Thank You Letter and Photos

[Mikes1100SF]

To the members on the XS1100 website:

Thanks for all the informative information that help new members restore our motorcycles. I'm the original owner of a 1979 XS1100SF. I bought it brand new and rode it for about 10 years and through time I stopped riding it and put it away in my garage for almost 21 years. I finally had the sense to try and get it running, and through the internet found your website. I was able to follow all of your suggestions on how to best get it running again. I did the triple clean of the carburetors, rebuilt the brakes, changed all the fluids, adjusted the valves finally, and installed vision cam chain tensioner and new tires.

The people on your website are some of the nicest and most intelligent people that helped others like myself realize how nice these motorcycles actually are. After I got it running I was able to take a trip from Chicago to Kalamazoo, Michigan to an air museum with my brother on a rented 2015 Indian Chiefton. And the 1100 had no problems keeping up with the modern motorcycle. Again, I just want to say thanks, and I want to post some pictures of the bike of how it looks after your help.

Kind regards,


Mike W.

Pictures (please let me know if they need to be reuploaded and i will ask my daughter):

http://puu.sh/pHeIx/9873ca72ca.jpg

[MarkD]

Well played, Mike. Your bike is beautiful, congratulations on getting and keeping it so nice!. Most guys on this forum are experts at helping, and very patient with those of us who need their assistance. Welcome to the forum.

[Radioguylogs]

Mike:

It's a joy to see how well you preserved that bike all these years.

Glad you got it going so you can get a lot more great enjoyment from it.

Ride safely, we like having you around.

[donebysunday]

79sf

Purdy !!!!! Very nice work !!!!!

[Wildkat]

Nice!!

Great job! And welcome!
The bike looks awesome

[Bonz]

Congrats!

I am surprised the Chieftain could keep up with The XS1100...

[jwhughes3]

Exactly Howard! These XS11s can scoot!!!

John

[DiverRay]

I'm glad you found the help here!
As far as the Chieftain, it's NOT a Hardly Ableson! They WILL keep up with, and pass, an XS1100! The "new" Indian has a great engine. That MAY be one of my next bikes.

[Bonz]

No way is a Chieftain going to beat an XS1100, period.

Show me where the Chieftain will keep it's 850-ish lb chassis up with an XS1100 in a straight line when it runs mid-70's for hp at 4500 rpm. All the torque in the world (105 ft/lbs) doesn't make a difference. See below...

Cycle world test: Quarter mile was 13.2 sec at 98.46 mph. Top speed around 112 mph. The Chieftain beats my 1982 CX500 by a handful of mph in the 1/4 and by 7 mph top speed.

XS11... Well, we know where it got it's name from by doing the 1/4 mile in the high 11 second bracket, at a trap speed faster than the top speed of a Chieftain.

Not even close! Did a dealer tell you a pie in the sky story?

[Prisoner6]

Well done, Mike ...

You have a beauty there!

WELCOME to the XS Eleven obsession!

[DiverRay]

Bonz, We don't have the gas out here we had in '78. The modern fuel for me has shown to drop a few seconds off the bike! I'm just saying that with fuel injection and all, the new Indian CAN keep up with the XS on California gas. But DO remember, we have the WORST CRAP for gas in the country!

[Bonz]

That must be some real crap gas! That is saying the XS has lost over 15 mph off its 1/4 mile speed on CA gas.

I have a riding buddy with a new Chieftain, and it's quick off the line but the XS can run away from it pretty quick. Even on the best gas in magazine tests and with the best riders, per se, the Chieftain won't break 100 mph in the 1/4 mile.

I would take a normally tuned XS1100 any day of the week on that bet.

In any case, the Chieftain is a sweet ride, nice look and love the torque!

[jwhughes3]

For a little around town riding you could make your own ethanol free gas. I have for my lawn mower and throw it in the XS sometimes.

You take two 5 gal cans and fill one with 4.5 gal PREMIUM. (Important because we lose two octane points removing ethanol)
Try and get grocery store gas without extra additives. It's supposed to be cheaper.

Add .5 gal DISTILLED water. That's Pure, Clean H2O Waterboy.

Shake, shake and shake to thoroughly mix water and gas. Shake again and let sit.

Ethanol jumps right out of the gas and into the water where it settles after a good 30-45 minutes into a layer on bottom.

Now some folks use fancy clear tubing and inverted cans to drain off water-ethanol mix. I just carefully pour into a second 5 gal can through my big Mr Funnel that has a membrane to separate water from gas. I dont fully trust it so once i start seeing the mix get into the funnel I stop decanting directly into the big container and into a clear quart plastic jug. That way I can be sure the separated mix stays on bottom or in funnel.

Its only a tiny pain but I feel better putting it in my mower and generator knowing it will last months instead of weeks.

If I added Stabil it would be better but I am too cheap.

John

[strom]

Wow, nice bike! Good to know it is on the road again.

This community of lunatics helped me a great deal when I was wrenching on my first and second XS11 standard for which I am very grateful... you guys rock!