hi guys, thanks for letting me join your group

[andylawcc]

my hotmail's filter been very aggressive lately, i submitted the request to join and 'never' got the acceptance email. By chance i tried to log in (without knowing I was added) and viola! it worked and I am in!

anyway, I am andy and live in Los Angeles; I am trying to help a friend to maintain/repair his butchered 1979 XS1100. It has a lot of customization done to it, my friend knows nothing about bikes nor its history, he just know how to ride and use it as a commuter (he doesn't own a car). That XS11 been modded here and there (details about it later) so i am trying to make the best out of what i can. The bike first had a fuel leak issue (stuck float) that's why he brought it over, but soon i found a ton of additional problems.

I personally ride a Ninja 250 (first gen) that i maintained for a few years. The 250 forum has a wealth of knowledge, considering for 20 or so year the bike been pretty much the same thing. That's why I am quite surprised to see so much support on this site, either be member feedbacks or how-to guides - all for a bike that been out for only 4-5 years (does the Maxim count?).

[kevxs]

welcome to the forum! it is amazing the wealth of knowledge on this site. it has helped me emmensly with my bike.
its true the XS wasen't made for too many years but i think it has lived on so long because of the sheer quantities of them produced and the fact that they are so well engineered that they last forever, even after sitting in a field for 20years!
i predict you'll be shopping for your own xs in a few months . . .

[DGXSER]

Welcome to the madness!!! Please post pics of the beast when you can. We love to look at the pics, and of course play "what is not stock on this bike". You will quickly learn what has been modded, things alot of us would not ever notice, will be spyed by someone.

To post photos, you need to upload them to a hosting site, alot of folks use Photobucket. Its free. Then paste the IMG code for the picture in your post here and it will show up.

[andylawcc]

Welcome to the madness!!! Please post pics of the beast when you can. We love to look at the pics, and of course play "what is not stock on this bike". You will quickly learn what has been modded, things alot of us would not ever notice, will be spyed by someone.

OHHHH, i think i will like that game

and yes, i foresee myself picking up a XS after i am done (maybe a 750 though, the 1100 is a bit crazy for me)

[Cuda 69]

welcome to the site,I also predict you will be owning an xs after you've taken a tour around the site.They are,Imho the best bike ever made,that's why they stopped making them,made to well.

[Rasputin]

OHHHH, i think i will like that game

and yes, i foresee myself picking up a XS after i am done (maybe a 750 though, the 1100 is a bit crazy for me)

Once you have been on a good running 1100 you will never think about a 750 again. Welcome to the forum and know there is help for any problem you may have. Sometimes a bit of patience is in order before doing something as there are various ways to do some jobs and not always the first to post is the best post. The whole community here will do their best to help in any situation. You have joined a great group in that all will help in any way they can if they can! Simply the single best forum I am a member of.

[BA80]

(maybe a 750 though, the 1100 is a bit crazy for me)

Welcome to the site andy. Rasputin is correct, once you've ridden a properly running 11 a 750 will seem like a mini bike.

But, if you go that way there is a site for them also. http://www.yamaha-triples.org/portal.asp

The 1100 isn't crazy, ( however some of it's owners are ), it's simply almost anything and everything you want it to be. It's not exellent at anything but it's very good at everything.

[Yard Dogg]

It's not exellent at anything but it's very good at everything.

+1, That's a great analogy. It can be a bagger, a cafe, a drag bike, a cruiser, a commuter, a bobber, all with minimal mods compared to most other bikes.

[BA80]

It's pretty good at being a sport bike too if you trust it to do what it can. It feels like a lumber wagon under you but if you let the bike do the work and don't force it it will do things you won't believe.

I can testify to that due to unwilling experience.

It will lean and turn at speed further than it's solid mounted appendages will actually allow.

[andylawcc]

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...15006905236849

pics are up! so what's not stock / wrong with this bike

[BA80]

Well, it is a standard with a special tank, looks like about a foot has been chopped off the rear of the frame. That's an after market headlight, the airbox is missing and pods have been installed. Thos handle bars are similar to the specials buckhorns but they don't look quite the same. It looks like it has the OEM exhaust on it though. If it's in good shape that's a good thing.

With the frame hacked up like that you have no choice but to customize the rear.

Here's a pic of a basically stock 79 standard. This one belongs to Bigfoot in KC. It has an aftermarket bikini fairing and a 4 into 1 super trapp exhaust and the custom paint of course but the chasis and frame is basically stock.

[andylawcc]

that's a beautiful black XS. did the Bigfoot spray the cylinder head and some engine cover black?

[BA80]

He painted the cases and jugs with a grey engine enamel, the valve cover and side covers are powder coated black I believe.

I forgot to mention those your bike has those custom floorboards and custom controls. But you probably knew that. Are the pedals in working order?

[andylawcc]

ya, i took it for a short test ride, gear shifts are okay so far (kinda hard to find neutral) and the rear brakes worked too.

[DGXSER]

That is an interesting managerie of parts. It certainly appears to have started life as a Standard. The exhaust looks stock and in good condition, so that alone has some good value. The list of everything that is not stock will be long indeed.

Fork lowers are painted black. No front fender, which serves as a steering stiffener, so the front forks will seem kind of loose like noodles in hard cornering. Non stock headlight and brackets, no front trun signals. Gas tank from a Special model. Carbs look to be from an 80-81 model, no vents visible. And yes, POD filters as opposed to the factory air box.

Now the interesting part is that the bike was bobbed and hacked to remove weight and such, yet it has foot boards and heel-toe shifter, rear brake extension, like someone trying to mimic a Goldwing!

Rear lighting is obviously not stock, interestingly it does have rear turn signals, bot not in stock location or stock devices. Yes, the frame has been chopped off, so you either need to find a scrap frame to cut the parts off of and weld tham back on to this one, or keep it a solo ride and some modified rear fender. Just be glad they did not hard tail the thing (no offense intended to the members who have).

Looking at the right side, it would appear someone has plaid major havoc with the bikes electrical system, no fuse box, no starter solenoid, no flasher unit, For that matter, I do not see where they moved the TCI (ignition control unit) or even the main alternator wiring. Yep , the harness has been hacked up something crazy from the looks of things.

No gages what so ever, no indicator light cluster, I assume the key switch is up there somewhere.

You definitely have a highly customized bike there. In more than a couple ways it is not going to be easy to make it stock again, if that is your intention.