Introduction, and Q.

[The Dutchy]

Hi I'm Raymond, I'm 36, living in The Netherlands and my biggest hobby is aged cycles. I own a few (7) starting from build year 1932 till 1986

2 years ago I totally rebuild a Yamaha XS1100 SF ('79 Eleven Special) bike for my uncle.
He got the bike from a friend who unfortunately died.
My uncle is not into bikes, but he likes to rebuild cars. He owns his own garage with paint cabin and stuff. Never mind. He asked me to totally take the bike apart and rebuild it from scratch. All the parts were newly chromed in a proper way (nickel/copper and than after polishing rechromed). Everything was repainted in the original colours. Lightcovers and signalglasses were renewed.
The engine was partial rebuild, new valve stems, distribution chains etc.

Today he gave me a call that the last time he started the bike it had difficulties in starting (3 months ago, hadn't run for a year). So if I had any spare time to pick it up. Well OK, tell me when should I pick it up and by when do you want it back?? He replied, well take your license as well, I want you to pick it up and never bring her back. You like bikes, especialy this one as you took her to the proces of restoring it. Hmm, speechless, I still stumbled, the bike is like brand new, don't you want any money for it ?? He just replied, pick her up and be happy.

I'll be sending picks as soon as I get her. Anyone with engine specs for this baby?? (BHP, torque)She's all american, I never had any specs on her, the bike never was listed here in Holland, so quite unique over here.
Does it differ from standard or is the engine spec the same.
In regards,

A Speechless Dutchy.
Oh, btw excuse me for my plain English

[BLUEJEEPLAB]

Welcome to our XSive world. The XS is a great bike and has more smiles per gallon (or litre for our European brethern). Sounds like your uncle is a great guy and really appreciates you. Lucky guy. Be sure to send him a Christmas card every year

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Dutchy,

Welcome to the wild and crazy group of Xsives!! Now, as to the specs, there's a link in the left column labelled "Specifications", but here's the link to the page for the 79 Standard, essentially same as the Special:
79F Specs

Yes, definitely thank your uncle for the wonderful gift. It may be that the bike reminds him too much of his "LOST" friend!?

Clean the carbs and RIDE!!

PS, Your "ENGLISH" is way better than some of our American!!

[dewibp]

Congraulations and you MUST get us some pictures. I was just wondering if there is much difference, however suttle, between xs 11's sold in Europe verses the US? I remember a "Dutchman" had half an exhaust system (left side) on ebay and it did not have the crossover pipe? Check yours out "Dutchie" and see if you have one. I'm in the process of recreating (2) old xs 11 specials now.

[prometheus578]

"Sounds like a Dutch Treat"

Oh, btw excuse me for my plain English

I had problems reading due to your accent, but finally got the hang of it. I heard that bikes over there are fast, but hard to stop. Something about not having calipers and pads, but brake drums with wooden shoes. Well... that's just what I heard.
Welcome, Raymond.
Like T.C. said, fresh fuel and clean the carbs, but I'm sure that you knew that.

[The Dutchy]

Thanks for the welcome guys.

This message board was pointed out to me by a member of the V4 board which I joined since I had my VF750F.
My interest in bikes starte when I was 8 yearls old, starting with a Honda CR80 dirtbike. What I ever had were all Hondas continuing with CX500, VT1000, VF750F. Inbetween I bought a Suzuki GSX1000ES which was a very bad choice. I still own the Hondas I never could sell one of those because the brought nice moments to my life. Except for the Hondas I have a '48 Matchless 350 Sportsman and a '32 Motorconfort 350.

On the Yamaha throughout the years I always had one thing that kept me from buying one. Over in Holland they always were like Christmas trees. Meaning to much details and to much parts which could have been build up by one part.
Now having a look at the XS through the information on this BBS she has a sort of nice touch. Either you hate it or love it, but i think that goes for all the bikes. Now I think I have fallen in love.

What I can recall from restoring the bike, the mufflers have a balancing pipe between left and right, running underneath the engine. We still use our wooden shoes for emergency braking. I'll go through the brake system and check if it is really hard in stopping, but I think that is a common thing with single brake callipers in front. The CX also has single calipers in front, which are a world of difference compared to the calipers on the VT and VF.

I'm using the info on this forum to gain information before getting the bike home. I've planned to pick her up midst februari. First I have to clean the Carbs, change the oil and filter. Drain and clean the brakes and renew the brakefluid. And by then get her alive again.

Thanks for all the info and allowing me to be on this forum.
I'll be sending X-mas cards, maybe one at his birthday also or would that be over the top?

Raymond

[Street_Rat78]

Over the Top...

I dunno Dutchy, with a gift like this, I'd probably send him one at Christmas, Birthday, New Year's, Valentines Day, St. Patty's days, and any other mildly important or just plain mundane day I could think of as an expression of my gratitude.

But that might get you slapped with a restraining order, which are never easy to get around.

Enjoy the bike, enjoy the forum, and if you ever need help with anything at all, just ask. I promise, someone on here will know the answer to your question, or tell you where to find it.

[strom]

Congrats on the bike....

It's still a heavy brute, but it has double discs in front and a single disc rear. But like I said... it's heavy and you cannot compare braking power to a newish BMW.
Other than cleaning the carbs, get fresh oil, filters, change the brake fluid and you're more or less set to go. Maybe a new set of spark plugs.

LP

[LoHo]

Welcome to the XSive world, Dutchy. I'm sure that your problems starting and running are carb related. I rebuilt my carbs, synchronized them, and she ran great. Then I ignored her for a month of cold weather...now she starts hard, floods, and drips gas out of Number Three carb.

These carbs are like having four wives: things don't run properly unless all four are happy, and if any one gets unhappy, it takes all of your effort to get back to smooth riding.

~LoHo~