New Member-Have Pics

[EricHa]

Hi Everyone. I've posted a couple times here, but haven't told how I came to the site. In February I was at a local bike mechanic/Kawasaki H2 restorer getting a rear wheel laced for my KZ900 project. I noticed a neglected XS1100SF sitting outside of a barn on his property. I jokingly asked if he needed me to take it off his hands, and he noted that while it wasn't his, the owner would sell it CHEAP. I asked how cheap, he said $200..........Do you know that feeling, alternately excited because you found a great deal, and sick that you neither have the money, space, or time to bring home another project? Well that sums up the drive home, knowing I couldn't let that classic brute rust another week in the elements.

Next to a Kawasaki Z1/KZ900, my most lusted after bike as a kid was the 1979 XS Eleven Special. There were a couple in my small town, and their owners flogged them mercilessly, much to this 15 year olds delight! Well here she is. I need funds to finish the KZ, but I can't part with the Eleven. Both will sit in my garage until they can be restored to their former glory. The XS needs major carb work, and evidently the PO could only get the bike to run on 2 cylinders. After pulling the header, I noticed heavy carbon deposits in exhaust ports 1 & 2. Any leads on what may cause that? Sounds electrical to me, but I guess could be fuel line related. Anyway, thanks for this site, thanks for the wealth of info already posted here, and hopefully I can contribute in some way down the line. Here are some "before" and "during" pics. Lots of polishing, a can of VHT ceramic exhaust paint, and she looks better already!

http://s725.photobucket.com/albums/w...S004-small.jpg

http://s725.photobucket.com/albums/w...S007-small.jpg

http://s725.photobucket.com/albums/w...iding004aa.jpg

http://s725.photobucket.com/albums/w...ng014small.jpg

[CatatonicBug]

Not too shabby! So, is the black exhaust the "before" or the "after"? Always nice to see anthoer one of these brought back to life. Sounds like you have some carb cleaning to do though.

[trbig]

Electrical problems will be on cylinders 1&4 together and 2&3. FUEL problems will be on 1&2, and 3&4. Looks like just carb work will probably get it fixed up.

Tod

[trbig]

Ohhh... And..... Since you have neither time nor money for this bike, I guess I could do the nice thing and take it off your hands for $300..


Tod

[exquized1]

What a nice find! What part of Il you from? A bunch of us are getting together on the 15th of may in southern Il. I am up by the rockford area. Good luck with getting her fixed up.

[EricHa]

CatatonicBug-The black on the Kerker is after. We have a sandblaster here at work, so a little blast time, and a rattle can of VHT Flameproof, and she looks pretty good. I'd like an old Russ Collins pipe for this bike as it was less angular and fit the bikes styling, but they seem to be quite rare.

trbig-Thanks for the tip. I've thought about selling it here so it would get a good home, but I just can't part with it. It's funny how it's probably viewed as just some old jap bike to most people, but these things were monster bikes when I was growing up.

exquized1-I'm down near Decatur. I'll be working at our mountain bike club's trailday that weekend, but hope you have a good time in Southern IL. That's a good little ride from Cheap Trick land. :-)