Well, it's done...almost

[AKMac]

Well here's the final product. For every problem I fix I swear I find two more. I finally got the headlight situation fixed. It was the stupid control switch housings and my lack of electrical knowledge

I still don't have front brakes. I installed the old master cylinder and it takes a good five or six pumps to get any braking action. I road it for about 70 miles and it didn't improve at all. I'm almost ready to give up on them and take it to a shop. Any suggestions before I do this?

Also, when I installed the mufflers it absolutely killed my performance. Under hard acceleration from 5k to 6k it sputters, but from 6k to 8k it pulls hard. Without the mufflers it would pull like a wild banshee, but my dad said he could hear me hammering it from about 3 miles away (no joke). Do you think installing a K&N air-filter and drilling out the baffles would help enough to where I wouldn't need to re-jet the carbs? I've worked on this thing every day for the past 3 months and I really don't want to start another project by diving into the carbs. I just want to ride!

Other than that, it rides great! The suspension is killer, the fork brace really tightened everything up. Here's a list of everything I can think that I've done to it.

- Chrome plated front and rear wheels
- Metzler ME880 tires front and rear
- Replaced front and rear wheel bearings and seals
- Installed EBC pro-lite full floater rotors
- replaced front master cylinder
- Spiegler stainless steel brake lines with chrome fittings
- Rebuilt calipers and installed new bleeders
- Polished lower fork tubes
- Installed progressive front springs and changed fork oil
- Installed T-kat fork brace and had it chrome plated
- Chrome plated triple tree
- Chrome plated Speedo/Tack bracket
- Replaced all four blinkers and bushings
- Superbike bars
- Installed Mikexs 650 chrome plated control switch housings
- Kuryakyn mirrors
- Kuryakyn ISO grips
- Chrome plated clutch and brake levers
- Replaced gas cap with one from Mikesxs and swapped guts so I could use my old key
- Tank and side covers painted with Burnt Metallic Orange with pearl ghost flames
- Custom "Yamaha" and "XS Eleven Special" emblems
- MAC 4-into-2 exhaust system with turnouts
- Ceramic coated entire exhaust system inside and out by HPC
- Chrome plated valve cover
- Chrome plated all four engine side covers
- Chrome plated rear brake lever
- Replaced gear shifter lever
- Chrome plated side stand and center stand
- Replace rubber foot rests
- Replaced OEM fuse box
- Installed XS 750 kick starter and had it chrome plated
- Chrome plated exhaust hanger brackets
- Replaced King and Queen seat with OEM seat
- Replace rear suspension with Progressive 412 Standard Series Shocks
- Put in a lot of Hours, Blood, Sweat, Tears and $$

[osmosis4b]

beautiful bike!!! I'm sorry I have no advice to offer on the brake problem, but damn thats a clean bike!

[knewsom]

*sniff* *sniff*


sorry, just give me a moment here.



*sniff*




So...... Beautiful.........!

[mason79]

yeah baby....

[mro]

way cool ride

Don't know what to tell ya about the brakes.

Did mine. One at a time, pulled piston out and cleaned both caliper and piston, lines and mc. Then did right side piston/caliper. Took about 15 minuets to get any pressure when bleeding em.

Stuck a hose over end of bleeder and into cup. Squeeze handle 4/5 times and open bleeder, close, repeated for about 20 minuets till all air out. Had to use brakes about 10 times before felt like it is supposed to. First few times thought I had screwed up the calipers or something then they started to work.

your too far away for a service call



mro

[knewsom]

About how much dough, all told, do you think you've sunk into this project?

I'd ask if it was all worth it, but I think the answer to THAT question is incredibly obvious.

[Stralya]

Did you bleed the left side first?

[mro]

Did you bleed the left side first?

yes,
but don't think it should matter


mro

[Parr8hed]

had many an issue with the fronts on my bike when I rebuilt them. I eventually just left it sit for a couple of days with the bleeders open and a rubber band holding the brake lever back. After this the bleeding went better. Have nice solid front brakes now. I was about to pull out my hair. Just keep at it.

On the mufflers, also had a similar type of issue. Rebuilt the carbs and added 4-1 exhaust with pod style K&N filters. I re-jetted when I rebuilt but did not keep playing with jet sizes to fine-tune her. Got it close and then kept taking baffles out of the exhaust until the bike ran right and the plugs were the appropriate color. this was much easier than taking off the carbs and rejetting until it was running properly. It is loud though. I struggle starting her in the morning B/C I don't want to wake the neighbors (or the dead). I should also mention that I have a supertrapp tuneable exhaust. Nice deep loud rumble until wide open then WOW.

Nice looking bike. Very good work. I really like the chrome. Gives me something to aspire to.

[LoserShoes]

Don't know how many things you've tried, but heres a suggestion if you haven't tried it.

Make sure MC is full, secure the MC cover, open on bleeder, pull in brake handle, don 't release handle yet, close bleeder, release handle. Repeat until fluid squirts out bleeder without bubbles.

Should get enought fluid in system to really bleed the brakes.

[xswilly]

something that worked good for me
I took a palm sander, without sandpaper
and held it aganist the brake lines
to vibrate the air bubbles to the top of the system
still took awhile to bleed the system

[AKMac]

Thanks guys. I've tried bleeding these brakes every which way listed. Nothing seems to help. I'll be taking it down to the local Yamaha dealer to have them pressure bleed. Now, it's worth the extra $$ just so it will be their headache and not mine. They just better not mess up my paint job!

knewsom - Including the price of the bike ($1250) I have approximately $6500 in this. I know I could never sell it for close to that, but it's my baby and she will be that way for a long time. I probably could have bought a newer bike for less, but this has been a great adventure and it impresses the gals when I tell them I didn't buy, but built this bike. (It's also fun to watch the blank stares I receive as I tell people I have an 79' XS1100. No body knows what it is!)

Parr8hed - What 4-into-1 are you running? I'm considering a MAC 4-into-1 mostly because I can keep the center stand on. I put the bike on the center stand more than I don't.

[mason79]

center stand retention!

What 4-into-1 are you running? I'm considering a MAC 4-into-1 mostly because I can keep the center stand on. I put the bike on the center stand more than I don't.

did you not like the power delivery from the turn out macs?

i see the center stand on the picture, does it not clear?

[mro]

AKMac

I'm considering a MAC 4-into-1 mostly because I can keep the center stand on. I put the bike on the center stand more than I don't.

for those pipes I will bleed your brakes for you.



mro

[Parr8hed]

I am using a Supertrapp 4-1. I got it from a member here several years ago. I think that chevy454 may have the same type. I love it. Have not seen many others. Traded my factory setup for it. Some people say that I got taken, but I still feel like I got the better end of the deal. I love the sound and look of it. Love the tuneability. I can't use the centerstand. If I need to work on the bike I just put the centerstand on, slide in the bolts, and put the bike on the stand. Do not have to bolt it in, or put on the springs. Just have to remember to take it off before I go riding!!!! My header pipes look like crap though, I would like to have them coated. One day......