Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

newb from az

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    newb from az

    Picked up an 80 xseleven special yesterday in running shape, needs a tune up and a few little thing but over all not bad for $500. This is my first bike and I will be picking your guys brain all I can as I like to do things myself, and my bike is no exception.

    I plan on stripping the bike and making it into a cafe style bike. Its what I wanted and I had been looking at cb750s and xs750s as projects but found this! I'm really stoked about the little project and riding her. She will be my commuter as my trucks get horrible mpg. Before someone chimes in that this is not a sports bike or that there are other bikes with better mpg I already know and I don't care. This bike is plenty fast and gets more than double what my trucks do. It will be different then most anything around where I'm at and that's what I want.

    That's pretty much it, ill post a project thread on my bike with pics and all the progress and specific plans.

    Greg
    80 xs11 special- pods, kerker, cafe seat/tail, clubmans.
    2000 s10- 5.3 v8 swap, cam, stall, ford rear with 3.73s and posi, upgraded brakes, lowered, traction bars, larger sway bar, and a bunch of other stuff..
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Originally posted by NewGuy View Post
    Picked up an 80 xseleven special yesterday in running shape, - - - - This is my first bike - - - I plan on stripping the bike and making it into a cafe style bike. - - -
    Hi Greg,
    if this is your very first bike fer chrissake take a rider's course.
    FYI the XS11 is a top-heavy overweight monster that goes like a train, steers like a cow, drinks like a fish and shifts like a Russian tractor. After you cafe it with low bars, rear sets, knee-dent tank and a bumstop seat it'll still still go like a train, steer like a cow, drink like a fish and shift like a Russian tractor and you are still gonna love it.
    Fred Hill, S'toon
    XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
    "The Flying Pumpkin"

    Comment

    • #3
      Too Much Sun?

      'Lo Greg,

      This brings the total XS/XJ population here in Tucson to Ummm...THREE!

      I know what you mean about the gas mileage. I'll take the 40+ Mpg my Special delivers over the 12 Mpg I get in my truck.

      Park it in the shade if you can...

      Comment

      • #4
        Welcome!

        Welcome to the forum!

        Many of us are visually oriented so pics are always appreciated.


        Originally posted by fredintoon View Post
        After you cafe it with low bars, rear sets, knee-dent tank and a bumstop seat it'll still still go like a train, steer like a cow, drink like a fish and shift like a Russian tractor and you are still gonna love it.
        lol
        Yep
        81 SH Something Special
        81 frame, 80 tank and side covers, 79 tail light and carbs, 78 engine, 750 final drive mod, Geezer rec/reg, 140 mains, LH wheels
        ☺

        79 SF MEAUQABEAUXS
        81SH Nor'eas tah (Old Red)
        80 LG Black Magic
        78 E Standard Practice


        James 3:17

        If I can make at least one person smile, or pee their pants a little, or maybe spit out their drink; then my day is not wasted.

        “Alis Volat Propriis”

        Yamaha XS 1100 Classic
        For those on FB

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by fredintoon View Post
          Hi Greg,
          if this is your very first bike fer chrissake take a rider's course.

          After you cafe it with low bars, rear sets, knee-dent tank and a bumstop seat it'll still still go like a train, steer like a cow, drink like a fish and shift like a Russian tractor and you are still gonna love it.
          Riders course is in 2 weeks, not taking the bike out before then. Army requires it for anyone who rides.
          80 xs11 special- pods, kerker, cafe seat/tail, clubmans.
          2000 s10- 5.3 v8 swap, cam, stall, ford rear with 3.73s and posi, upgraded brakes, lowered, traction bars, larger sway bar, and a bunch of other stuff..

          Comment

          • #6
            Az

            Welcome!

            A special is a really neat package as is. Do you realy need a bobber, cafe racer, or whatever?

            Anyway, sounds like a good buy.

            I've been making plans to move to Phoenix. Maybe I should make it Tucson!
            I don't think Ive ever seen a post from Phoenix.
            Tom Clisham

            Age is relative YOU WON"T GET OLD TIL YOU SELL THE BIKE
            _____________________________________________

            '78xs1100E ,all stock & original GONE TO WISCONSIN

            '80 SG Vetter fairing,hard bags,trunk,fork brace,
            stock headers with fishtail mufflers,black & beautiful GONE TO ARIZONA

            79SF lowered,jardine 4/2 exhaust,pod filters,drilled rotors,fork brace, bar hopper

            79SF 1 owner,8000 miles, restoring to completely original ( I hope) GONE TO FRANCE

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by tom clisham View Post
              Welcome!

              A special is a really neat package as is. Do you realy need a bobber, cafe racer, or whatever?

              Anyway, sounds like a good buy.

              I've been making plans to move to Phoenix. Maybe I should make it Tucson!
              I don't think Ive ever seen a post from Phoenix.
              tucson is better.

              I'm not planning on doing all that much, just a seat, bars, and maybe a tank if i find one i like. i just like the style, plus the stock bars suck.



              PICS IN THE DISCUSSION SECTION! under "gregs project"
              80 xs11 special- pods, kerker, cafe seat/tail, clubmans.
              2000 s10- 5.3 v8 swap, cam, stall, ford rear with 3.73s and posi, upgraded brakes, lowered, traction bars, larger sway bar, and a bunch of other stuff..

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by NewGuy View Post
                tucson is better.

                I'm not planning on doing all that much, just a seat, bars, and maybe a tank if i find one i like. i just like the style, plus the stock bars suck.



                PICS IN THE DISCUSSION SECTION! under "gregs project"
                Even better IMHO is a little further south in Sierra Vista. Bit cooler but not too much, and lots of fun twisty roads to ride on. (I was stationed down there in the Army back in the day)
                Cy

                1980 XS1100G (Brutus) w/81H Engine
                Duplicolor Mirage Paint Job (Purple/Green)
                Vetter Windjammer IV
                Vetter hard bags & Trunk
                OEM Luggage Rack
                Jardine Spaghetti 4-2 exhaust system
                Spade Fuse Box
                Turn Signal Auto Cancel Mod
                750 FD Mod
                TC Spin on Oil Filter Adapter (temp removed)
                XJ1100 Front Footpegs
                XJ1100 Shocks

                I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Slim Pickin's???

                  Originally posted by cywelchjr View Post
                  Even better IMHO is a little further south in Sierra Vista. Bit cooler but not too much, and lots of fun twisty roads to ride on. (I was stationed down there in the Army back in the day)
                  +1 On that Cy.

                  This map shows only a few of the good rides around SV. It totally disregards the road from SV to Tombstone which I've done 4 times in one day.

                  Here is the "less than 30 minutes away" road here in Tucson where I regularly work on my chicken strips:

                  Picture Rocks Road

                  ( change to "satellite or Terrain" view...)

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Fred, you are in fine tune, again, as usual. It's the best description of the XS11 I have have heard yet.
                    Ole Jack
                    J.D."Jack" Smith
                    1980G&S "Halfbreed"
                    1978E straight job
                    "We the people are the rightful masters of both congress and the courts, not to overthrow the constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the constitution." Abraham Lincoln

                    Life is like a coin, you can choose to spend it any way you wish, but you can only spend it once. Make your choices wisely.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Originally posted by NewGuy View Post
                      - - - I'm not planning on doing all that much, just a seat, bars, and maybe a tank if i find one i like. i just like the style, plus the stock bars suck. - - -
                      Hi Greg,
                      nobody I know of makes aftermarket seats for XS11s.
                      You could build a cafe seat using the stock seat pan as a base though.
                      A trick to find the bars you like is to go to a bike swap meet and find the vendor (there's always one at least) with a box'o'bars to sell. Hold them in your natural riding position to find the best fit.
                      A stock Standard tank bolts right up with a little fiddling.
                      Never mind the look, it holds 20 litres instead of the Special's 15. Even if you do get 40mpg, that extra gas can save you having to push a 600lb bike to the next gas station.
                      And nobody likes the rototiller bars. Except Marty. He says they fit him perfectly.
                      Fred Hill, S'toon
                      XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
                      "The Flying Pumpkin"

                      Comment

                      Previous template Next
                      Working...
                      X