Making some progress on the XS1100SF

[Bellerophon]

I pulled the pipes off today. This will make it easier to remove the rear wheel, spoon on a new tire, service the final drive, and replace those 32 year old shocks.

Some genius previous owner drilled out the megaphones, so I'll get those "extra" holes welded up.

This will also give me a chance to clean in places I would not otherwise be able to get to.

[DGXSER]

Honestly, the dilled pipes do not hurt anything. It gives the exhaust a little deeper tone. My first XS11 had the same thing done to it, although in a much more symmetrical and better looking pattern. I liked the sound better compared another local XSsives stock undrilled pipes.

[mack]

condition

It looks like it was well maintained. The exhausts will clean up well with very fine steel wool to remove surface rust and clean with autosol. Any small rotten patches can be cut out and repaired with stainless steel. Try to keep the original pipes as long as you can. If the rear wheel is coming off, pull the final drive off as well and properly clean and lube the shaft splines. That grease nipple does nothing. I see you have the original brake lines as well. Shoud upgrade to stainless steel. The original lines were only rated for four years. Infact, clean service the entire brake system. MC's and all calipers. Inspect the pads for wear and check the rotors for tolerance. My two cents.

[Bellerophon]

Honestly, the dilled pipes do not hurt anything. It gives the exhaust a little deeper tone. My first XS11 had the same thing done to it, although in a much more symmetrical and better looking pattern. I liked the sound better compared another local XSsives stock undrilled pipes.

Those holes in the megaphone made it sound like an old beater car without a muffler. Not only did it sound crappy it is ear splitting loud. I'll stick with stock thank you.

[Bellerophon]

It looks like it was well maintained. The exhausts will clean up well with very fine steel wool to remove surface rust and clean with autosol. Any small rotten patches can be cut out and repaired with stainless steel. Try to keep the original pipes as long as you can. If the rear wheel is coming off, pull the final drive off as well and properly clean and lube the shaft splines. That grease nipple does nothing. I see you have the original brake lines as well. Shoud upgrade to stainless steel. The original lines were only rated for four years. Infact, clean service the entire brake system. MC's and all calipers. Inspect the pads for wear and check the rotors for tolerance. My two cents.

I agree with all your points. What is autosol?

[Bellerophon]

A friend of mine welded up the pipes for me. I am please with how they turned out. I cleaned up the pipes with steel wool, then used Maguires chrome polish. It improved them a lot, but really they need to be re chromed.

The back wheel is now off and in getting a Shinko 712 mounted. I took some pictures of the old IRC that was on it. It had lots of tread, but man is it cracked and weather checked. I'll bet that tire is more than 25 years old.

I'll pull the final drive off tomorrow and grease the splines. This is also a good opportunity to do some serious cleaning around the swing arm, and under the rear fender.

[lee_dutcher]

wow look at them weather cracks. glad u got a new tire on there who knw how long they would last till it when kaplow!

[jwhughes3]

April 1-5, 1974

The DOT code says 14th week of 1974... That's the week of April 1st-5th when that tire was made...

27 years old. Tires older than the bike.

John

[DGXSER]

Might as well...yeah...gotta love the might-as-wells, pull the swing arm off, regrease the bearings, mabe touch up paint as needed, then readjust the bearings and set up.

[Bellerophon]

Well I didn't pull the swingarm like DGXSR suggested, but I did pull the final drive off clean it up and grease the splines. I left the shock off the right side as I have a new set coming. The new Shinko is on the back, so now it's time to do the front.

The IRC that was on the front is just as weather checked as the one on the back. I pulled the fork tubes off and will have a shop put new seals in.

[11Rider]

The DOT code says 14th week of 1974... That's the week of April 1st-5th when that tire was made...

27 years old. Tires older than the bike.

John

Try 37 years!!

[mjpxs11sh]

shes a beautiful BEAST. i probably shoulnt say this, but i still have the original IRC 310 Durotour RWL on my rear! trying to replace it with same to match my new frt, but RWL not avail. ur bike is the only other 11 ive seen with IRC RWL's on it. great tire. greater bike. looks unriden and kept in air controlled storage. NICE

[Bellerophon]

Tank & side covers back from paint

I got the tank and side covers back from the painter today. It's gonna look great!

[cdagarc]

A friend from your past named Idaho_Tripe

The new color looks like your first XS11. You are making great progress! The new tire, clean pipes, and clean engine also look great. I look forward to the day we ride side by side... like twin bikes!

This is my first time following a post. I might take the advice about changing break lines. I should take pictures of my bike and post progress of restoration.

[Bellerophon]

The new color looks like your first XS11. You are making great progress! The new tire, clean pipes, and clean engine also look great. I look forward to the day we ride side by side... like twin bikes!

This is my first time following a post. I might take the advice about changing break lines. I should take pictures of my bike and post progress of restoration.

My first XS1100 was a 1979 Special like this one only it was the Carmine Red color. I owned it in the mid-80s and put a bunch of miles on it before trading it in on a new Vmax.

My second XS was an SG model of which you are the proud owner of now. There is a slight color difference between the SF and SG. The SF black has a little gold flake in the black, the SG has a little red flake in the black.

As you said, at some point we'll take a trip and ride them side by side. Thank you for the kind words cdagarc.