80 Bobber

[motoman]

Throw some shocks back on that scoot so the U-joint(which already has a few decades of use) doesn't become an issue, which BTW could be ugly for you and the bike if it failed. At 75mph slab speeds and some pretty good suspension testing dips, you may wanna re-think the back of the scoot. Either way, that could be arranged or meet you part way if your serious.

[ShootersHoliday]

Those are non-stock calipers (can't tell, they might be the stock rotors though) and likely 650 wheels as they came in laced form and also take the dual disks, and even used the same disks as the 11 does. The rear though, unless the guy found one of those really rare wheels from Japan, it's probably a chain drive conversion, which might be an option for you with the lowering as I'm still a little concerned about the life span of that front universal joint with the rear lowered 4 inches.

Speaking of the chain drive... I found xschop does it if I'm correct. I tried searching in between actually working today, and couldn't find any sort of direct link or price/build break down.

[ShootersHoliday]

weekend up to Greeley (about 90 miles door to door)////// Then take a 'hop' over the hill to here, not far, nice morning or afternoon ride........will provide a meal, coversation and ice pacs............

ah, Greeley to GJ sounds fun... my aunt is outside of GrandJunction... But you're kinda the other side of the world from me at that point. I would imagine you're about 5 hours. But still, I'd be more than willing to take you up on the offer now that shes got fresh shoes.

[motoman]

And it won't be a bar hopper, I don't really drink.... And I don't like bars. I'll be taking her on a maiden "voyage" this weekend up to Greeley (about 90 miles door to door)////// Then take a 'hop' over the hill to here, not far, nice morning or afternoon ride........will provide a meal, coversation and ice pacs............

[cywelchjr]

here's one I found on the site with laced wheels

Those are non-stock calipers (can't tell, they might be the stock rotors though) and likely 650 wheels as they came in laced form and also take the dual disks, and even used the same disks as the 11 does. The rear though, unless the guy found one of those really rare wheels from Japan, it's probably a chain drive conversion, which might be an option for you with the lowering as I'm still a little concerned about the life span of that front universal joint with the rear lowered 4 inches.

[ShootersHoliday]

heres mine 1980 XS1100. ...

here's one I found on the site with laced wheels

[ShootersHoliday]

Yes, when I saw that pic of a beautiful 80 standard....my wish list yamaha.....next to rip it apart I did want to puke. I guess it's OK but why hard tail it. You just took one of the greatest road bikes ever and made it a bar hopper.
That being said, I did a bobber or two, or three my self.....but they always had shocks.

Now I'm confused, I thought we decided I'm tearing apart a non-beautiful franken weirdo unsafe custom...

I hardtailed it because I like the way they look. As stated, I did the hardtail so I can always change it back if I wanted. But, i'm short, and the bike feels infintely more comfortable at this height. Couldn't have gotten it this low and retained the stock setup.

And it won't be a bar hopper, I don't really drink.... And I don't like bars. I'll be taking her on a maiden "voyage" this weekend up to Greeley (about 90 miles door to door)

[xs11lover]

Yes, when I saw that pic of a beautiful 80 standard....my wish list yamaha.....next to rip it apart I did want to puke. I guess it's OK but why hard tail it. You just took one of the greatest road bikes ever and made it a bar hopper.
That being said, I did a bobber or two, or three my self.....but they always had shocks.

[crazy steve]

...I hate the fact that it doesn't match, and want laced wheels front and rear anyways....
.....and pictures of the trees/forks to see if this puzzle can be identified. Any spots in particular to take pictures of for those who could identify the parts?

You're SOL on a laced rear wheel unless you can scratch-build one; Yamaha only built one model that had a laced rear wheel that would fit, and it was a limited-production (100 total?) model that was only sold in Japan...

The front is no problem; the later 650 twin wheels will fit there.

Pics? Take close-ups of the trees, fork lowers/brakes, wheel hub rotors so we can take a shot at our 'best guesses'...

[ShootersHoliday]

You've got several options; the easiest one would be to just get a complete XS 'standard' fork set-up (including the front wheel) and install that in place of the swapped-on one you have now. This would correct the trail issue as well as bringing bigger brakes. Second option would be replace the triple trees with 'standard' trees, then look at a brake caliper swap. This may prove to be rather complicated, as there isn't any 'bolt-on' solutions that I'm aware of. The fork design you have will allow a caliper swap with a fabricated bracket, but you'll have to see if the front wheel will accept a larger rotor. Here's one swap to give you ideas.... http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27820. This would need a redesign to fit what you have, but would be similar...

Another option is a swap to a completely different set of forks/trees; here's this one: http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ight=fork+swap. BikerPhil came up with this one, and of interest to you would be the fact that this can lower the front of the bike about 1.5" if you go with Phil's method of installation. One thing nice about this one is if you get tired of that hardtail and convert back, this offers better handling over any of the stock forks.

Your biggest problem will be figuring out just what parts were used on yours; you've got (as far as I can tell) stock trees, Virago forks/brakes, and I'm not sure what the front wheel is off of; it may be a virago piece, but could also be a XJ650/750 too.

Anyway, good luck...

thanks for the links. looks like I've got some reading ahead of me... Regardless of it, the wheel will get replaced ASAP. I hate the fact that it doesn't match, and want laced wheels front and rear anyways.

But, bigger brakes/ better stopping is priority number two after making sure its safe. So I'll keep ya'll posted on that journey...

I wonder how those virago brakes work as far as capacity compared to stock? I know the disks are smaller, but what is the pad size? There are several ways to increase braking power, one of them is a bigger disk, but dual or 4 pot calipers also do that, and larger pads also do that.

Cy, you're right as to pad size; that has more to do with how well the brakes work as anything else. But the disadvantage to smaller rotors is they 'heat soak' quicker, so if you're really using the brakes they'll heat up faster and cool slower. Bigger rotors per se won't help braking performance until you start seeing some heat....

As both have said, bigger disks don't do me any good if the pads and calipers aren't up to snuff. This thing stops ok, but for the weight of it, feels it could definitely stop quicker. I like the look and cooling advantage of big rotors, but may be limited as I plan to go down to a 16" wheel at some point.

I'll take very detailed measurements when I get home tonight, and pictures of the trees/forks to see if this puzzle can be identified. Any spots in particular to take pictures of for those who could identify the parts?

[ShootersHoliday]

To put the correct/larger brake rotors you'll need to change the forks because the calipers will mount further up on the lower.

Have you looked up the VIN to see if it's a standard or special yet?

Yes, it is a standard I guess... My vin starts with the 3H5...

1980 XS1100G 3H5-000101 Diamond Silver, New Ruby Red

[crazy steve]

Cy, you're right as to pad size; that has more to do with how well the brakes work as anything else. But the disadvantage to smaller rotors is they 'heat soak' quicker, so if you're really using the brakes they'll heat up faster and cool slower. Bigger rotors per se won't help braking performance until you start seeing some heat....

[cywelchjr]

I wonder how those virago brakes work as far as capacity compared to stock? I know the disks are smaller, but what is the pad size? There are several ways to increase braking power, one of them is a bigger disk, but dual or 4 pot calipers also do that, and larger pads also do that.

[crazy steve]

...Any suggestions on where/what to get bigger brakes from? What would I need for the swap?

You've got several options; the easiest one would be to just get a complete XS 'standard' fork set-up (including the front wheel) and install that in place of the swapped-on one you have now. This would correct the trail issue as well as bringing bigger brakes. Second option would be replace the triple trees with 'standard' trees, then look at a brake caliper swap. This may prove to be rather complicated, as there isn't any 'bolt-on' solutions that I'm aware of. The fork design you have will allow a caliper swap with a fabricated bracket, but you'll have to see if the front wheel will accept a larger rotor. Here's one swap to give you ideas.... http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27820. This would need a redesign to fit what you have, but would be similar...

Another option is a swap to a completely different set of forks/trees; here's this one: http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ight=fork+swap. BikerPhil came up with this one, and of interest to you would be the fact that this can lower the front of the bike about 1.5" if you go with Phil's method of installation. One thing nice about this one is if you get tired of that hardtail and convert back, this offers better handling over any of the stock forks.

Your biggest problem will be figuring out just what parts were used on yours; you've got (as far as I can tell) stock trees, Virago forks/brakes, and I'm not sure what the front wheel is off of; it may be a virago piece, but could also be a XJ650/750 too.

Anyway, good luck...

[BA80]

To put the correct/larger brake rotors you'll need to change the forks because the calipers will mount further up on the lower.

Have you looked up the VIN to see if it's a standard or special yet?