Picked up my project!

[MrFreeze5]

Most of you will probably be appalled at what I am going to do with the new XS11 I picked up. I like customs, Im not a resto guy and this one is gonna get torn into, but I thought I'd introduce myself and mention the smokin deal i got. Its a 1980 XS11 Special parts bike. Its basically a frame, swingarm, engine, and electrical. The nice part is the story behind the engine. It has only sat for a few months at this shop. It was dropped off by a customer and the engine was completely rebuilt as well as various other service done to it. The guy couldnt come up with the $$ for the service and left the bike. It sat for a little while and they tried to sell just the engine, but never got a sale. Now the shop is closing its doors and selling off everthing they have for cheap. So i got the thing for $125. It doesnt have a title, but I have a good titled frame that should be here by the end of the week that I got for $45. this will give me one frame to try things out on, and then once i finalize my plans, I can do the final work on the titled frame. Its fine that the parts bike doesn not have tank or suspension since I am going to be upgrading all of that from later bikes and making a mean monster. Ive got a set of R1 forks that are going on it. I also have a R1 swingarm, but I dont think Im going to use it. I see a ducati swingarm in my future I am sure you will see more of me soon as I will be bugging you for parts. I know I at least need some carbs and some other odds and ends to really get the engine going and ill probably have several dumb questions for you along the way. This is going to be my winter build, and may take a little while to get into full swing as I am trying to finish up my other custom project, a FZR600, which is almost completed. Ill have some pics of my new goodies up for you all hopefully tomorrow when I get a new memory card.

[fredintoon]

Go for it!

Hi Mr Freeze,
if you were proposing to turn a complete running XS11 into an OC Choppers style tiny-tanked raked out rigid framed rolling abortion a majority of list members would be reviling your name and sending you hate mail.
Worse, those with the appropriate contacts would be setting the IRS on you.
But you have only a good power unit and some frame parts rather than a complete bike and propose to improve the frame rather than degrade it.
That same majority of list members will admit that what the XS11 could really use is a rolling chassis upgrade so it can use all that awesome power to better effect and I for one wish you every good fortune with the rebuild.
Keep us posted, eh?

[MrFreeze5]

haha, thanks. I was planning a build along these lines with this style older bike but almost passed due to the shaft drive. Then I an across xschop's bike and the desicion was made It was nice seeing a physical representation of the idea I already had in my head. I dont like the tiny tank raked choppers at all. I like it low and mean. I dont like the huge gap between the tank and the engine, etc. I like the drag look, but more "refined." And I am a bit of a purist, so any parts that get swapped on will be Yamaha, with the exception of the back end. I love my Yams, but Ducatis are right up there with them and I am willing to make a few exceptions. I wanted something that could fit in in a group of cruisers/choppers, but still stand out, and still be sporty. I am a sportbike guy through and through. I love the speed and razor edge handling. Gobs of power and a fancy paint job are useless unless you can throw that thing into the twisties and go canyon carving! And then go show off a little at bike night. And it sucks when you hop on your bike to leave from bike night and it doesnt start because youre on someone elses bike that looks just like yours

[trbig]

Hearing that a shop rebuilt a motor may sound good to some, but to a lot of us that have seen/heard multitudes of horror stories from shops that have screwed up these bikes, it would scare the hell out of me.

I hope you have good luck with it though.


I sent you a PM.


Tod

[MrFreeze5]

Chops bike totally sold me on the XJ tank. I love the way it flows and hugs the top of the engine. Ill be looking for one over the winter. The plan is to build the rolling chassis first so the thing is easier to move around then start on body work. And i am hoping to be in a new house with a garage by winter so I can really get into it. Otherwise its going to be in the living room like my FZR is now

Im thinking XJ tank, but I havent decided on the tail yet. Thats the one grey area I stil have. I think I will need ot get everthing else together first then try a few things out and see what i like.

[wlsmoku]

I dig it....good luck

[Crazcnuk]

We can't control what idiots do with antiques, so most will just shake thier head and stay away from your garage.

BTW, I picked up a 1929 Deusenberg Roadster I am going to chop, channel, and put a Super B wing on with chrome mags and dingle balls in the windshield. Using a pinto frame and mercury outboard motor for power with a Ski-doo CVT belt drive.

Leopard skin seat covers, and a hot pink splash paint job and it will be real cool.

[xs11bobber]

We can't control what idiots do with antiques, so most will just shake thier head and stay away from your garage.

BTW, I picked up a 1929 Deusenberg Roadster I am going to chop, channel, and put a Super B wing on with chrome mags and dingle balls in the windshield. Using a pinto frame and mercury outboard motor for power with a Ski-doo CVT belt drive.

Leopard skin seat covers, and a hot pink splash paint job and it will be real cool.

LMFAO! I love it Craz! PICTURES PICTURES!!!!!

[DGXSER]

I for one am with Fred on this. I do get a bit of pain and little queezy when I hear/see someone is going to take a really nice stocker, well taken care of, and cut hack and twist it onto something. However, if what you got is crap to start with, then get rid of the crap and add back what you like. If that is not stock XS11 parts, so be it.

Have fun and get-er-done.

I do agree with Tod, I have read on here and seen in person what some one said was a good engine or rebuilt and ...well...the result in more cases than not has been alot less than what I would have thought. Hope your guy did better, but since they are going out of business does not add to the confidence level.

[xs1100rider]

don't beleive the shop

hey freeze i have been talking with that shop for over a year now about that motor and they were selling that same motor for three hundred with no warranty last year. and they also sent me a email recently trying to sell it for 150 after they had it listed on craigs in longmont for 125. i was going to go up there on friday to look around and see what they had left but you got what i was going to look at, but i still gotta go because my father inlaw wants me to get his 79 400 hondamatic going again. good luck with the build i live up in thornton off 120th if you need a hand.

[MrFreeze5]

Yeah, they mentioned it had been there a little while and trying to sell the engine for more. I was actually suprised by their price. I used to live in Longmont and went by there a few times for odds and ends, and you would think their stuff was made of gold. But this was a nice find. Personally I dont take the word of salesmen and salvave operations, but its encouraging. The engine looks like its in good shape and I am tearing it down anyway. But I am hoping that they were at least truthful about it being gone through. That just means Ive got less to do to put it back together. At worst, its an engine I dont have to ship so I can rebuild it, at best, it just needs a cleaning. Either way, I think I got a pretty good deal.

[thewiz]

Hearing that a shop rebuilt a motor may sound good to some, but to a lot of us that have seen/heard multitudes of horror stories from shops that have screwed up these bikes, it would scare the hell out of me.

Plus 1 there.