of the Venturer IMO. The Conti Go tires still fall in that same category as the old style Continentals RB2(front) K112(rear) of decades ago. Plus they stand a bit taller and wider(.015 clearance between tire and driveshaft housing on rear) than majority of other brand equivalent size. Also, the load carrying rating of Conti Go's is a bit higher than any other brand of tire. They also sipe water in hard rains extremely well. You'll be a happy rider with them on your bike.

Brant,

Your opinion and time tested experience with the Conti's helped with my decision.
My 80G came with Conti Blitz's when I bought it in '92 and I replaced them with the same when it was necessary as I really liked them. Not sure when Continental discontinued the Blitz and in need of new shoes for my girl your reveiw of the Go's sealed the deal 'cause I wasn't sure if the quality went away like almost everything else.

Thanxs for the tip

[motoman]

Have I mentioned how much I HATE the later carbs? Freakin impossible to get tuned right.

Fixin' to put some early carbs on this other SG I'm working on.

It'll idle just fine for 5 minutes or so then just die. Suks at long stoplights.

Starts right back up but it's irritating as hell.

Not hard to tune Greg.......but are a bit more finiky with adjustments and float settings.

[BA80]

I have no problem with the early carbs (78 - 79) but I have hell with the later ones for some reason. Struggled with 2 sets of early ones on my SG and finally put some 79 carbs on it and virtually haven't touched them in 6 - 7 years. Even through an engine swap.

[IanDMacDonald]

I'll have to adjust mine again, sooner or later. Mine dies at traffic lights. Probably a sync issue. I know that, as the choke startup has not been normal for two years.

[BA80]

Have I mentioned how much I HATE the later carbs? Freakin impossible to get tuned right.

Fixin' to put some early carbs on this other SG I'm working on.

It'll idle just fine for 5 minutes or so then just die. Suks at long stoplights.

Starts right back up but it's irritating as hell.

[motoman]

Took my daughters XJ1100 out for a test run after fixing the second gear. It started easy (no choke) a little bit of backfire on de-acceleration but had plenty of power on take off. Second gear was holding while in town, got to the freeway ramp and it took off like it has never before. Second gear was holding, had power through the whole rpm band, it just wanted to run. About 5 miles down the freeway (half a mile from the next exit) it got real load all of a sudden. The Left side muffler fell off. I decided to take the exit turn around and come back for it... bad mistake. Got back on the freeway going the other direction could not see it. Turned around went back on the side I lost it...no ware to be seen. A that point I had to go home as my youngest daughter needed me to bring her a dress for her concert. As I was heading back to the house I felt a jolt. Then when taking off from the light I hit second gear... several more jolts. Either I put the wrong set of gears back in or I did not grind the gears well enough. I should have done the washer swap/move. I get my daughter her dress had a softball game after that (we lost). So a couple of hours latter I went back to that spot in my truck pulled over and walked up and down the freeway, it would seem to have disappeared. It was also getting dark I will try again in the morning (It is with in a few miles of my house) This was an after market set and I was saving the good stock set for my bike (soon to be built) If I cant find it I will be sacrificing my set for her.

Dern....hate to hear that Ty. I'm sure you'll find it hiding in the mediun somewhere out there on I-15.

[motoman]

Finally got to ride my '80G, for a 17 mile shakedown tonight, after a 15 year wait and all I gotta say is:


YESSSSSS !!!!!

The new Conti Go's feel great, the drilled disc rotors and stainless braided brake lines from Chacal haul her down better than I can remember, even with the added weight of being full dressed. The front suspension feels good with the Tkat brace and Venturer springs, rear is good for now til I get her loaded and see. The Gold Wing handle bars and set back risers along with the 1 inch lowered resculpted Venturer seat give this bike a whole new Cruiser feel that works well with the 750 FD swap. The Pacifico is sooo retro but does a great job and I'm sold on it.

After some pre shakedown tinkering and a carb synch the old girl is silky smooth. The higher gearing is a good mod for the purpose of this bike but I'll leave my '79SF stock for a "Sport"ier attitude.

Only thing I'm a little anxious about is getting my registration back in time, for XS East, from Harrisburg our DMV headquarters, as it was purged from the system 'cause I didn't keep insurance and let the registration run out in 2001. After 6 years the DMV purges the registration like you never owned it and you have to refile all paper work through snail mail with of course a check for $ 23.00 to the Commonwealth of PA but they cashed my check last week which is a good sign so I'm faithful it'll arrive this week . . . I hope

Good to hear the bike is working out good for you! As for the Conti Go's, they mate with the XS11's frame and handleing design like they were made for the XS11. Over the 3+ decades, I've run bout every brand of tire out there on my Venturer. The Continentels had always been the make of tire that matched the handling/design of the Venturer IMO. The Conti Go tires still fall in that same category as the old style Continentals RB2(front) K112(rear) of decades ago. Plus they stand a bit taller and wider(.015 clearance between tire and driveshaft housing on rear) than majority of other brand equivalent size. Also, the load carrying rating of Conti Go's is a bit higher than any other brand of tire. They also sipe water in hard rains extremely well. You'll be a happy rider with them on your bike.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Ty,
Having recovered a muffler that had made a run for it. Yours is probably hiding in the long grass. Amazing how far from the road they travel. A slow walk through the long grass maybe all it takes to recover.
Phil

[CatatonicBug]

That sucks! Sorry to hear it. Strange how Parts seem to vanish into thin air on the freeway. Lost a sidecover and a fairing turn signal that way...

[tcoop]

Took my daughters XJ1100 out for a test run after fixing the second gear. It started easy (no choke) a little bit of backfire on de-acceleration but had plenty of power on take off. Second gear was holding while in town, got to the freeway ramp and it took off like it has never before. Second gear was holding, had power through the whole rpm band, it just wanted to run. About 5 miles down the freeway (half a mile from the next exit) it got real load all of a sudden. The Left side muffler fell off. I decided to take the exit turn around and come back for it... bad mistake. Got back on the freeway going the other direction could not see it. Turned around went back on the side I lost it...no ware to be seen. A that point I had to go home as my youngest daughter needed me to bring her a dress for her concert. As I was heading back to the house I felt a jolt. Then when taking off from the light I hit second gear... several more jolts. Either I put the wrong set of gears back in or I did not grind the gears well enough. I should have done the washer swap/move. I get my daughter her dress had a softball game after that (we lost). So a couple of hours latter I went back to that spot in my truck pulled over and walked up and down the freeway, it would seem to have disappeared. It was also getting dark I will try again in the morning (It is with in a few miles of my house) This was an after market set and I was saving the good stock set for my bike (soon to be built) If I cant find it I will be sacrificing my set for her.

[Schming]

Finally got to ride my '80G, for a 17 mile shakedown tonight, after a 15 year wait and all I gotta say is:


YESSSSSS !!!!!

The new Conti Go's feel great, the drilled disc rotors and stainless braided brake lines from Chacal haul her down better than I can remember, even with the added weight of being full dressed. The front suspension feels good with the Tkat brace and Venturer springs, rear is good for now til I get her loaded and see. The Gold Wing handle bars and set back risers along with the 1 inch lowered resculpted Venturer seat give this bike a whole new Cruiser feel that works well with the 750 FD swap. The Pacifico is sooo retro but does a great job and I'm sold on it.

After some pre shakedown tinkering and a carb synch the old girl is silky smooth. The higher gearing is a good mod for the purpose of this bike but I'll leave my '79SF stock for a "Sport"ier attitude.

Only thing I'm a little anxious about is getting my registration back in time, for XS East, from Harrisburg our DMV headquarters, as it was purged from the system 'cause I didn't keep insurance and let the registration run out in 2001. After 6 years the DMV purges the registration like you never owned it and you have to refile all paper work through snail mail with of course a check for $ 23.00 to the Commonwealth of PA but they cashed my check last week which is a good sign so I'm faithful it'll arrive this week . . . I hope

[Wildkat]

Many thanks

To donebysunday for the Midnight bars!
We got them put on this evening... Finally
I love them!