I have a question about THIS XS1100!!!

[mharrington]

This bike belongs to member BikeBoy. I love it! I was just thinking how big and distracting the rear chrome fender is on my 1100F- then I see his bike. If you can answer me- what did you use for a tail light and blinkers? Great bike.!!

[mharrington]

My bike.

[fredintoon]

This bike belongs to member BikeBoy. I love it! I was just thinking how big and distracting the rear chrome fender is on my 1100F- then I see his bike. If you can answer me- what did you use for a tail light and blinkers? Great bike.!!

Hi Mike,
big and distracting are GOOD things on a motorcycle, they may even get you noticed by the average distracted SUV driving soccer mom before she tail-ends you out of a red light and into the traffic.
But yeah, that flush fitted rear light does look neat; I presume it's a home conversion, dunno where you'd buy a thing like that.

[James England]

No rear fender will cover you, you passenger and most people behind you with rain, dirt and spray in rainy weather. It will also make you more difficult to see in adverse weather conditions. Tiny little blinkers don't warn people behind you that you're turning as efficiently as larger ones. That soccer driving mum could easily overtake you when you're turning left, because she hasn't seen the little indicator flashing. Unfortunately, looking cool isn't usually being better in practical terms. I'd leave your bike as it is... the front crash bars are more distracting IMO than the rear fender......

[fredintoon]

No rear fender will cover you, you passenger and most people behind you with rain, dirt and spray in rainy weather. - - -

Hi James,
remember that Bikeboy lives in Memphis TN and unlike in the North of England there are days in Memphis when it isn't raining and he can go out then.
Also note the truncated front fender which lets rocks fly straight into the crankcase.

[James England]

Hi James,
remember that Bikeboy lives in Memphis TN and unlike in the North of England there are days in Memphis when it isn't raining and he can go out then.
Also note the truncated front fender which lets rocks fly straight into the crankcase.

Even the standard front fender allows rock and muck to hit the CTC and front fins, as I discovered the other day. That shortened fender really is just about decorative. Yes, the bike looks cool but I wouldn't ride it with no/inadequate fenders.

[natemoen]

Even the standard front fender allows rock and muck to hit the CTC and front fins, as I discovered the other day. That shortened fender really is just about decorative. Yes, the bike looks cool but I wouldn't ride it with no/inadequate fenders.

Could always put a little rubber mud flap on the fender.

[mharrington]

Clear case of appearance compromising function. I wouldnt mind a more straight steel rear fender on my bike- like the street trackers have. Crash Bars..distraction??? I left them onto break up all the flat black I went with. I have since carefully sanded away the black paint on the side covers to reveal the aluminum. Bike Boys XS is fantastic looking.

[justme1100]

No rear fender will cover you, you passenger and most people behind you with rain, dirt and spray in rainy weather. It will also make you more difficult to see in adverse weather conditions. Tiny little blinkers don't warn people behind you that you're turning as efficiently as larger ones. That soccer driving mum could easily overtake you when you're turning left, because she hasn't seen the little indicator flashing. Unfortunately, looking cool isn't usually being better in practical terms. I'd leave your bike as it is... the front crash bars are more distracting IMO than the rear fender......

Bigger doesn't always mean brighter. I have led lighting on my rear and they light me up very well and are not huge and klunky like the stock option. The 4 bulb led lights I use for directionals are extremely bright and do get the attention of those distracted SUV drivin Soccer Mums (if they are in front of me I use the Ear Cannon to wake em up) it was a rather inexpensive up grade as well. Oh and I painted my case guards black so the are not a shiny distraction.

[James England]

Crash Bars..distraction??? I left them onto break up all the flat black I went with.

Well, since you ask... yes, I do think they are distracting and they detract from the lines of your bike by introducing horizontal bars across the bike. Yes, I know they supposedly protect the engine in a fall but they often collapse anyway, or break at the lug weld because the leverage is huge on that type of bar. I had the exact same bars when I bought my bike and took them off immediately and sold them on eBay. Personally, I find crash bars ungainly, distracting and they always seem to say "look at me everyone... I think I'm going to fall off".....a bit like those riders who, for some inexplicable reason, drive along at 15mph with one or both feet dangling off the footpegs...... For what my 2 pennorth (or cents, I should say) is worth, I think your bike looks nicer than the other one actually.... I like classic bikes to look like classic bikes best of all. Part of that look is the original 'big' indicators, fenders etc. I can't see the point in making a 30 year old bike look 'modern' by cutting everything off it. Horses for courses, though, as they say! What was it they said about opinions? They're like ***** ... everyone has one"

[mharrington]

OK Mr James England- Im getting a vibe that you like (love) my case guards. So I took this pic of a spare set just for you! The grass was protected by them. Take a moment to take it all in!

[fredintoon]

OK Mr James England- Im getting a vibe that you like (love) my case guards. So I took this pic of a spare set just for you! The grass was protected by them. Take a moment to take it all in!

Hi Mike,
I reckon James' take on case guards is firstly, that they look ugly. That's an aesthetic stance that you may or may not agree with but there's no point in argueing about it.
Secondly, that as "crash guards" they don't do the job, as in any but the lowest speed accident they are liable to do more damage to the bike than if they weren't there.
I've also heard them called "Rollover guards". They stop the cases etc. hitting the ground if the bike falls off it's stand.
They are good for doing that.

[jetmechmarty]

I witnessed a low speed accident where the case guard struck the post protecting the gas pumps. We're talking 1 or 2 mph, tops! The guard bent and broke the timing cover.

That being said, I like having them. It gives me a place to mount highway pegs.

[mharrington]

I kept them on because in MY mind I figured they would protect the engine cases in the event of a fall over- parked- sitting still and falling over. I would have never claimed they protected anything in an accident. How and why did my asking about a members gorgeous XS1100 become a critique session of my bike anyway?

[Larrym]

Devil wears Prada???

How and why did my asking about a members gorgeous XS1100 become a critique session of my bike anyway?

I'm sure that the same thing happens when my ex-girlfriend posts a picture of some shoes or a handbag she likes on her facebook page...

Just seems that some "topics" spark people to provide their "input".