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  • #1

    First Long Trip Preperation

    Hey fellas. Next weekend I am going to go on a four day cruise with mom and granddad out to New Orleans. The trip is about 600 miles one way. In the quest to make my bike as mechanically sound as possible I have been fixing and rebuilding various things. The bike is very new to me, so I need to make as sure as possible that it is ready for this endeavor. I really don't want to break down and hold up the ride. I have one week to get it up to par, this is what I have done so far.
    -Valves checked (no adjustment)
    -Carbs rebuilt tuned and synched.
    -Airbox cleaned out/new filter
    -Oil change
    -Shaft drive oil changed.
    -Ignition coils rebuilt
    -New headlight
    -Tires checked, new valve stem on front
    -Front and rear master cylinders rebuilt
    -brakes bled
    -Petcocks rebuilt.
    -New fuel lines
    -New battery
    -New Fuses

    Things I plan to do this week.
    -Fix blinkers
    -Fix horn
    -Add windscreen
    -Buy new helmet
    -Lots of test riding

    I think i have done a fairly reasonable job so far, but I want suggestions on anything else you guys can think of I should do. Any common failure points on these bike that I am missing? Any easy little tasks that I might as well do since I have a week? Also, the stock tool kit has been pretty darn handy so far. Any additions that would really beef up the toolkit's capabilities? I am also open to any and all suggestions that have nothing to do with the maintenance or tookit. I have never taken a long bike trip like this before, so feed me as much knowledge as you can muster up.
    1980 XS1100 SG Stock
    Tags: None
  • #2
    1) All the tools you can comfortably carry.

    2) Tire plug kit-compressed air in a can if you can find it (co2 cartridges if you can find an adapter)

    3) Tow rope (just in case)

    4) Extra clutch and throttle cables and handles. ( They don't take much room and are invaluable)

    Things I've learned are a must.



    Man it's hot out there Aaron. Stop frequently and hydrate yourself, water not soda. You'll sweat but you won't notice it when your riding because it dries up immediatly.
    Greg

    Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

    ― Albert Einstein

    80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

    The list changes.

    Comment

    • #3
      Yeah, im not looking forward to the heat. Especially the humidity when we hit Louisiana. We are gonna stop every hundred miles to chill out and re-hydrate. Im gonna grab a bunch of tools, thats for sure. Just not sure where to store things. I have no saddle bags. Mom does and so does granddad, but not too sure how much room they will have available. Gotta figure out a good way to strap as much as I can to the bike.
      1980 XS1100 SG Stock

      Comment

      • #4
        Sunscreen, or something to keep the sun off your face. I made a trip in late '78 (on my then-new XS) to SoCal and wind-burned my forehead so badly that I got heat blisters there anytime it got hot out for about 10 years after that....

        May have been just me, but sometime to think about.
        Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

        '78E original owner - resto project
        '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
        '82 XJ rebuild project
        '80SG restified, red SOLD
        '79F parts...
        '81H more parts...

        Other current bikes:
        '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
        '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
        '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
        Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
        Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

        Comment

        • #5
          I think you got it dialed in pretty well!

          I'd add for the flat tire scenario, that you can take along a pocket size air compressor with alligator clips to hook to the battery. Once you plug that tire, if for some reason it doesn't hold air to get you where you need, you can keep using the air compresor, whereas you are S.O.L if you take compressed air and use it up. It's a one-shot deal, other wise if you carry enough CO2 cartridges for multiple tires/uses , you may as well be carrying a compressor anyway, probably take up less room.

          Good job on the preparation, have a great trip!
          Howard

          ZRX1200

          BTW, ZRX carbs have the same spacing as the XS11... http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35462

          Comment

          • #6
            Good call steve. Got a full face helmet, but i've still been burned through it. Its already gonna be a beating on my rear, I dont need burns too.
            1980 XS1100 SG Stock

            Comment

            • #7
              Im gonna look into one of those compressors. Since we will be looking at six tires to potentially go flat. Granddad may already have one, he's been cruising his goldwing all over creation forever.
              1980 XS1100 SG Stock

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by Aaron View Post
                Im gonna look into one of those compressors. Since we will be looking at six tires to potentially go flat. Granddad may already have one, he's been cruising his goldwing all over creation forever.
                I bet grand dad has everything we've just talked about or something similar.

                You need to check into some kind of bags, tank bag, throwover soft bags, even a back pack.

                Check HERE for some inexpensive stuff. Not real quality, but affordable to get started.

                I bought THIS set to start out a few years ago and I'm still using some of it. Like I said, not real quality but you can't beat it for the price.
                Last edited by BA80; 07-10-2011, 01:44 PM.
                Greg

                Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                ― Albert Einstein

                80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                The list changes.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Those links aren't working right for some reason. I'll try again.

                  http://www.jilliandistributors.com/.....That's the first one.


                  http://www.jilliandistributors.com/p...ar/LUMSET.html This is the set I was trying to show you.
                  Greg

                  Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                  ― Albert Einstein

                  80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                  The list changes.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Dang, that price is hard to beat. Regardless of quality. What kind of shipping time did you get with that purchase? I may do a bit of craigslist browsing too, just my backpack wont cut it. I'd hate to use luggage and bungee cords too.
                    1980 XS1100 SG Stock

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      A tire patch kit will work on the back tire, but I have a tube up front. Anyone have a good fix for a punctured tube? Will fix-a-flat or bicycle tube green goo work?
                      1980 XS1100 SG Stock

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Aaron View Post
                        Dang, that price is hard to beat. Regardless of quality. What kind of shipping time did you get with that purchase? I may do a bit of craigslist browsing too, just my backpack wont cut it. I'd hate to use luggage and bungee cords too.
                        It was about 5 days or a week IIRC. Yes it is hard to beat. I've been replacing the pieces as the fall apart with better quality. Still using the barrel bag, tool bag, and backpack though.

                        A word to the wise....if you put throwover bags on put something on that little hooky thingy on the right side of the swingarm. It will rip the back right out of your right bag if you don't have some bag supports there. I put the fat end of an old tubless valve stem on mine.
                        Greg

                        Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                        ― Albert Einstein

                        80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                        The list changes.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          You did the middle and final drive oil change? Sounded like just one of them.
                          Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas.

                          1980 XS1100G 1179 kit, Tkat brace, progressive springs & shocks, jardine spaghetti, Mikes coils, Geezer's rectifier

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Elevener View Post
                            Sounded like just one of them.
                            Sounded just like what? I swear Elevener, sometimes you are completely off the wall. You related to Joe?
                            Greg

                            Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

                            ― Albert Einstein

                            80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

                            The list changes.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              [QUOTE=Aaron;333038]--Shaft drive oil changed.
                              QUOTE]

                              OK. Ill slow it down for ya .

                              BTW, I just ordered new helmet also. I got this one
                              http://www.compacc.com/p/Gmax-GM54-M...raphic/1201002

                              Will see how it goes.
                              Last edited by Elevener; 07-10-2011, 04:53 PM.
                              Trapped in time. Surrounded by evil. Low on gas.

                              1980 XS1100G 1179 kit, Tkat brace, progressive springs & shocks, jardine spaghetti, Mikes coils, Geezer's rectifier

                              Comment

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