Phil's (not quite) Excellent Venturer

[madmax-im]

Hey Ben. Hope all is well with you. Phil bought the Venturer with the painted over tank decals. (Blue) We are about a week away from starting it up for the first time. Fingers crossed the rings are ok. Hopefully you'll see it at XS East. Any chance you'll make the trip to XS North? If you can make it to my place we can head up together with some of the other boys. Thx Rick

Dunno about XSNorth I hope to be a working southerner...I PM'd ya... Oh I'll be at XSEast...

[Big Daddy Funk]

Okay, here we go:
The Good
This bike is a very rare bird. I certainly have not seen one before. It is a 1981 XS1100H standard model with the factory Venturer package, Canadian edition. It is relatively complete and original. Certainly a bike worth saving. Plastic is in good condition.
Electrical not too bad, cleaned up all the connections. Electronics yet untested.
Carbs removed, triple cleaned and adjusted. Two floats had holes in them from rubbing on incorrect float bowls. We still need two bowls.
Head had two bent exhaust valves due to improper shims. Proper shims donated by Tinman905 and exhaust valves donated by Blue Giant. Thx Guys. Used but serviceable valve springs donated by BDF. New valve seals installed
We replaced the timing chain as it had no adjustment room left. Stripped spark plug hole repair donated by Prong Built.

The Bad
Oil pan drain bolt female threads broken off. Pan had lots of sparkley bits inside, likely from trans. Oil pan donation BDF.
Clutches and transmission unchecked(my guess is both will need work)
Steering head bearings and races need changing Every other bearing on the bike needs to be checked, cleaned and repacked.
Fork seals need changing.
Rotors need to be cleaned up and checked as do pads, calipers and masters and fluid changed.
Middle drive and final drive oil change.
Needs Tires, mirrors, battery, fuel, oil and air filters, and mufflers
Exhaust pipes were welded with extensions, used stock pipes donated by BDF

The Ugly
This bike will require some serious cleaning and polishing time. I'm sure if it was detailed out it would look spectacular. The rider will probably need considerably more work to be merely presentable, But that's not my department.
The goal is for Phil to bring it to XS East and XS North.

If anyone would like to donate or give Phil a most excellent price on any of the stuff he needs, It would be greatly appreciated. There's a very tight budget on this one. I'm sure he'd let you take it for a ride when it's done.
I think we all would like to see a bike this rare saved, And it's time Phil started wearing long pants and riding a big boy bike. A full face helmet and non colour clashing riding gear would help the ugly part a lot too.
Thx Rick

We are still on track for a weekend start up. Phil's getting some O rings for the carbs. The valves donated by Blue giant lapped right in and are installed along with shims from Tinman. (I'll take you up on your offer of assistance soon).
Looks like Blue giant has some mirrors for the project and major props go out to our southern friend Madmax-im (BNE) who has generously donated new tires.
My thanks to all, Rick

[MaximPhil]

We are still on track for a weekend start up. Phil's getting some O rings for the carbs. The valves donated by Blue giant lapped right in and are installed along with shims from Tinman. (I'll take you up on your offer of assistance soon).
Looks like Blue giant has some mirrors for the project and major props go out to our southern friend Madmax-im (BNE) who has generously donated new tires.
My thanks to all, Rick

EEE OOHHH AAHH I had to read that twice. Wow. A BIG THANK YOU to BNE
and all my sponsors ofcourse. You guys are just great.
Thanks
Phil

[madmax-im]

Phil my pleasure and you know I just want to help a brother XSive so you are more than welcome. Rick needs to PM me his addy so I can do my part..LOL

[slow mo]

Hi Tinman905,
No I keep forgetting to take the camera. So the posted pictures will have to be the before.
Thank You for the Valve Shims. Delivery is certainly above and beyond everything. How did you get on with the Hell Hound ?
I look forward to actually meeting you some day
Phil

hi phil iwas there and i can,t take credit for the shims but i for one was glad that the hell hound was locked in the basement,, rick looks to be doing a great job on your bike, hats off to him!! take care and rude safe ,,slow mo!!

[Big Daddy Funk]

Current pics of Phil's bike








This pic shows the cleaned oil pan and filter housing reinstalled.

Seeing as I took this apart, Phil should have to put it back together ...right?

[MaximPhil]

Hi Rick,
As you know I only come for the ABUSE Everything you touch turns to Polished Aluminum
See my email for serious question.
It did not look that rusty in my memory picture you must have a good camera
Phil

[Big Daddy Funk]

Ya gotta get old...ya don't gotta grow up.

Not polished but definitely cleaned up. Problems are easier to spot and repair if you can see them. May as well clean it when you have it off. Plus there is the esthetic value.
As for the rust, it's just some spray on rust that I bought from the joke shop.
Memory is the second thing to go..., I can't remember what the first thing was...
As for the good natured abuse, I'm like any kid. As long as I'm making noise everthing is okay. If things suddenly get quiet, it's time to go check on them.

[Big Daddy Funk]

Dog without the sound

By the way guys, I posted a picture of the Hell Hound in the pet photos post.
Slow mo and Tinman, you can see what was making all the noise.
Maxim Phil you can see what she looks like without barred teeth, the dog has been asking for you.

hi phil iwas there and i can,t take credit for the shims but i for one was glad that the hell hound was locked in the basement,, rick looks to be doing a great job on your bike, hats off to him!! take care and rude safe ,,slow mo!!

[BossMaverick]

The fairing that was in the picture of phil's is just like mine. I was beginning to think that I had the only one with a squared headlight. I hope the rest of the project goes ok and the bike turns out to be a good runner for Phil. The XS with the fairing, bags, and stuff is awesome as long distance bike. One of the first mods will have to be a 750 or 850 final drive on a bike like that.

[Big Daddy Funk]

Time and money

The fairing that was in the picture of phil's is just like mine. I was beginning to think that I had the only one with a squared headlight. I hope the rest of the project goes ok and the bike turns out to be a good runner for Phil. The XS with the fairing, bags, and stuff is awesome as long distance bike. One of the first mods will have to be a 750 or 850 final drive on a bike like that.

Hey Boss. Yes these bikes are somewhat rare. Getting it to be a good runner is just a matter of time (got lots) and money (got none). I'm sure it will come out right in the end.
As for the final drive mod, that will be up to Phil to decide. Up to this point we have been committed to keeping the bike dead nuts stock as possible because it is a rare bike. Thx Rick

[DGXSER]

Being an 81, if you get a FD off of an 850 Special, perhaps needs to be an 81 also, it will have the same paint scheme and be completely indestinguishable unless you ride it and know where the revs should be. JAT.

[MaximPhil]

Hey Rick Thanks for posting the pictures. on the topic of final drive. I am used tothe XJ650 which turns about 1000RPM more than the XS11 for the same road speed. so my mod was to get an XS11
Phil

[BossMaverick]

Hey Rick Thanks for posting the pictures. on the topic of final drive. I am used tothe XJ650 which turns about 1000RPM more than the XS11 for the same road speed. so my mod was to get an XS11
Phil

Nice Mod!

[Crazcnuk]

I bought the Venture 'package' from a guy in Manitoba.



No Trans Canada Decals, though, I suspect that may have been a dealer quirk.