What did you do to your bike today?

[3Phase]

Is the stock ECU rev limiter 10,600 and now it's 11,500 with the new ECU or is 11,500 the new mechanical redline for your customizated valve train??

You be careful with that thing when you shift or you'll be changing out 16 bent valves!

[Bonz]

11,500 is the mechanical rev limit of the ZX11 and matches the electronic rev limit of the ZX11 ECU. The ZX11 has that rev limit stock in the same head.

It's a mechanically safe and oft-done modification to the ZRX to run the ZZR 1200 cams along with high-compression pistons and the ZX11 ECU with ZX11 double springs.

Years ago a guy figured out how to wire the ZX11 ECU into the ZRX harness as he ran his ZRX for track days and wanted the higher rev limit of the ZX11. He then had a friend of his who was one of the original creators of the Xbox do a mapping of the timing curves of the stock XRX ECU and the ZX-11 ECU. He discovered the ZX11 had a more aggressive timing curve and that improves response on the ZRX tremendously.

Keep in mind the ZRX was designed to meet the 100 horsepower maximum in Japan and many European countries. It is way down on power compared to what it should have been. When the ZZR 1200 (140 horses stock to the rear wheel) came out based on the ZRX engine, all of the go-fast parts were plug and play like the cams, pistons and I figured out how to do the 40mm ZZR carbs with pods.

With that said, a fellow on the ZRX forum makes a wiring harness that is plug and play to hook the ZX-11 ECU right into the wiring of the ZRX. No soldering. Just have to run the ZX11 ignition rotor because it has a different pickup pattern than the ZRX stock rotor.

In any case I'm sure I've told you about this at a rally, but I haven't seen you in a couple years so that's a good reason for you to come hang out the rally and we'll talk more about go fast stuff around the campfire.

[3Phase]

I remember most of the mods you talked about but the specific redlines?
Ahh... (toes sand) N.nn...no!

Campfire sounds good!

[Bonz]

Come on Scott, you're slipping in your age. I bet you could tell me what thickness all 8 shims are in your XJ.

[IanDMacDonald]

Went to storage last night to pull the carbs. Forgot my key, so the left side cover had to stay on. Going back up there soon after my shower to pull thrm for a Spring triple clean. Pulling the battery to throw on the battery tender.

Once I get it home, it's getting the exhaust system swapped from an '80 Standard, so I gotta make shims for the headers. Speaking of that, I need to order exhaust header gaskets.

After that, I need to tighten-up the steering head after replacing the bearings last year. Then oil change and she's good to go.

XS-EAST is now tentative. I still hope to go. If not, so be it.

[thebottle]

Trying to sort out carbs, I've cleaned and bench synced them so far. Trying to get my baby back on the road again... been a long time. I'll throw them on and try to get them in line with 4 vacuum gauges. I also have a color tune if I need it. Ya'll helped me figure some wiring out recently, much appreciated. Going to flat black the headers and tips, and probably wrap the headers. Now I just need to get it running good, carb issue has been plaguing me. Anyway, I live in Wisconsin, and thinking I might try and make the CO rally if I can get it in order by then. Going to try really hard, miss this beast. I also want to get some progressive front springs for it. And it definitely needs new rear shocks.

is what it looked like last time I rode it. Want to slowly start getting rid of chrome and making it flat black and brown. Although, thinking it would be a real shame to flat some things, like the front fender and headlight bucket. Might keep that chrome just for styles.

[Bonz]

Trying to sort out carbs, I've cleaned and bench synced them so far. Trying to get my baby back on the road again... been a long time. I'll throw them on and try to get them in line with 4 vacuum gauges. I also have a color tune if I need it. Ya'll helped me figure some wiring out recently, much appreciated. Going to flat black the headers and tips, and probably wrap the headers. Now I just need to get it running good, carb issue has been plaguing me. Anyway, I live in Wisconsin, and thinking I might try and make the CO rally if I can get it in order by then. Going to try really hard, miss this beast. I also want to get some progressive front springs for it. And it definitely needs new rear shocks.

Hey excellent to hear you might try for Colorado this summer! Post up in the Colorado thread then you can keep track when guys post and as I post updates related to things still being on track.

There's a thread on the forum about Showa shocks from a Honda Shadow, I ran them on my 80 SG and they were fantastic. Easy peasy and cheap on eBay. Here's the link to that thread I believe.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30050&highlight=Showa

[thebottle]

Hey excellent to hear you might try for Colorado this summer! Post up in the Colorado thread then you can keep track when guys post and as I post updates related to things still being on track.

There's a thread on the forum about Showa shocks from a Honda Shadow, I ran them on my 80 SG and they were fantastic. Easy peasy and cheap on eBay. Here's the link to that thread I believe.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ighlight=Showa

Yeah, I would really like to run out there. Wife even gave me permission, even said she'd take care of my dog in my absence... unheard of! Been riding a KLR 650 last 5 years. Honestly love it, offroading is soo fun, but yet severely miss this old XS1100 beast... launching at 5k and beating half-litre sports bikes up to 70mph before I run out of gear. Ohhh... how I used to beat this old beast! Oh, how I love this mother ****er! Had to rebuild the clutch every year with new frictions, at least! Now I just want it running good, and I'm going to baby it. Well... of course, if somebody pulls up next to me to give me the what now, maybe I will give it to them... but going to try to keep the dogs in 1st-2nd in tact for the most part, . Started popping out under hard acceleration before I swapped 'em recently.

I'll post in the CO rally when I know more certain if I'll be able to make it. Really not sure right now. Like to get a thousand or so miles on it before I take it that far. But I do have the ambition, and the permission from the old lady, .

[Bonz]

Nice, I wish you well with getting the bike running!

[jetmechmarty]

is what it looked like last time I rode it. Want to slowly start getting rid of chrome and making it flat black and brown. Although, thinking it would be a real shame to flat some things, like the front fender and headlight bucket. Might keep that chrome just for styles.

There are plenty of rusty fenders and headlight buckets available for cheap. Buy them and paint them.

Why do you want or need Progressive springs? They're as old school as the bike. Your bike came with progressive springs. Are you sure they're sacked? Clean out the forks and put fresh oil in there. They'll be great!

I like the brown color choice. Back in the seventies, it was popular. Progressive Suspension does offer black shocks. Black anodized fork lowers will protect them from wear and continue your color theme.


Factory color 1974.

[thebottle]

Nice, I wish you well with getting the bike running!

Thanks my man.

Your bike came with progressive springs. Are you sure they're sacked?

I meant the Progressive Suspension brand... I like that brand... put in my KLR 650 and made a huge difference offroading. Check out this testing upgrading a KLR supsension,see here... shaved a ridiculous amount of time off the track. Suspension has come a long way since the 80's... and even 90's as evidenced by the KLR testing I linked, and it's easy to change.

I know the rear end is definitely sacked. It was bottoming out over everything and sending jolts up the spine, talking tiny bumps and train tracks. I figure if I change out the rear, might as well change out the fronts and seals.

I like the brown color choice. Back in the seventies, it was popular.

I feel like brown doesn't get as much love as it should... it's my favorite color. I like all Earthtones but brown is my favorite.

Black anodized fork lowers will protect them from wear and continue your color theme.

I'll probably leave those the way they are for now, but may do that in the future. I want some things to still pop. I like the headlight bucket chrome, the arms(leading back to the forks), the actual forks themselves (unavoidable), lower forks (left the way they are), and maybe even fender to still be chrome and pop off the front of it.

[Bonz]

I went with Sonic Springs in all of my bikes that I change things in. Honestly with the air assist on my 80 SG I never felt a need to change the original springs. Switched over to the Showa rear shocks off of a Honda Shadow which was the single best improvement once the stock shocks started leaking shortly after I got the bike years ago.

[thebottle]

I probably don't need to change the front springs either, but it made such a difference on my KLR that I'm going to do it. It's a fraction of the cost to swap those compared to the rear so **** it... what's another $100 and some change.

Anyway, i have the carbs back on the bike and need to sync them. Hoping this weekend. We'll see. This week I did get some of the wiring fixed.

This is what the previous owner had wired for the headlight which was melting.



I de-pinned the molex(?) connector and replaced it with this which has ceramic in it.

[3Phase]

That's a cool connector, now I want one!

[thebottle]

That's a cool connector, now I want one!

Got it here on Amazon.

It doesn't have the right ends to fit into the connector, so I used it as an excuse to get a crimper too, .

I got this crimper so I could crimp female 1/4" ends that would snap back into the connector. The screwdriver and wirestripper are absolute garbage, I actually threw the wire stripper away. The crimper and heads are alright, for as little as I need to crimp things, it'll be great for me. But if you do a lot of crimping, I'd get something better.

I gave my exhaust a few coats of flat black this weekend. I used Rustoleum 2000 degree High Heat spray paint. We'll see how it holds up. I'm going to follow the directions to basically bake it slowly by idling the engine for a certain time, letting it cool, doing it again. We'll see. The headers are getting wrapped anyway. Mostly the tips that I care about looking good.