I need some real opinions...

[songs4sale07]

I am in the process of working on my 1980 XS1100 special. I elbow deep in the wires right now and getting rid of things that i don't need and cleaning up or rewiring the things that I do. I don't do much without some opinions and advise to draw from... I am a fan of weighing the pro's and cons of everything and then going with what i think is best.

1. I am thinkin about puttin' 10" struts on my bike. I know that they might be kidney busters and that lower than 11" inches could wear out the final drive... but I need sme opinions on this... I'd like to hear from people that have dne this and what their experiences were with it.

2. I am thinking about removing the front brakes all together. I know it' a fast bike and that they play a major part in the stopping process... but it would look pretty sweet if they were gone. ( Vanity... could kill ya. I know my old man tells me that every so often.)

3. Does Somebody have a photographic guide to what some of these electronics are? There's celiniods and relays that I have no Idea what they are. I know what I want to get rid of but i want to be sure that what I get rid of is Not what I actually need.

Anyway... Any opinions or experiences on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Again. Z

[bikerphil]

some pics...
Tip over switch...

http://www.benefiscal.co.uk/partinfo.php?myid=4307&mypartno=2H7-82576-00-00

headlight relay...

http://www.benefiscal.co.uk/partinfo.php?myid=4210&mypartno=2H7-81950-10-00

reserve lighting unit...

http://www.benefiscal.co.uk/partinfo.php?myid=1885&mypartno=2F9-84308-00-00

flasher cancell unit...

http://www.benefiscal.co.uk/partinfo.php?myid=337&mypartno=1A0-83395-03-00

ballast resistor...

http://www.benefiscal.co.uk/partinfo.php?myid=4488&mypartno=2H7-85370-01-00

solenoid...

http://www.benefiscal.co.uk/partinfo.php?myid=1431&mypartno=1J7-81940-10-00

[Ivan]

Removing the front brakes on a 600 pound sled that can do 130mph.... Not a good idea. There is an annoying habit on my scoot, maybe on other 11s, in which the rear wheel will start hopping when braking hard. With no front brakes, in that situation, you'd be screwed in a panic stop. Actually on these, with no front brakes, you'd be screwed anyway. If you like that feeling, why not take up skydiving without a parachute.

[crazy steve]

Removing the front brakes on a 600 pound sled that can do 130mph.... Not a good idea.

Ivan, that's an understatement....

Now, if you disconnect at least 2 plug wires while you're cleaning out all that excess electrical so as to limit your speed, maybe no front brakes would be ok.

It should also be pointed out that no front brakes is illegal just about everywhere.

'78E original owner

[DiverRay]

If you drop the front brakes, just go find a cliff and ride off!! I AM being serious!! At least then you KNOW when your time is up! ANY bike with power needs front brakes, as they are 85% of your stopping power. The electrical is a little easier, as you can dump the tip over switch, reserve lighting unit, and the flasher cancel unit without much side effects. The rest you WILL need to know what you are doing, or you won't need the brakes, as the bike will not run.
If you put the struts on, keep your shocks. If the roads near your place are anything like the ones in California, you'll have the shocks back on in no time!

[DGXSER]

You asked for opinions....

1. I am thinkin about puttin' 10" struts on my bike. I know that they might be kidney busters and that lower than 11" inches could wear out the final drive... but I need sme opinions on this... I'd like to hear from people that have dne this and what their experiences were with it.

Essentially your talking about turning your bike into a 10" hardtail correct? Stuff like this always reminds me off a quote from my father, we were riding down an old brick road in a nearby city and he said "You know, they used to make roads like this when I was a kid, they don't make them like this anymore, you know why?" and after we made several guesses he replied "Cause their sh!tty." Not only will you bust your kidneys, but also think that your frame and the rest of the components of the bike will be absorbing all those shocks as well.

2. I am thinking about removing the front brakes all together. I know it' a fast bike and that they play a major part in the stopping process... but it would look pretty sweet if they were gone. ( Vanity... could kill ya. I know my old man tells me that every so often.)

As previously stated, a better idea would be to go skydiving without a parachute, you would at least have alot less chance of taking someone else out with you. everytime I read about someone taking both or even one of the front brakes off of these bikes I have to wonder if they would even consider doing so to their car. It would be safer (safer, not safe) to do it to your car.

[rider6984]

Yeah Removin The Front Would Infact Look Great But The Problem With That Is A. The XS1100 Burns Through The Rear Brake As It Is B. Stoping On It Alone At About 30 MPH Is Not To Good Of An Idea....I Damn Near Lost My Bike Doing That..lol And C. If U Get Caught In The Rain U Are Now On A Death Trapt...Jus Some Friendly Advice From Someone Who Has Done It..So Be Safe On That Adventure..O But Before I Forget The 10" Shocks Is A Horibble Idea It Tears Up So Many Hard To Find Parts..Happy Riding

[79XS11F]

I'm not sure about at your location but here in Ontario it would be illegal to remove the front brakes. You would never get a safety check with the front brakes removed. Would you remove the front brakes from your car? The front brakes are so important there's 2 of them there. They provide as much as 90% of the stopping power!! And when you bury the bike into something, not if but when, your insurance will walk away shaking their head in disbelief.
Rob

[XSokieSPECIAL]

'NUFF SAID?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Song,

A lot of chops busting going on here, eh! Shame your bike isn't running right now...you've got it's wiring harness in pieces. I would suggest you take it out for a ride on a deserted road. Take it up to 30 mph, and then try to stop as quickly as you can with just the back brake. Have landmarks, etc. where you start to try to stop, and where you end up at. REPEAT with just the front brakes, and then REPEAT with BOTH.

Then ramp it up to 55+mph, and repeat all scenarios. You'll soon see that you have very little braking power with just the rear brakes alone, not to mention the tendency for it to LOCK up under hard braking inducing sliding, AND with NO shock obsorption, it'll hop and bounce as well instead of being able to maintain contact with the road further reducing the braking affect!

There are ways to DRESS up the front calipers, ie. take them down to bare aluminum and POLISH the hell out of them, ADD SS braided lines, a variety of colors available as well! Nothing ruins the aesthetics of a bike more than a FRONT END COLLISION!

So...shorten the rear shocks if you like, but KEEP SHOCKS, not hard tail. Either dress up or find some SMALLER multi-piston calipers to put on the fronts.

In the links section, you'll find the Official Yamaha Web site parts fiche where you can view wiring diagrams complete with images of components....nothing as NICE as what BikerPhil posted from the UK site, but can help you tell WHERE they are/were on the harness/frame as well!

T.C.

[wa407mpp]

Boy TC your a tough teacher. If he tries what you suggest he will lock up the rear wheel and highside, throwing himself over the the bike and then the bike will roll over the top of him, but I guess he'll get the point

[1st bike]

i don't know a ton, but what i do know is that bikes stop mostly BECAUSE of the front brakes. vanity aside, you can't stop. it isn't a function of slower or a little more unsafe, it is a function of CAN'T. paint them a contrasting color to your bike, or make them a totally funky bright red, or yellow....something, add the ss brake lines as previously suggested...but please don't take them off.

[Guy_b_g]

PM me with your personal info so I can take out a life insurance policy on you...ok?

[RS Thornton]

Well it would be possible

but my opinion matches most of the others. A hard tail and no front brakes, you should wait for that universal health care thing to get settled. The hard tail is going to cripple you slowly and the lack of brakes is going to cripple you quickly. I am not sure you are going to find anyone who has done these mods, I put upgrade suspension in and upgraded the brakes by going to SS so I live at the other end of the spectrum.

I do admit that I like looking at (but not riding)a well done chopper based on a 40 year old triumph or a SOHC CB750. I think if you started checking for forums for those bikes you might find some kindred spirits and get some ideas.

If you do some searches you can find some how to guides get rid of the reserve lighting unit, the tip over switch and the cancel. I've done that as I think it is more likely for the parts to cause a problem than providing any benefit. I guess if I lay it down I will have to turn it off myself

Although your clearly swimming against the current I would encourage you to add more to your personal information. Even if we do not agree with the project the ones near you could offer help on the wiring changes.
Scott

[Ivan]

I think an XS11 flat track racer would be cool....