Just bought my first XS

[raxes989]

Hey everybody this is my first post he and hopefully not my last, I just bought my first street bike a 79 XS1100 Standard for 325$, but it has some problems like any old project bike. first the bike starts but has a hard time idling I'm guessing the carbs and tank need to be cleaned. second he says it grinds trying to go into second which i hear is fairly common and not too big of an ordeal. and it needs a post for the rear turn signal and the RH side cover. any help would be great, I plan to fix it over the winter and drive it in the summer now that I'm 18 and can get my motorcycle license.



Thanks,
Matt

[DGXSER]

Looks pretty nice!! IF it has sat for a while, I'd go through the carbs, the tank, and the braking systems completely. Clean and reassemble. also look into new tires, anything past 5 years old is considered done no matter how much tread is left.

As to the parts, the turn signal stem should be fairly simple to come up with, the side cover can be a little more tricky.

[Rasputin]

Welcome to the forum.
Nice to have some young blood joining the place. Lets keep that blood in you and take a motorcycle safety course when you are ready to get your license, please. I figure you have been riding bikes, just not big heavy and on the street bikes.
The bike looks nice a nice place to start. There are many that are not in that good of condition without hours, days, weeks, or in some cases years of work. The guys here will help you with everything, they are a good bunch.

[raxes989]

any decent tutorials on the carbs, ive messed with lawnmowers and Holley carbs from cars but thats about it

[DGXSER]

Here is a link to one of the best threads on cleaning these carbs.

Carb Cleaning 101

[Rasputin]

First carb item that came to mind is this one.
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...b+cleaning+101

[natemoen]

Welcone! Congrats on the bike, nice that it still has the stock exhaust, take care if that exhaust you won't find anything better than it.

I know there are quite a few newer members here that seem to be in the northern IL area, want to say there is even someone in crystal lake.

Good luck with her and don't be afraid to ask questions, its how we all learn!

[xs11lover]

Nice, that's alot of bike...be careful. I know that I couldn't be trusted at 18 with that one. Or 42.

[Aches n Pains]

Welcome! You'll want to get good at searching this site. Pretty much everything has been discussed.

Some good posts:

Petcocks - http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...=&threadid=142
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24281

Carbs - mentioned earlier in this thread
Jetting - http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=382
Good carb ref - http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...b+cleaning+101
Syncing - http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...b+cleaning+101
- http://www.xs11.com/xs11-info/tech-t...balancing.html

You'll want to decide whether or not to keep the "octy" vacuum fuel shut off. Lots of good discussions (ie; http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...t=carb+routing)

If it hasn't been done, you will want probably want to replace the fuse block (http://www.xs11.com/xs11-info/tech-t...k-options.html).
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...replacement%22
Lots of other good postings on this issue.

Second gear problem has lots of posts:
http://www.xs11.com/xs11-info/tech-t...procedure.html and lots of good threads.

Clutch replacement:
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5090

Good places for parts:
George's Fix on eBay (probably the best and most reasonable source) - http://stores.ebay.com/GEORGEFIXS-MOTORCYCLE-PARTS

Mike's XS - really an XS650 site but many of the parts can be used in an XS11 - http://www.mikesxs.net/

Z1 Enterprises - mostly KZ but has many useful parts and lots of carb parts
http://www.z1enterprises.com/default.aspx

Fun site on a couple of rebuilds - http://yamahaxs1100e.wordpress.com/
There are lots of great rebuild threads here as well.
http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30613&page=3

Interesting article on things to do when you get a new XS11
http://www.webenet.net/~leslemke/XS1100/main.htm

Free manuals, etc.
http://www.ringler.us/family/mybike.html



If you get hooked on the XS11 (and you probably will) you should get a copy of "XS11 Heaven" by Bob Jones. He is the man and this book does a great job of explaining why this is such a special bike. Lots of references to Bob on this site.


Just a few quick thoughts. You'll really love this bike. Last effort at the great compromise. Under 12 second quarter, great in the twisties, can cruise forever.

Aches n Pains

[TomRodgers]

If those pics are of the PO (previous owners) storage location...id definately want to check out why 'Ole Blue there is "marking its territory" by the stain on the concrete floor........ But other than that, not in too bad of shape!!! Look in the search or in the tech pages about some other good points to touch on for a bike that has been sitting for a while. Drain/change/flush fluids ect...... Good luck and ask away!!!!

[WMarshy]

Welcome to the site and to your new adiction (it wont be apparent untill later). Everything your going to want to know is on this site somewhere... take it step by step while working on your bike and you'll be fine. There is a lot of help here but do try the search button first, all the mistakes have been made for you, you might just need some help finding the info.
Regarding the petcocks, there is a way to mod your origional ones to give you an off position so they wont leak while the bike sits... I know when I was 18 I was always looking for the cheapest way of fixing things (not much has changed in 7 years lol). So before you go and buy anything look around here because there might be an alternative that doesn't include buying parts! Good luck and be safe.

[lee_dutcher]

welcome aboard channel 11. its nice to find that im not the only young one (no insult intended) on this forum. you'll find lot of useful information on this forum. u found a very nice standard and if are mechanically inclined enough u shouldnt have a hard time fixing her up and riding her this summer. once u get it tuned right this thing pulls you right offf the seat. if u havent ridden a lead sled like these (when i say lead sled i mean heavy sons-of-a-bitc*s) i encouge you to take the motor cycle training course. it possibly could save your life and maybe someone else if you are put in a situation. but some cant afford it so as an alternate i would ride with someone more experienced so you can learned with them. good luck with the repairs (if any) and happy cleaning!

[raxes989]

If those pics are of the PO (previous owners) storage location...id definately want to check out why 'Ole Blue there is "marking its territory" by the stain on the concrete floor........ But other than that, not in too bad of shape!!! Look in the search or in the tech pages about some other good points to touch on for a bike that has been sitting for a while. Drain/change/flush fluids ect...... Good luck and ask away!!!!

No thats my garage, I had the bike on prime figuring it would be easier to start, but real soon it started pissing gas all over so I shut it off right away

[tom clisham]

Hey! Welcome to the addiction! That's the bike I posted a week or 2 ago. It was on Chicago craigslist. You bought it well. I live due west of you about 50 miles.
I've got a right side cover you can have. send me a PM with you adress & I'll mail it to you. Got a few xtra lites too. I'll see if I have 1 you can use. Lots of stuff on EBAY. BUT, be careful. prices & condition all over the board. Just watch it for a while before you dive in buying. Some sellers just want to move stuff, & some want to pay their mortgage with each sale.

HAPPPY NEW YEAR! Hope to ride with you next summer. Tom

[crazy steve]

Very nice bike for only $325; it should be an easy restore.

Welcome!