Bought mxmikie's 1978 XS11 this weekend

[kta]

I got a ride out to Arizona this weekend and bought a fellow member's XS. Here she is:





I managed to lose my camera on the trip so I only have these low res cell phone photos for now.

It's a 1978 model with 49,000 miles on it. Just had the valves refreshed and the cam chain replaced.

It's idling slightly rough which I think is just the carbs being very slightly out of sync. It runs and rides pretty well otherwise but is a bit flat at WOT, probably needs to be up-jetted one size.

It has the XS750 final drive swap, Honda 3 ohm coils, and the Yamaha Venturer auto cam chain tensioner swap.

Overall it's in good shape and hums down the highway beautifully. I got somewhere around 42-43mpg I think.

I'm going to make a few tasteful changes and give it a good cleaning and polish.

Better pictures to come!

[3Phase]

is a bit flat at WOT, probably needs to be up-jetted one size.

Put some fuel in the tank and take it off Reserve?

Seriously, that's nice clean bike and it doesn't look like it got overcooked out in Aridzona!

[mxmikie]

man what a nice bike bet it has his world famous urethane motor mounts ...... yea that mxmikie is alright in my book ...... nice bike

[COOL TOM]

Exhaust

What brand name does it say on the exhaust? It look just like the one on my 79 Special that I bought.

[mxmikie]

What brand name does it say on the exhaust? It look just like the one on my 79 Special that I bought.

its a kerker

[kta]

Hey mxmikie - Thanks for the bike. It's been running great! I just ordered some oil and air filters so I can keep it purring for many miles to come.

Updated pictures coming soon!

[mxmikie]

glad it went to a good home they just sent my ninja motor

[kta]

The bike was very hard shifting, I noticed it right away when I picked it up, and it got progressively worse over the last couple weeks. To the point where it's very difficult to get down to 1st gear at a light, the shifter just doesn't move.

I adjusted the clutch cable out two turns, good as new. Shifts like butter. I imagine it's the same cause in mxmikies post a while back about hard shifting on this bike: http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24056

Mind your clutch cable adjustment! They appear to like being on the tight side.

Bike has been running great. I've been out laying down some miles. (I gave it a good clean up too!)

[kta]

This XS sure is a lot nicer than the 1970 XS11 I used to ride!:

[mro]

This XS sure is a lot nicer than the 1970 XS11 I used to ride!:

1970 was the first year of the XS1 (650 twin), 1978 was the first year for the 11

mro

[kta]

1970 was the first year of the XS1 (650 twin), 1978 was the first year for the 11

mro

Typo, it should have said 1979, not 1970.