Final pix of bike

[James England]

Is that the 'plan', or just what you're telling SWMBO to make the second purchase go

Well spotted! I think somehow I'll end up doing it up and then....keeping it!

[CatatonicBug]

I always make sure my tax disc is upside down though, so the traffic warden has to assume a ludicrous posture to check the details......

You can get a fine for that here too... Anything other than "Properly mounted and displayed" is illegal and likely to get a ticket. Especially if you get pulled over for some other reason first.

[TECHLINETOM]

Effing Sweet.....Glad you cleaned the rear tire for the pix!!!

Effing Sweet...

Yeah like your avatar!

[tom clisham]

Looks like it's '78 all over again. Great job!

[trdriver71]

NIIIIIIIIIIICE looking bike just wish mine looked like yours a little jeolous!!!

[James England]

NIIIIIIIIIIICE looking bike just wish mine looked like yours a little jeolous!!!

Glad you like it. I fitted the last missing part tonight... a kickstart assembly, complete with cover and wing nut and clip. All the way from the USA.... like many of the bits I bought for the bike. I even tried it out and was surprised to see how easy it is to start one of these bikes with it... one kick and vroom!

[xsroadrunner]

What a cracking motorbike!.You should really be chuffed! Many of us enjoy them in their stock configuration,me especially

[James England]

What a cracking motorbike!.You should really be chuffed! Many of us enjoy them in their stock configuration,me especially

Thank you! Personally, I love the standard UK/European configuration but I think that is almost certainly because, at the tender age of 19, I bought a brand-new one. It was the world's first motorbike with an oblong headlamp and indicators and I just fell in love with the bike. So, for me, it represents what a 'real' motorbike should look like. It's entirely subjective and I'm sure that many XS11 riders feel exactly the same way about their US spec bikes.

Here is a pic of me at 19 years old.....I went to Holland on the bike in the worst winter for 100 years! 12 feet of compacted snow, NO salt, freezing temperatures......Oh the folly of youth! I didn't even do a weather check before setting off with my girlfriend to look for a job. The bike was about 3 months old........... They started using horses and carts instead of cars!!! Three months later, just as the thaw began, somebody stole my bike and I never saw it again. Looking back on it, it's amazing how Fate can do something that looks bad but works out for the best.... I was up to my eyes in a CREDIT agreement to buy the bike (yup, that's how much I wanted it) and couldn't afford the repayments, my girlfriend kept insisting that we (I) should ride the bike to.... Africa.... and... we had no money. So, maybe losing the bike was for the best? Somehow, I think I'm compensating for the loss by doing the XS1100's now......

[DGXSER]

Many a man has done much stranger and uglier things to compensate for much ...umm...less.

[figman]

I'll keep the bike, After all the time spent on it, we've kind of 'bonded'! I always regretted selling (or having to sell) my previous XS1100's so I'd like to think I'll have this one for a long time.

The other one I'll be restoring is supposed to be for re-sale. The only problem is that, after I've done all the work, I'll probably not want to sell it!

Great bike and you should be proud of it. Funny how these darn things grow on you.

[latexeses]

Man, that is one pretty bike. Well done. Hats off.

[natemoen]

Hey James I got another question about your exhaust. Are your pipes single or double walled?

[James England]

Hey James I got another question about your exhaust. Are your pipes single or double walled?

Hiya. The entire system is single skinned. I've run the engine for quite some time and revved it etc when warm. So far, only the top 4" of header pipe has changed colour and it's turned into a rather attractive goldy-yellow! I don't know about under extreme load conditions and prolonged use as I haven't had the opportunity to ride the bike. Listening to the exhaust sound though, I doubt there will be any hotspots in the silencers themselves. I first started the bike inside and thought "blimey! that exhaust is too loud". However, having taken the bike outisde for the photos the other day, I realised that it sounds perfect. At tickover, it is really, really quiet. Opening the throttle makes a really nice powerful engine note without it being at all raucous or loud or ear-shattering. Personally, I'm not keen on loud exhausts and wanted to avoid that.

I read in previous posts that stainless header nuts go funny colours etc. I've run the bike for ages and my header nuts are still stainless steel looking.

I presume you asked re the double skin in order to see what sort of discolouration the heat will cause on the exhaust? It certainly doesn't look bad so far. Actually, the gold colour of the header tops at the moment really looks nice!

[natemoen]

I presume you asked re the double skin in order to see what sort of discolouration the heat will cause on the exhaust? It certainly doesn't look bad so far. Actually, the gold colour of the header tops at the moment really looks nice!

No, I was just curious if you found someone that could and would do double walled, they are rare. I hope I can find someone to make something like yours!

[XSive Okie]

All I can say is "Daaayum, what a beautiful ride!". Reminds me of how far I have to go with mine. Very nice machine, man!