new member... new bike

[dingman29]

i recently got a 1980 1100special for 150 bucks from a friends dad... sat out for two years... carbs are being cleaned... they were all gummed up... rust on the forks and some on the frame... tank is rusted inside... i guess my question is, since this is basically a complete restoration, what and where to start at?? this is my first bike i will need to redo... since it did sit for a while would the brake system need to be just flushed, or completely rebuilt....

[bikerphil]

Welcome to the site. You can start by reading this thread....

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...=&threadid=792

[dingman29]

cool... thanks

[dingman29]

after taking another look at the bike, i was wondering how hard/annoying would the wiring harness be taking out if i were to do a complete restore. is it basically like a car where it will go back into place relatively easily??

also this bike has a fairing and it has been kinda weather beaten as well as the bags, is can i just use a different headlight?

thanks
chris

[mro]

Fairing
Takes about 10 minuets to remove.
One plug to disconnect left side and four mounting bolts.
Normally fairing bracket held on the frame with two bolts and four hose clamps.

Just need a head light asm. and front set of turn signals.
Unless somebody cut/spliced the wires should be easy to do.


mro
Welcome to XS Land
Have any pics of your XS?

[Yahman]

Originally posted by dingman29
after taking another look at the bike, i was wondering how hard/annoying would the wiring harness be taking out if i were to do a complete restore. is it basically like a car where it will go back into place relatively easily??

thanks
chris

I removed my wiring harness and went through it completely, it went back in with no problems at all.

Larry

[FrogChops]

New harnesses on old bikes...

Originally posted by dingman29
after taking another look at the bike, i was wondering how hard/annoying would the wiring harness be taking out if i were to do a complete restore. is it basically like a car where it will go back into place relatively easily??

The harness difficulty depends on whether or not you are going to use all your original electronic components. Due to huge advances in electronics between 1980 and now, we've remove almost every harness from our bikes and rebuild them from scratch. We end up getting a tremendously smaller harness with less problems and easier troubleshooting.

One of our current projects is an 1980 XS1100 Midnight Special...you can check our updates to see how we rebuild the electronics...

Congratulations on gettin' your cherry popped...the first rebuild is always the 'best'.

[Bowtied]

good luck on the project man.

Not to steal the thread or nothen but if you get into it and do decide to narrow down the wiring harness. Post up some pic's and advice on what and how you did what you did. It would help me tremendosly!

[XSPastor]

Hey FrogChops,

You need to edit your www link. It's got two http's at the beginning. I got it to work after I removed one. Welcome to the site! pix! pix! pix! We like to see everything!!

Tim

[FrogChops]

Link Fixed

Originally posted by XSPastor
Hey FrogChops,

You need to edit your www link. It's got two http's at the beginning. I got it to work after I removed one. Welcome to the site! pix! pix! pix! We like to see everything!!

Tim

Thanks for the heads up! the link has been fixed. We've got plenty of pics on the site and even more in the archive. let us know if you guys have any questions!

-andy

www.frogchops.com

[oldyam80sg]

If you have the Yamaha manual- in between each model there is a diagram how the harness should be routed.They don't show everything but its a start.

[dingman29]

sorry for taking so long... bought new carb kits and pilot jets... had planned to get all of the parts needed by xmas time, then i got laid off... kinda puts a damper on restoring a bike... the forks on the bike are pitted from rust (badly)... what are my options for replacements.... do the std and specials interchange or do any fit off any other bikes???

no brake fluid visible in the system... hope it is not gelled up.... hope in one hand and sh** in another, right??

tank is rusty but a local radiator shop is going to boil and line the tank for me... i would use the kreem kit but i have heard some awful things about it, especially the liner coming off in the tank... has anybody modified any other tanks to fit??

i figure i would get it rideable and everything working before i restore... i am planning to relocate to florida and want to take it with me... gives me time to find another job...

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Ding,

Sorry to hear about the job, looks like "we" might see a bit more of that with the tanking economy, best of luck with the relocate.

The Specials use longer upper tubes due to the leading axle design, so you can only use ones from other Specials, and the 11 is larger than the other bikes, so they are bigger/diameter, so 650's/750/850's won't fit.

Another more $$ option vs. Ebay is ForksByFrank, see the LINKS section, can get NEW and even custom made...longer if you want for about $200.00 a pair. Got mine with 4" over!
T.C.

[dingman29]

had to order a new digital camera charger... but at least it came with a new battery... this is what the gas tank looks like... there was maybe a 1/4 gallon of gas that sat in the tank for 2 years...

hopefully i can get the brakes looked at and calipers cleaned this weekend... (or a sunday morning recovery project)