MY 1978 XS chopper/ Custom

[roccet]

Ok This project started long ago.
I purchased a 1978 XS E for 600.00 with 11,000 miles
Stock, Maroon color not pretty but ran really well.

I dont have pics of when i first bought the bike
but the seat was trashed and the gas tank looked bad
So I had this seat made and I added a crappy spraypaint job and windsheild



I rode it as is but with a small oil leak for about 500 miles or so.

[roccet]

I started designing the bike i wanted (theme bike 67 cobra with a modern twist).. using the original frame or as much as i could.. I wanted the XS1100 motor because of all i read about it. I had XS750 before and loved it.
I went entirely through the motor, I upgraded the coils, upgraded my throttle system, to larger Carbs, Larger fuel items, set of Cams i got from EBAY
and replaced my clutch.
I wish i had not lost the information on all of those things i purchased..
I rode the bike another 300miles with those mods and it was night and day difference.I went from riding a pretty quick bike to a lightning bolt.
Kinda scared me at first since it was such a large heavy bike from what i was
use to. I could keep up with the best of the crotch rockets at this point.
I decided for now ill just work on cosmetics. So i decided to fit my new seat
better and get a better looking tank.
the Tank actually was from a V65 magna. which had more curves to it.
Tank = Free

[roccet]

more motor work

As I modified the seat frame, and had my motor gone through to make sure it was running well. I had some conversations with the guy working on my bike.
We decided to up the power even more. Change piston size and upgrade exhaust. While i was at it i sent my pistons and rods to be balanced and ceramic coated. I purchase a new exhaust and had it ceramic coated as well.
New 8mm plug wires were added.

There is more to this story but really depressing. The guy working on my bike
lied about sending my exhaust off to have ceramic coated. lucky for me i purchase the pistons and took them down myself to have coated. but the exhaust was just black paint. And when he put my motor back together he didnt even use my stainless bolts i specifically purchased for the valve cover.
which i also had ceramic coated.
If i had not heard and seen my bike run i would have not believed he even did the work on my bike but after he left a burn out about 5 car lengths long
I believe the work was done i just got screwed on cost and some little things he had not completed. My total bill was over 1000.00 for the little amount of work that he did. It took me 1 year from the time i gave him my bike till i got it back.. and i never got a receipt for the things he did.. BOB if your out there looking at this kiss my A$$$.

this pic below is after i got my bike back looks much better but i have
a long way to go.

[roccet]

cosmetics continued

I had my tank painted 67 cobra blue with some metal flake.. 150.00



I purchased a front harley wheel spoked from ebay. one with dual disc brakes like the XS had stock
I also purchased a new rear swing arm from Ebay. IT was a take off of a 2010 honda gold wing. single arm drive shaft . The entire rear section cost me all of 350.00 .. if you break it down. my caliper alone would have been 400.00 then brake pads, brake lines, rotor, bearings, swing arm with swing arm bearings, wheel etc. I added it all up and it would have been 1800.00 bones..
got to love ebay.
Anyway i had both wheels ceramic coated the same color as the tank. 250.00 bucks to have those done.. but again i have friends in good places.
i saved a few bills on that because i had some other items done charcoal black for no cost.

[roccet]

cosmetics continued

This is the basic concept of the bike i was after but single swing arm was still up in the air. until i found the Honda goldwing swing arm.
I had to come up with a plan on how to modify my frame to support the new control arm and other items i needed .

[roccet]

cont

A few pics missing between the mounting of the rear trail arm but as you can see it was not easy I had to purchase a new shock and reinforce the frame.



It rolled straight and half the battle .. 3 entire days of layout tack welding
and fitting.. Making parts etc.. long battle . long nights but i got it.

Along way to go to match it up with the motor .. i think i have to move or space out the tranny to get it to work correctly but i dont think it will be much trouble.. so i move on..

Next was to attack the front end..
I came up with several designs now was just to try it .. I am aware its going to cost some cash to really dial it in but im doing solid models to get it closer to what im after.

first concept



at first it looked great.. and i waited for comments on the front end.

[roccet]

cont5

I was on the face book XS sites and got some mixed reviews on my forks..

so i put this new design out there.



I got much better response so i started building it.
This is the most recent..

[roccet]

continued

My future things are ..

Completing my front end with brakes and all..
need to purchase Harley calipers from a 2010 harley rod.
Detach front end and send to ceramic coat.
mounting the gas tank complete
getting my gas lines taken care of
brake lines
still deciding in making a headlight or just using one of the two that i have
Installing LED lights on the forks
installing brake lights turn signals
wiring it all back up
installing zx14 carbine fiber mufflers. (ebay find for 20 bucks each) retail 1025.00 each.. Ya omg .. never used either.. these were take offs.
Reposition my mono shock. (torch and weld)
matching up my tranny to my control arm.

[dezmitchell]

I like the seat whats that from ?

[roccet]

seat

I am not sure .. I looked at so many seats that when i saw that one i had to get it. I think its from a harley just not sure what harley..
I paid 40.00 bucks for it and the guy i bought it from had it for a long time.. it was originally marked for 140.00. I got if from a company in portland oregon that takes wrecked bikes and parts them out.
Ironically my first seat i had made custom .. cost me 800.00 bucks and i ended up not using it so i gave it away in trade.

[WMarshy]

Interesting build, I like the color. It will be interesting how the front end handles. Have you applied any FEA to your fork design? Definitely don't want to find out the hard way that your almost at the yeild point of your material!

[xs11lover]

[/QUOTE]

Boy, I'm thinkink I'd be happy right here......put a little stubby fender and some rear lights on it and call it done!
Mostly because I could never do the rest of what you are doing, but it did look nice already.

[Jarion]

Wow

Amazing!
Nice to have such access to fabrication facilities.
Once you get er done.... ride er up to the Yamaha Corporate offices and sell them some ideas.
I'm calling you up when I need something fabed up...
I've got a '66 mustang restoration going on right now and soon after that will be an '86 F150.... and I'm eyeballing a 67 Cougar right now...
I know who to call!!

[tcoop]

Do you have any springs or shocks on those forks or am I just missing it?
Nice fabrication work. I like how it is looking. Keep up the good work.

[crazy steve]

Do you have any springs or shocks on those forks or am I just missing it?

I looked and didn't see any either. If there's no front suspension, this bike is going to be dangerous as hell and probably unridable...