Hello All Im New to the forum

[paj901]

Hello once again, my name is Jim and I live in lexington TN. Iv worked on and help restore a frew 50 model trucks and I have a 46 chevy ratrod I built myself and im very proud of, so I deside I wanted a new challenge and picked me up a 82 Yamaha xj1100 maxim for $100 that been setting 17yr but its not locked up. I want to do a retro style old school bobber or chopper with it. Iv done a lot of reading and research and have a lot of questions when it comes to parts interchanging and building so pls bare with me. Thanks to all in advance.

[fredintoon]

- - - picked me up a 82 Yamaha xj1100 maxim for $100 that been setting 17yr but its not locked up. I want to do a retro style old school bobber or chopper with it. Iv done a lot of reading and research and have a lot of questions when it comes to parts interchanging and building so pls bare with me. Thanks to all in advance.

Hi Jim and welcome,
First, here's my rant:-
"Why stop at a hardtail? Go all the way! Stretch the forks, rake the frame, ditch the front brakes, swap in a tiny gas tank with a US flag painted on it, smoke some dope and pretend you are Peter Fonda."
That said, how can we help you?

[fredintoon]

- - - picked me up a 82 Yamaha xj1100 maxim for $100 that been setting 17yr but its not locked up. I want to do a retro style old school bobber or chopper with it. Iv done a lot of reading and research and have a lot of questions when it comes to parts interchanging and building so pls bare with me. Thanks to all in advance.

Hi Jim and welcome,
First, here's my rant:-
"Why stop at a hardtail? Go all the way! Stretch the forks, rake the frame, ditch the front brakes, swap in a tiny gas tank with a US flag painted on it, smoke some dope and pretend you are Peter Fonda."
That said, how can we help you?
If you do intend to make irreversable frame modifications how about you do this instead;
carefully remove the frame and store it in a safe place then
scratchbuild a new frame that's whatever style you fancy.
When you find it ain't what you wanted after all, there's the old frame all ready for you.

[Old Red]

Welcome Jim,
This is a great site to get help with XS and XJs. I hope you can find all the answers you are looking.
The Other Earl

[DGXSER]

Welcome to the site Jim. There are very few places with the extent of knowledge of all the folks on this site. And even fewer places where you will find as many folks eager to share their knowledge and help you get/keep an XS/XJ running.

As to your goal of building a chopper/bobber, there have been many a really cool looking build put together by folks on this site. While the majority of us are purist about the bike and like to see it kept stock, we all offer the help we can to the folks looking to mod one as well.

Just expect a little grief if you take a nice or pristine looking bike and hack it up. Mostly because for every ten folks ho come on here and start hacking, chopping, and cutting one up, maybe one or two at most complete the build. Most end up putting their in progress project up for sale. And it is really ...ummm....interesting, when they decide their in progress butchered up bike is worth $5-6k, when they got the unmolested bike for less than $1k typically.

So again, good luck with your build, glad to give what ever help we can to make it a success.

[paj901]

Thank you everone for the warm welcome. I was looking for older xs650 to build when I come across this xj1100 and Iv learned the aftermarket parts and mods or not as abundant as the xs650 and thats going to make this even more challenging for me but to be honest I dont like the stock look I love customizing and being different I guess you can say thats why im going to build a custom Yamaha and not the over rated Harley Davidson. Thanks again everone.

[GLoweVA]

... picked me up a 82 Yamaha xj1100 maxim for $100 that been setting 17yr but its not locked up. ...

I'm one who also likes to preserve the stock aspect if possible, but from your qoute above, it looks like this bike would still be sitting there had you not picked it up for as cheap as you did.
With that said then, at least this bike may live yet again.
From what I understand, the 82 XJ11 was a one time/year production run, but most of the engine parts may exchange with the earlier 11's.

Good luck and dont' give up.

[mfarrington]

I guess you can say thats why im going to build a custom Yamaha and not the over rated Harley Davidson.

Anyone with the uncommon sense to buy Yamaha over Harley is ok in my book. Take photos along the journey and share with us!

Peace!

[jwhughes3]

Welcome!

Post pics!

John

[Cuda 69]

welcome,would love to see pic's as you got her.