OPINIONS on Cafe XJ1100 Build wanted.

[natemoen]

In no way is this meant as a purist comment, but personally I think pods look like crap. They make the engine look small because then you end up with a big empty hole in the engine area and I think it looks terrible.

[Dylano*]

In no way is this meant as a purist comment, but personally I think pods look like crap. They make the engine look small because then you end up with a big empty hole in the engine area and I think it looks terrible.

Really? That open space is almost my favorite part! Like I said a few posts ago, I wish there was more of it! Like those sheet metal triangles (side covers) covering the fuse box and battery, I wish that was just an empty hole. No covers no electronics... you guys should see how I hacked up my instrument cluster! Ill post pics tonight.

[IanDMacDonald]

In no way is this meant as a purist comment, but personally I think pods look like crap. They make the engine look small because then you end up with a big empty hole in the engine area and I think it looks terrible.

I think it's just an XS thing, as the space is not so big on my GS semi-cafe I did.

[natemoen]

I think it's just an XS thing, as the space is not so big on my GS semi-cafe I did.

And I am only speaking of the XS in this situation. Other bikes may or may not have the same problem (in my opinion).

[Dylano*]

Here are some pics of mostly what I have done to the massive ugly instrument cluster... I'll get more recent pics soon, since, it has been lower on the bike, clean up, gap filled, painted and bracket made to look nicer.












(Tach needle broke after I revved it the first time after it got running good!) hahaha

[Garagamus]

I like it...(but then again, I've chopped everything out of mine as well). Don't know on the XJ, but if you move the battery & electronics up under the seat on the XS it has to sit pretty high to clear the rear tire with enough space for shock compression. Not as big an issue if you're over six foot, as I had to raise the seatpad up about 1 1/2" to make it comfy. I've also got a standard, so I had to purchase really low drop wide clubman bar to clear the tank, so my ergonomics are higher than regular drop bars. Agree with all on the front fender, chop it down or fabricate new. (I would say chop and use the original mounting if you don't run a fork brace). The hole between the pods and rear tire looks better with the electronics moved, like a bicycle with a car engine wedged into it. I painted my frame gold as well so it looks even smaller with a big engine in it.

[Dylano*]

I like it...(but then again, I've chopped everything out of mine as well). Don't know on the XJ, but if you move the battery & electronics up under the seat on the XS it has to sit pretty high to clear the rear tire with enough space for shock compression. Not as big an issue if you're over six foot, as I had to raise the seatpad up about 1 1/2" to make it comfy. I've also got a standard, so I had to purchase really low drop wide clubman bar to clear the tank, so my ergonomics are higher than regular drop bars. Agree with all on the front fender, chop it down or fabricate new. (I would say chop and use the original mounting if you don't run a fork brace). The hole between the pods and rear tire looks better with the electronics moved, like a bicycle with a car engine wedged into it. I painted my frame gold as well so it looks even smaller with a big engine in it.

Well on my XJ, the battery is rather large, and there are a crap ton of electronics. My rear tire already hits the bottom of my seat pan, so instead of raising the seat, I'll just stiffen the suspension.
I'd like to see some pics of your bike!

[Garagamus]

Far from finished, (the seat and tank are not painting themselves like I thought they would if I just left them alone for a month or two). But there are some build pics if you search for threads posted by "garagamus". Now that I work at a body shop, all I ever seem to do is work on other peoples projects.

[fredintoon]

It has mufflers! ...just tiny ones. (:

I agree, I would love to have that whole area open/empty, but the battery and all the electronics would be so hard to relocate! Plus I don't know where I'd put um!

Hi Dylano,
tiny, eh? Yeah, right. Bike needs horkin' great tin zeppelins to provide a modicum of hush and not strangulate the exhaust.
I put 1960s Triumph mufflers on mine. $30 the pair from the CVMG's Red Deer swapmeet.
Relocate the spark factory to inside the bumstop. Although you may need to build a bigger one. Back half of a scrap gas tank will work for that.

[natemoen]

Fred! I was getting worried about you, haven't seen you on here lately! Glad your back!

[jetmechmarty]

Bike needs horkin' great tin zeppelins to provide a modicum of hush and not strangulate the exhaust.

http://youtu.be/5W5mUVyh4l0

[fredintoon]

Hi Marty,
nice, but a touch of an overkill?
More like this:-



Ex-Triumph cans

[Murrayf]

i like what you have done

i would love to see some more pictures i am about to start down the same road

with the 79 i just picked up

[Dylano*]

I've got to admit, I love the little mufflers I have on here. They don't do much muffling, but they look great, and sound even better, god this thing is mean! Thank you for the pro's and delta's everyone! I'll be back with more pics soon, M uch of her is painted now. Somehow my speedo cable came unhooked on the freeway and I lost the inner line! Ordered a new on yesterday.

Oh also, I've since hacked off and reshaped and painted the front fender!

[WMarshy]

No cafe racer is complete without rearsets. Just sayin'