What did you do to your bike today?

[Mullineaux]

Today I was investigating what it'd take to put these HD Dyna shocks I got on my XS11. At first I thought it was a lot but then I read about a bushing swap which I'm now looking into what that takes. Still will have to take some metal off the lower eye, but if anyone has some tips, I'm all ears. It's a 12" eye to eye, I'm trying to drop the back end a little.

That and I took the lowering links off my KZ.

It was a rear suspension kinda day.

[clashpistol]

What is a Velocity stack??

When I think of it I picture Ed Barris's Grandpa Munster Coffin Drag Car with the stacks sticking out of the hood. I wasn't able to see any pictorial examples on the site so after looking on ebay... I got diabolical as usual!
I just got my 1979 1100XSF back together and waiting for a gentleman to show me how to adjust valves, sync carbs etc. Had major issues throughout but its running. I bought pods and then tried to put in airbox because I had the carbs in and out and didn t want to deal. So the pods are cheapo ebay deals. I sat for a half hr tryng to get the clamps on and the little buggers kept on walking off. Finally got them on and ran mechanics wire neatly through em for when no incase they pop off. Was riding it and definetly need everything set up but it was a nice day and I ve been working on the prick for a month. Well did a little research here and found out a bit about Velocity stacks(In this case perhaps tunnels) Straightening out airflow, having something to mount pods securely to etc. So when I should have been working on my tractor started playing around. No PVC is the size of carb inlet but.. 2" id flexible exhaust pipe is. So I cut 3" pieces after looking at where pods would end up at frame. I taped at the 3", cut one at a time with my grinder. Ground ends on bench grinder and removed fish hooks with snips. I thought I had a couple laying around but I went and got 2- 2" Fernco Heavy Rubber pipe couplers. They each come with 2 Gates clamps. Using a hacksaw I cut an 1-1/4" Piece off of each end with hub. With the 2 nd one you can use a offset pair of snips to cut it. So I have the (4) 3 " pieces of flexible pipe(make sure you compress it b4 u cut it) and the (4)1-1/4" pipe coupler hubs. I took black Gorilla grip duct tape and neatly wrapper around the flex pipe. Then jam the pipe into the coupler and put pod on end and tighten pod clamp. Then push them onto carb inlets(make sure you got the clamp on) Put a little spit around the hole as Daddy would say. They are snug but go on easily. Well I don t know the engineering behind it but performance is better and it sounds nice.

[clashpistol]

Velocity Stack?? Continued

What do you think? That isn t aFernco 2inch coupler that's al I had. I should have taken pics 1st. They are not falling off now. I m going to wrap them in Carbon fibre looking tpe perhaps if looks okay?

[clashpistol]

Velocity Tunnels

Let me know if I m on to something here or not?


they probably cost about $15.00 for a set of (4)

I bought a 5' piece of @" flexible muffler a while ago but I think was about $20
I think they sell smaller lengths and the 2" Heavy Rubber Fernco Pipe couplers werew $6.00 apiece. And yeah that fancy finish is Black Gorilla Glue tape its $10.00 a roll for the privlidge but it is good stuff.

Clashpistol

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Clash,

Whatever works is okay with us. I was just wondering though, about how SMOOTH the flexible exhaust pipe is on the INSIDE where the actual air flow is. The Black Gorilla tape makes the outside nice and smooth/shiny and pretty, but we also want a smooth chamber for the air flow from the filter to the carb inlet. Me thinks the grooved edges of the flexible joints will create some turbulence?? This was why I used the PVC pipe sections in my mod.

Now I know you can also get sections of just exhaust pipe...non-flexible in a variety of diameters, and so that could be another option vs. the PVC. JAT!

T.C.

[CaptonZap]

LOL, I just got a mental picture of being able to compress/stretch the flexible tubing to tune the inlet for best output at given RPM. You get to town, and you stretch them out, get to the other side of town and push them in.
Anyway, you may have a problem with the flex tubing flexing. You could run an angle bracket under the tubes next to the filters, and support the bracket, or you could solder the tubes, so that they were no longer flexible. And if you push them together, you will have a smoother inner bore than if they are pulled out. Still not as smooth as the plastic, but better than being streched out.
CZ

[clashpistol]

FUNNY!! Velocity SMACK

Ha Ha,

I knew that was coming! I was going to use 3' pieces and stretch them up just like Grandpa Munsters in fact. I knew it wasn t going to take too long until someone hit me on the fact of straightening out airflow. but this is a Turbo Torch swirl turbo induction. It s what I had on hand and sometimes you gotta be creative. I did go to tech tips and around for a bit missed any input at he time I was lookin. So that's what I got for now. At times here at "Joe'sGarage" we white man rig a lot of stuff. with 6 kids and all their toys, I am definetly the last person on the food chain. At least I had the snazzy duct tape. My daughter makes all kinds of crafts she sells out of all fancy duct tapes. At lest I didnt use the My Little Pony stuff. I got blown off trying to get over and getting the guy to work on (Mortis). I imagine he will be busting my balls too when he see it, but I m a glutton for punishment. It surely sounds a little different and has noticible improvement but its probably just its death rattle b4 it blows up with my luck you Pricks !! At least the pods won t fall out until I do something else and good idea with muffler pipe. I was just running around here to different garages and sheds trying to come up with something and dat's what I got for now. I had the airbox in and out 3 times and the videos and here say how fun and easy it is and it sucks with removing fuel lines etc. I ve been to the races before with a bunch of bushel basket bikes before but this one kicked my ass but well worth it. I m elated! What a machine!!
Have a Great Day! Its midnight and up to work on the tractor.

Jeffy

[clashpistol]

Funny. Thanks for that!

LOL, I just got a mental picture of being able to compress/stretch the flexible tubing to tune the inlet for best output at given RPM. You get to town, and you stretch them out, get to the other side of town and push them in.
Anyway, you may have a problem with the flex tubing flexing. You could run an angle bracket under the tubes next to the filters, and support the bracket, or you could solder the tubes, so that they were no longer flexible. And if you push them together, you will have a smoother inner bore than if they are pulled out. Still not as smooth as the plastic, but better than being streched out.
CZ

I just woke up laughing. Thanks Guys for all the help!!

[clashpistol]

SMOOTH, SHINY..PRETTY ;p

Hey Clash,

Whatever works is okay with us. I was just wondering though, about how SMOOTH the flexible exhaust pipe is on the INSIDE where the actual air flow is. The Black Gorilla tape makes the outside nice and smooth/shiny and pretty, but we also want a smooth chamber for the air flow from the filter to the carb inlet. Me thinks the grooved edges of the flexible joints will create some turbulence?? This was why I used the PVC pipe sections in my mod.

Now I know you can also get sections of just exhaust pipe...non-flexible in a variety of diameters, and so that could be another option vs. the PVC. JAT!

T.C.

It's $10 200 MPH tape.. It should be pretty

[bikerphil]

Today I was investigating what it'd take to put these HD Dyna shocks I got on my XS11. At first I thought it was a lot but then I read about a bushing swap which I'm now looking into what that takes. Still will have to take some metal off the lower eye, but if anyone has some tips, I'm all ears.

I have a set of these on my 79F. You will have to drill out the bushing eyelets with a 14mm (IIRC) drill bit. You will have to take a hacksaw and cut some of each mount off making them narrower. Make them the same width as the factory XS shock. Sorry I don't have any more specific details, I did this mod a long time ago, it's not hard at all to figure out. Good luck!

[XSive Okie]

Sanded down 2 layers of old paint on the side covers, and dug the emblems out of my spare parts box. PO had put duct tape on the inside of the covers and then filled the emblem mounting holes with body filler, so I had to clean those out with a wire. Have spent a lot of time on the mechanicals, so now I'm trying to pay attention to cosmetics. Will try to post some pics when things get closer to the finished stage.

[Mullineaux]

Man, the other day I took my XS11 on its first real-ish ride to the bike shop 40min away and my heart was pounding almost the whole way. It certainly didn't help that the front tire is badly dry rotted, the front seals don't hold air and it has a full Yam/Vetter fairing on it, plus I think the fork springs are sacked. I was taking it to the shop to have the seals replaced, forksprings changed to progressives, and new tires. The other thing that freaks me out is how high you sit. I'm used to my lowered kz650 and on the XS11 I felt like I was sitting so high I was taller than most mid-sized SUVs. While the XS11 has a bigger, heavier engine, it feels like the fairing, the larger tank, and me sitting higher makes for a much higher CoG. I'm also not used to having such a heavy front end that likes to hunt in the cracks of the asphalt. Lots to get used to, but I'll get there! I'm more resolved now to cut the seat down (it's a fairly huge king/queen w/saddleman cover) and lower the back end a bit. I am really looking forward to seeing how it handles after the shop finishes with it.

[Tat2demon]

Cutting the seat down will make a big difference. I just did mine and it rides like a completely different bike.

The front wheel tracking should go away with the new tires, depending on what tire you went with of course. Some track much more than others.

[Mullineaux]

Cutting the seat down will make a big difference. I just did mine and it rides like a completely different bike.

The front wheel tracking should go away with the new tires, depending on what tire you went with of course. Some track much more than others.

The shop had a range of selections, the owner seemed to think the Avons were the best and they were in the middle of the price range so I went with them. He said they were a good sticky tire that was made from better rubber (than Dunlop?) by the Brits. The guy's like 70 and had been riding forever so I went with his suggestion.

[jjz28]

I turned out my mixture screws to get rid of the decal popping and it worked. I pops very little now only on the right side so I will check plugs and see wich one it is. Bike runs great!