My Custom XS11 Build (Photos)

[Da-Bubble]

I was going to wait until I got finished but I couldn't resist posting some pics. My dream bike is a Yamaha Roadstar Warrior Midnight edition but at $12,800 it's not in the budget for a poor college student.....So I'm making my own!

The wheels were stripped, sandblasted, primed with self-etching primer and shot with base and clear. The frame will be flat black then the tank, side cvrs, and fenders will be the same base/clear black.

I hated the stock rear fender (or lack thereof) so I fitted a Dyna fender from ebay ($36) to the rear. It fits perfectly between the stock frame rails. Its flipped around backwards and cut to fit. I shortened the frame rails and cut them in half vertically to allow for the fender strut covers ($1 at a swap meet). They ended up fitting perfect and I didn't have to cut the rear of the frame all the way off and start from scratch like I expected.

I lowered the front forks about 1.5" and the rear shocks are Progressive 11" units from ebay ($76) which is about a 2" drop rear. I shaved the tank emblems and side covers.

I've done a lot more but I've already bored you enough. Right now the bike is with a guy who makes custom seats (the only thing I'm not doing myself). I will post some pics once it's all finished. Tell me what you think!


What I want ($12,800)


What I can afford. ($650)


My first Mod


Red for the stripe


Base


Clear


Polished and Lowered






Frame cut


Fender mounted

Notice my $1 chrome fender brackets that cover the ugly frame!


Primered


Off to the seat shop!



Thanks to everybody on here who has answered all my questions thus far! I'm sure I will have many more since this is not only my first XS but first street bike period! And thanks for looking at my little project. Let the opinions fly!!!

[GNEPIG]

Wow! That is cool!
Can't wait to see what it looks like painted. Maybe a deep gloss black with two red racing stripes down the middle?

[mro]

what GNEPIG said

plus maybe quad muff's?


mro

[GNEPIG]

Quote:
plus maybe quad muff's?

Yeah 4, What a neat idea. And maybe a set of VMax tank(air box cover) badges?

[TomB]

Beautiful job there.

I think you're gonna end up with something way better than the Roadstar.

And its nice to have something no-one else has, anyone rich enough can buy a Roadstar, money won't buy them what you'll have.

Tom

[panshovel]

Really nice. old style. keep the pics coming

[planedick]

Short rides...

I see you have 2 headlights. With the weak charging system on the XS you better plan on short rides and on the charger in between.

[mason79]

nicse work so far!!

[Erik the Red]

dang dude

That's freakin sweet looking, man. Rims alone are awesome. I agree w/ Tom... Having something you made yourself will mean much more to you than just forking over the cash for the other one. Keep up the good work.

[bikenutt1980]

very nice job there, what are the headlights off of? I like the looks. Ive also been looking at the same shocks. What mod# are they? 412?

jason

[fredintoon]

Hi Da-Bubble,
looking good. Love the wheel treatment; same as my 1937 Velocette's rims. Some (hopefully) constructive comments:-
"And maybe a set of VMax tank(air box cover) badges?"
DON"T DO THAT!
Sorry, GNEPIG pushed my "Oh Christ is that ever ugly" button.
The two headlights will be fine, my sidecar has more lights than a Christmas tree and the alternator copes. And if yours don't, switching all the other lamps to LEDs will more than compensate.
About the rear fender, if you don't mind it looks like a Harley, why should I? BUT from under the seat forward there ain't no rear fender. Better do something about that or your carbs will drown out if it rains.
While we are back there, what do you intend for the rear light, turn signals & number plate?
Moving to the front, you shortened the fork tubes? That'll quicken the steering and if you kept the same springs they will have more preload.
Be prepared for changed handling on the test ride.

[GNEPIG]

Quote:
Sorry, GNEPIG pushed my "Oh Christ is that ever ugly" button.

That's ok man, to each there own.
That tuning fork badge has been on one of the worlds baddest bikes for a long time, I think that it might look real good on an XS11 also.

Understated yet unmistakably Yamaha.

[fredintoon]

No, Not the badges

Hi GNEPIG,
not the 3TF badges man, I love those things. I have (cheap aftermarket) 3TF badges on the gas tanks of my XS11 and my XS650. What pushes my Ugly button is the V-Max's hideous plastic fake air scoops. Like my granny used to say of those not in her good books "They are neither use nor ornament."

[Da-Bubble]

Thanks for all the compliments.

The headlights are from Harbor Freight Tools (a cheap tool store here in Oklahoma). They were on sale for $9 each and came with 55w halogens but I've replaced them with 35w Hellas. I figure 70w isn't that much more than the factory XS highbeam and they're pretty bright.

I'm not sure what model number the shocks were. You can look them up on Progressives site. I know they're the 11" variety. They were for a Harley, but some grinding on the XS and some metal bushings from Ace Hardware and they fit just fine.

I'm going to cut the stock plastic rear inner fender to seal off the area between the seat and rear fender. The tag will be mounted left side (still have to make the bracket) to balance out the kerker pipe hanging out the right. I have 2.5" bullet turn signals that have clear lenses with red dual fillament LED bulbs. They will mount low on each side of the rear fender (look close you can see the holes). I'm hoping to make them function as stop, turn, tail lights like a trailer would have.

As for lowering the front, an old bike mechanic told me to "slug the dampening rods". I had no idea what he meant until I took the forks apart. I found a pipe fitting at Ace that is the perfect diameter for the dampenig tube. Slide that over the tube and reassemble. It moves the tube down...viola instant lowering. I cut the stock springs the same amount as the spacers so should be the same preload.

As for the tank badges, I love the VMAX but I have other plans. Once we got the bike running strong I let my brother in law take it for a spin. When he returned he commented on how fast it was and said, "Man, this thing sounds like a pissed-off mosquito". From then on we've called it the "Mad Mosquito". My friend owns a vinyl graphics shop so he's gonna print up some badges for the tank that say "Mad Mosquito" in the same colors and font as the Warrior badges. I'm just having a blast with this build!

I will post more pics as I progress. Thanks again for the compliments.

[stoked]

Originally posted by Da-Bubble
Thanks for all the compliments.

The headlights are from Harbor Freight Tools (a cheap tool store here in Oklahoma). They were on sale for $9 each and came with 55w halogens but I've replaced them with 35w Hellas. I figure 70w isn't that much more than the factory XS highbeam and they're pretty bright.

.

Oh damn, the dual headlights was the first thing I wanted to do to the XS. I've been picking through lights at autozone, attwoods, and wal-mart. Never thought to go to Harbor Freight.

Your bike looks good. Was the pip you used in the forks PVC?