new guy

[primussucks]

Hey guys and gals. New guy here. Just bought a '79 xs1100s. Barely runs but I plan on chopping it up. I have never built a bike or even really modded one. So this should be a fun project. I do have a few issues. The first. With all the different online vendors for parts out there where does one generally find the best prices. Was hoping someone could send me a link or two.I am on a pretty tight budget so I am not looking for the best or prettiest.Thanks for you help.-Brian

[MrOzz]

Welcome to CH11. We like pictures, so post a picture of your ride. You can get some parts from members. E-bay, Bikebandit, Dennis Kirk is where I get my parts. Parts in More, and mikesxs you can get some parts also. Mikesxs is a xs650 site but some parts can be used on the xs1100.

Ozz

[tarzan]

Welcome to channel eleven.
You can do a search here for bobber or chopper and should turn up a good bit of info and ideas.
BTW, get ready for a little flaming from the purist crowd here.
I love these threads, it's just live entertainment.lol
Ride safe.
Rick

[Elevener]

Welcome, even though I dont think Primus sucks.

Try this link for a vendors list

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16769

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Hey guys and gals. New guy here. Just bought a '79 xs1100s. Barely runs but I plan on chopping it up. I have never built a bike or even really modded one. So this should be a fun project. I do have a few issues. The first. With all the different online vendors for parts out there where does one generally find the best prices. Was hoping someone could send me a link or two.I am on a pretty tight budget so I am not looking for the best or prettiest.Thanks for you help.-Brian

Welcome to channel eleven.
You can do a search here for bobber or chopper and should turn up a good bit of info and ideas.
BTW, get ready for a little flaming from the purist crowd here.
I love these threads, it's just live entertainment.lol
Ride safe.
Rick

Why ruin the perfect outdated engineering? It still looks and runs GREAT! (new pic gotta show it off)

[DenyP]

Welcome to the group!

Deny

[RS Thornton]

Hey new guy

Welcome to the forum. You already have the list of places to go and look for parts so let me make a suggestion instead. Try to get your bike running before you start chopping. This way if something doesn't work it will be easier to get help from the forum. Also, if it stops working after that you will know what you changed and where to go looking to fix it again.
Scott

[Yard Dogg]

Welcome! When you decide what route you want to go on fenders and such there's a bike shop right close to me called the Rats Nest. He has all sorts of gizmos and doodads and stuff laying around. He hooks me up for real cheap. I can snap photos of parts and send em too you. For example, I'm going to buy a nice set of vance n hines mufflers for my bike for $25. Fenders, $25, etc... He doesn't have any 11's yet but I'm on him about it.

[Ivan]

Hmmm.... Ok, I won't pick on you cause you're new, but that ends here.

So, take the following in jest:

Strike one: Primus doesn't suck. Daughtry and Garth Brooks suck.

Strike two: Why chop a good XS11 when there are a gazillion CB750s out there that are much more expendable. Also, if you're into it, there is MUCH more abumdant supply for chopping the XS650. But its a free country. So chop away.

One more strike and...well I guess it really doesn't mean much...I ain't in to baseball.

[psycoreefer]

Welcome to the forum. You already have the list of places to go and look for parts so let me make a suggestion instead. Try to get your bike running before you start chopping. This way if something doesn't work it will be easier to get help from the forum. Also, if it stops working after that you will know what you changed and where to go looking to fix it again.
Scott

I agree, once you chop it up you won't know if you messed it up or if it was broke when you got it. Plus most everyone here has experience with stock, or close to stock bikes, if you chop yours up we might be able to make suggestions but you'll have to know enough to figure out where to look on your modified ride. Plus who knows, you might like riding it so much you won't find time to chop it

[fredintoon]

Hey guys and gals. New guy here. Just bought a '79 xs1100s. Barely runs but I plan on chopping it up. - - - - -Brian

Hi Brian and welcome,
first, a mandatory rant from the old fart:-
"Go all the way; stretch the forks, ditch the front brake, hardtail the frame, install a peanut tank with a US flag painted on it, smoke some dope and pretend you are Peter Fonda."
Seriously though, you will find XS/XJ11s on this list that have been re-made by artists, modified to suit individual requirements and some that have been plain butchered. (you choose) plus some that have been immaculately restored and a few that old farts have hung sidecars on.
Check in the "parts for sale" forum as a first stop for bargain parts.

[fredintoon]

- - - Primus doesn't suck. Daughtry and Garth Brooks suck. - - -

Hi Ivan,
not these guys?
http://primuscamping.com/
yet another group of caterwauling pseudo-musicians?
Music died with Delius.

[Yard Dogg]

These bikes are pretty easy to bob out. Most people just cut off the rear frame tubes and adapt a new rear fender and seat. I love the bobber look but I'm one of those who doesn't like to cut up original stuff so I'm trying to make it look cool without chopping things off. I know my bike doesn't look good but like you this is my first one and there's a learning curve.

My first fender I adapted was from a honda shadow so there were many holes I couldn't use and I had to fill em with weld, and altering had to be done so it would fit. It looks like crap unless I decide to use a bunch of bondo. I recommend using a wider front fender on the rear cause they don't have all the holes in em. My first seat looks like crap so I'm making a second one with a fiber glass pan this time instead of sheet metal. I like the long rides so I'll be making a rack and hanging bags on it, those holes and brackets on the rear of the frame will be useful. I've thought of cutting off the rear frame tubes and welding up something with a cleaner look but I'll probably keep em on so I have the option of putting the original parts back on it.

Here's some better pics so you can get an idea of what can happen without chopping. Keep in mind it's still in progress.
http://www.yamahamotorcycleforum.com...hp?albumid=678

[Larrym]

History and Owning a Piece of it's Greatness.

Welcome to one of the best interactive resources available to any XS/XJ owner. Lot's of technical stuff and reference material for the viewing. Plenty of knowledgeable (???) people who'll chime in if ya get stuck in the middle of something.

Sometimes when word "Chop" or "Bobber" appears on the page some of us cringe. It's not based on any natural male's reaction to what Lorena Bobbitt did to her husband John, though that was memorable enough. But in a strange way the reaction is similar in some people here on the site.

I wince at the idea cause I think of the XS1100 as a "Superbike". Not just a superbike, but the very first 1100 CC bike that the Yamaha engineers pulled out all the stops in order to win the title of superbike against all the other manufacturers in 1978. The 1979 year introduced the Special version of that same superbike so it just kept gettin' better.

IMO these bikes are in the same category as some of the more memorable cages that came out: the 1969 Z-28 Camaro, the Shelby GT 500 Mustang, and that fastback mustang Steve McQeen drove in the movie Bullitt:



Muscle Cars meant to allow the driver to open up the can of Whoop-A$$ and go beyond the speed/performance levels for the average John Q. Public.

Seeing one of these cars turned into a low-rider where they can't approach a speed bump without coming to a near standstill get's the same reaction from me as what I've seen done to one of these Yamahas. Never to see speeds in excess of 100 Mph again???

I think Ivan makes a good point about expendable/non-expendable models/years. Sure there aren't any basket case CB 750's on your area's CraigsList?

I believe the same people that would turn a Muscle car into a lowrider or turn an XS into a hardtail are the same ones who see the number 710 in my avatar.

JMO

[Bigge_al]

You name is MUDD

Just a plug to say some people may say change your name to "My name is MUDD" if you chop your bike.