Bike ID

[puskrat]

I have read and read and searched and scanned. I think I am about to ask a question that is already answered somewhere else, and I hate hate HATE when people do that on a community like this. However, I see no other options. I've referred to the identification links, the Serial number and color chart, and read lots of stuff.

This my 1980 XS1100G. It's been repainted, so the color is wrong, I know. The fairing seems wrong, but I can't put my finger on it. PO told me part of the VIN identifies at as "dresser", but I think that means "Venturer" in XSspeak, and I read today the Venturer was a one year only option in 1981. My hands are officially thrown up. The trunk is smaller than anything I've seen on a motorcycle, and reminds me of a cosmetics case my cousin had when i was growing up. So anyway, my question(s): What is the deal with this machine? The immediate P.O. had the hardbags repainted, but are they legit XS cases? Anyone recognize that trunk? I'd like to get my hands on a key for that.

Purists will be happy to hear I have abandoned my original vision of ratting this bike up. I don't know which of the decorations I will keep and which will go, but she will still be fully recognizable by breed when it's over. I like some of the work that's been shown here, and I think I'll go for paint to increase visibility, maybe work up some light tweaks, too.

[motoman]

A picture would be nice.

[puskrat]

Oh yeah sorry oops. [IMG][/IMG]

btw, thanks moto

[puskrat]

[natemoen]

There is nothing in the VIN that would designate your bike as a dresser or not. You are correct that the Venturer is an '81 ONLY. Your bike does appear to be a '80 standard. Fairing appears to be the correct Vetter fairing, hard bags appear to be correct. The trunk though is not the stock trunk, just looks like a universal trunk added on to the stock luggage rack. Maybe the original trunk was damaged.

[motoman]

Looks nice! The seat looks to have been re-done from the original pattern done on the Venturer seat(still have my original stowed in closet from when new, and replaced with the Corbin tour seat) and is originally off an 81 Venturer. The sidecases, sidecase holders and frame work, rear carrier rack with the slide adjustable backrest, and also possibly the fairing all originally came off the 81' Venturer also. Tail trunk in not a vintage from Yamaha Accessories at the time, nor to the Venturer, but looks dern good and fits the bikes lines well! Thanks for postin' the pic.....we all like pics!

[webbcraft2150]

Nice rig. Nicer to hear you may not cut it up for "personalization". These bikes, when they came out, pretty much set the standard for high powered, Jap bikes. The fairing (highly coveted item), bags, trunk and Cycle Sound (another coveted item) are typical of the touring setup Yamaha offered in '80. If you dump the fairing, you will need a headlight bucket to fit the headlight to the forks. You find the fairing a handy accessory if you do a lot of long trips. The windshield can be cut down or replaced with a tinted one for that "sporty" look. They are easy to duplicate at home with normal tools. I have a cut down, tinted windshield on mine, homemade. If you dump the bags, your will need different turn signal mounts or leave the existing bar mounted signal. I noticed your missing the stock passenger pegs. Easy find from a vendor here. Be careful when adding lights. Charging system on these rigs are taxed just running what the factory put on. LED's, when possible, are your best bet. As for keys for the trunk/bags, if they are unlocked, you can remove the lock and take them to most any key shop and they can make you one. Whatever parts you take off, STASH EM! Ya never know when you might want to put them back on.

[motoman]

Looks nice! The seat looks to have been re-done from the original pattern done on the Venturer seat(still have my original stowed in closet from when new, and replaced with the Corbin tour seat) and is originally off an 81 Venturer. The sidecases, sidecase holders and frame work, rear carrier rack with the slide adjustable backrest, and also possibly the fairing all originally came off the 81' Venturer also. Tail trunk in not a vintage from Yamaha Accessories at the time, nor to the Venturer, but looks dern good and fits the bikes lines well! Thanks for postin' the pic.....we all like pics!

BTW, you will also see that the latch on inside of sidecases is adjustable for a snug latching of the cidecase lids. A snug latching of lids keeps them from flipping open while motoring down the road.

[motoman]

Nice rig. Nicer to hear you may not cut it up for "personalization". These bikes, when they came out, pretty much set the standard for high powered, Jap bikes. The fairing (highly coveted item), bags, trunk and Cycle Sound (another coveted item) are typical of the touring setup Yamaha offered in '80. If you dump the fairing, you will need a headlight bucket to fit the headlight to the forks. You find the fairing a handy accessory if you do a lot of long trips. The windshield can be cut down or replaced with a tinted one for that "sporty" look. They are easy to duplicate at home with normal tools. I have a cut down, tinted windshield on mine, homemade. If you dump the bags, your will need different turn signal mounts or leave the existing bar mounted signal. I noticed your missing the stock passenger pegs. Easy find from a vendor here. Be careful when adding lights. Charging system on these rigs are taxed just running what the factory put on. LED's, when possible, are your best bet. As for keys for the trunk/bags, if they are unlocked, you can remove the lock and take them to most any key shop and they can make you one. Whatever parts you take off, STASH EM! Ya never know when you might want to put them back on.

In reference to having the sidecase locks keyed, they originally new were keyed different for each side, with one key stamped L and other one stamped R. Made for a PITA to have two different keys, so I eventually had the lock assemblies keyed the same.

[Wildkat]

In reference to having the sidecase locks keyed, they originally new were keyed different for each side, with one key stamped L and other one stamped R. Made for a PITA to have two different keys, so I eventually had the lock assemblies keyed the same.

That may be great for security. But I'm afraid I'd lock myself out of at least one of them eventually.


The bike looks good! I like the blue but looking forward to seeing how you make this bike your own style.
Keep the pictures coming

[puskrat]

BTW, you will also see that the latch on inside of sidecases is adjustable for a snug latching of the cidecase lids. A snug latching of lids keeps them from flipping open while motoring down the road.

I approve of not flipping open while motoring.

[puskrat]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. I stand by the text in my sigline about baggers, but I think this here Dragon Lady is going to stay pretty much intact. The fairing is the most objectionable design cue to my tastes, but I can't imagine fighting 70 mph wind without it. Maybe I'll get my painter buddy to do a dragon head on it.

The future, "owning" this bike, and all, is unclear. When I bought it and moved it to its first storage, it came with a parts bike and a spare frame. and extra tanks. And extra fairings. And an extra windshield. And Rubbermaid totes full of parts. And coffee cans full of carburetors. And extra seats. And extra rear bumper assemblies. And an extra brake caliper. And a smashed up gauge cluster. And etc. All in all, it filled a 6x12 trailer and the bed and back seat of a crew cab pickup. The gauge cluster almost got pitched over the weekend whilst I visited her at the unit. I remembered someone looking for a speedo needle, so I thought. Hmm...keep hoarding. Now I'm off to see if I can find that. Maybe instead of hoarding, I can help someone else's habit.........

As far as lighting goes, That's not about styling. I want visibility and safety, and want to lighten the load on the charging system. LEDs are my thoughts too, but I can't get my mind off a new headlight rig I envisioned with way too much wattage.

Again, thanks for the ideas, and the wisdom. I knew some of the stuff I was carrying wasn't original (at least to this bike, and in the case of the trunk, not yammerjammer), but I didn't know the origins. You'll never know how appreciated all the input is. I was really in a quandry of what I was even up against with some of these accessories. I did receive/have collected three full sets of keys safe the trunk. I think that was my first subproject on this.


Trunk latch (old photo..Immediate P. O. was an arson inspector)



That reminds me. I also got a full luggage rack among the extras.

[puskrat]

Carrying on....

If I can AW again, How is the interchange betwixt Special and Standard tanks. I like a big tank, but I like the look on the Special way better than my Std. Was spectorating about maybe swapping a fat Harley Tank, but really want to avoid fabricating on a fuel tank, and also disfiguring the Dragon Lady (DL).

[CatatonicBug]

If I can AW again, How is the interchange betwixt Special and Standard tanks. I like a big tank, but I like the look on the Special way better than my Std. Was spectorating about maybe swapping a fat Harley Tank, but really want to avoid fabricating on a fuel tank, and also disfiguring the Dragon Lady (DL).

The frames are all almost identical, so either tank will fit on the frame. However, the fuel level gauges are different (Special uses an indicator light and Standard uses an actual level gauge), so you'd have to swap dash gauges too (or mess with swapping the sender units, which isn't exactly plug-and-play). Petcocks are different, and don't easily swap, but you can delete the vacuum lines you currently have, and just plug the extra port on the Special petcocks since you won't have an "Octy" (a funny vacuum-operated fuel-distribution unit that adds about 6 feet of fuel line to the bike).

You may also have issues with how the Special tank meets up with the Standard seat.

If you do an amount of distance riding, you'll kick yourself for giving up the extra fuel capacity of the Standard tank.

[TopCatGr58]

As far as lighting goes, That's not about styling. I want visibility and safety, and want to lighten the load on the charging system. LEDs are my thoughts too, but I can't get my mind off a new headlight rig I envisioned with way too much wattage.

Hey there,

I'm currently doing some research on this very topic. A few years ago HID was all the craze, but LED technology has advanced quite a bit, and the prices have also come down a fair amount in some situations. I also suggest replacing as many of your bulbs with LED's as possible. I just finished PM'ing with Catatonic Bug, he put on the TRUCKLITE brand of self contained all in one type of replacement sealed beam type H6024 headlight assembly....but they and the other USA brand JW Speaker that the JEEP forum folks highly promote are rather spendy.....~$250.00 per light ! There are eBay HongKong type replicas with decent Lumen output specs, and they state the use of some of the latest hi output CREE brand LEDs in the assembly, for under $100.

However, there are also 9003/H4 style Hi/Lo replacement LED BULBs that also tout fairly hi raw Lumen outputs that are several times stronger than HALOGEN, and can fit into the OEM headlight reflector housing. They do have a built in FAN on the end of the bulb about 2" beyond the end of the mounting flange, and so I haven't verified that there is that much room in the headlight bucket for that? There is another design that used several loops of copper straps that get fanned out behind the bulb in the housing and act as heatsinks.....this type is actually promoted by Superbrightleds.com . Some of these bulbs are as low as $18.00 each, and if you have decent condition reflector housing, then the LED bulbs may be enough, and a cheaper option.

T.C.