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I'll be installing this exhaust on my hand me down 1980 XS1100 Midnight Special, and I will be documenting (with pictures) the entire install. I was thinking of sending the pipes off HPC to be coated in a black finish to match the bike, but decided not to because I am not restoring it.
Now the intro part.
My father bought the Midnight Special the very same year I was born. He was stationed out on Travis AFB here in Northern California at the time, and was in the process of moving down to San Jose. The XS1100 was garaged it's entire life, and my father took very good care of it. He even installed a HUGE "Pacific" farring, which made it look like a "blacked out" Police Cruiser, IMO of course. There would be many a days where I would sit out there as a youngster and day dream the day where I would have the chance to ride such a beast. As most folk do growing up, my father molded me pretty much into a self sufficient mechanic/gear head, and also introduced me to the life on 2 wheels. I had various dirt bikes, and some small street bikes. (My favorite was my Yamaha YSR80 with a Yamaha YZ80 motor transplanted into it.) Man, I rode that thing to school, and it was such a blast. Pulling up between cars @ 7:30AM on the way to school produced some of the craziest faces I had ever seen! Just as I mentioned earlier, my father babied his bike up until January '97. In that month, he picked up a very sweet Royal Star Tour Deluxe off the showroom floor. The dealer had installed pipes, and re-jetted it to make a fast sale. Since then, I could count the times the XS1100 had been taken out...all on my left hand.
Recently, I decided I would start riding again, and I started to some simple modifications that would suit my needs. Back when my father purchased the XS1100, he didn't do much as far as "custom exhaust" goes. He drilled a few holes in the stock megaphones, and re-jetted the bike. With it setup that way, it doesn't sound "puny" if you know what I mean; as in how a stock exhaust putters compared to a set of drag pipes.
So far, the only mods I've done include: taking off the HUGE fairing, installing 28" "drag bars", and detailed the bike. (wash, wax, etc.) The 28" bars aren't wide enough to allow the front brake line to clear the round gauges, it works, but I don't like it. The brake line/banjo bolt cover sit in between the gauge, and top of the triple tree. Currently, I have a 32" bar on order, and I will install those as soon as possible. I'm somewhat anxious to get the new pipes on, and I'll report back, with pictures, when I get around to installing them.
Thanks for your time,
Brian
Now the intro part.
My father bought the Midnight Special the very same year I was born. He was stationed out on Travis AFB here in Northern California at the time, and was in the process of moving down to San Jose. The XS1100 was garaged it's entire life, and my father took very good care of it. He even installed a HUGE "Pacific" farring, which made it look like a "blacked out" Police Cruiser, IMO of course. There would be many a days where I would sit out there as a youngster and day dream the day where I would have the chance to ride such a beast. As most folk do growing up, my father molded me pretty much into a self sufficient mechanic/gear head, and also introduced me to the life on 2 wheels. I had various dirt bikes, and some small street bikes. (My favorite was my Yamaha YSR80 with a Yamaha YZ80 motor transplanted into it.) Man, I rode that thing to school, and it was such a blast. Pulling up between cars @ 7:30AM on the way to school produced some of the craziest faces I had ever seen! Just as I mentioned earlier, my father babied his bike up until January '97. In that month, he picked up a very sweet Royal Star Tour Deluxe off the showroom floor. The dealer had installed pipes, and re-jetted it to make a fast sale. Since then, I could count the times the XS1100 had been taken out...all on my left hand.
Recently, I decided I would start riding again, and I started to some simple modifications that would suit my needs. Back when my father purchased the XS1100, he didn't do much as far as "custom exhaust" goes. He drilled a few holes in the stock megaphones, and re-jetted the bike. With it setup that way, it doesn't sound "puny" if you know what I mean; as in how a stock exhaust putters compared to a set of drag pipes.
So far, the only mods I've done include: taking off the HUGE fairing, installing 28" "drag bars", and detailed the bike. (wash, wax, etc.) The 28" bars aren't wide enough to allow the front brake line to clear the round gauges, it works, but I don't like it. The brake line/banjo bolt cover sit in between the gauge, and top of the triple tree. Currently, I have a 32" bar on order, and I will install those as soon as possible. I'm somewhat anxious to get the new pipes on, and I'll report back, with pictures, when I get around to installing them.
Thanks for your time,
Brian
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