My xs11 chop/build

[jetmechmarty]

RaceTech has emulators for your bike. I have them in mine. Traxxion Dynamics has them too. If you go this route, you had best plan on springs as well.

[RJFort]

got my tank back from powder coaters, now to get the Kreem liner in them. Dont wanna mess up the nice new coating outside so going to let a pro do the inner liner, that way if he messes up he is responsible.

clear powder coat over bare brushed steel


underside powder coated flat black
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...71068281_o.jpg

test fit to see how it will look, 2 diff angles


https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...91531750_o.jpg

I think it looks pretty cool. What do you think. It looks a little bronze, which I actually like. It is not as bad in person as in the pics. I like how it will look.

[jetmechmarty]

I like the clearcoat on the tank. What do you do with the other body panels?

[RJFort]

the only other body panel I am using is a new fender. side panels in a box, not going on bike, debating on front fender. if I use it I will shorten it some. making my own seat eventually and cutting part of the rear or the seat part to weld a hoop. Sadly there is a crease in the tank and was a hole. Had it welded but the welder sucked. At least it wont leak. If I find a perfect tank eventually I will replace it. Changing bars too. going with tracker/enduro bars. I should have a bunch of parts to dole out to you guys when finished. Just holding on to them for now to see what I may need.

[jjz28]

I like the tank too. Would be interesting what you do with the sidecovers to make them match. Maybe you could make some out of aluminum and put the stock ones up for safe keeping. HHMMM, thats sound like something i may do in the near future. Looks good man.

[zookey]

Wow ..... Like the looks of that tank!

Hard for me to believe it is the same one. I have gone back and forth from your original posted picture to the newly painted tank and it still looks like a totally different tank to me. I have never seen Emblems with the "old english" Yamaha script/type set that your original pictures shows. I thought that was painted on but I can see the Emblem bracket on the newly painted tank. Can you put up a picture of the original Emblems?

Sucks that it had a hole and the welder was not so good. I do know if you are going to put a liner in that tank you want to look into the different liners available. Kream is a hard liner to apply (and even harder to get back out if it fails).... so my suggestion to you is to check out the other products before you have it done.

Look forward to seeing your project as it comes along!

[Cuda 69]

Rich,do whatever you want with your project,when it's done(TASTEFULLY) I'm sure it will look great.I've seen a couple bikes on here that looked great.I personally would never own a hardtail (bad back) but everybody to there own thing,and it's better off than the junkyard.

[RJFort]

Cuda,
I have decided not to hard tail the bike. I posted a few weeks ago about that in this thread. I took what everyone said and did my own research and decided not to do that with a bike with this much power. I am doing a hybrid rat/cafe/street tracker type of thing. Taking my time and seeing how things come along. Staying with springs. Probably much safer, haha. Gonna wait to build a bobber from an xs650 or cb750, something like that. I found the progressive series 12 springs that I like.

Not going with side covers. Gonna be open. My buddy was in the army and has since been medically discharged. He has 30mm ammo cans laying around. Thinking of using them to make my battery/electrical box with key and switches in the side of it.

The old english was painted on. The tank was heavily covered in bondo. So thick. Apparently it is a good thing I sanded the tank down since the hole in the tank was covered in bondo and not fixed long ago. I plan on a new fender for the rear and possible one in front if it is slim enough. making my own seat with the help of my brother who is a fashion designer/tailor. We shall see. All ideas, not put into practicality yet. Thanks for the input guys.

[RJFort]

So I tested the compression today on the xs11 special. many sadfaces. cylinders 1 & 4 tested at 160 and 155 respectively. All good there. Cylinders 2 & 3 tested at just over 100 each. Right after this disappointing test I went down to the local shop and talked to Shawn there and he advised me to drop some oil into the spark plug tunnels as a valve might be stuck due to sitting. I have not tested this yet, but what do you think the odds are that this might be the case? I hope to god that this is the issue. 2 & 3 rose to 100psi quickly then leveled off, almost like hitting a wall. I am scared as hell to rip this engine apart as I have never done it before and since new parts are few and far between. What you guys think?

[natemoen]

I wouldn't be worried. Rings get stuck after sitting and don't seat well. Getting it running and running the engine through some heat cycles and getting some load on it nearly always frees the rings up.

[zookey]

Since the tank used to have a painted logo, what do you plan to do to cover the Emblem bracket on there now? Your tank looks really nice now that you got it fixed and painted..... can't wait to see where you go from here.

[WMarshy]

So I tested the compression today on the xs11 special. many sadfaces. cylinders 1 & 4 tested at 160 and 155 respectively. All good there. Cylinders 2 & 3 tested at just over 100 each. Right after this disappointing test I went down to the local shop and talked to Shawn there and he advised me to drop some oil into the spark plug tunnels as a valve might be stuck due to sitting. I have not tested this yet, but what do you think the odds are that this might be the case? I hope to god that this is the issue. 2 & 3 rose to 100psi quickly then leveled off, almost like hitting a wall. I am scared as hell to rip this engine apart as I have never done it before and since new parts are few and far between. What you guys think?

Easy now, dont get too worried just yet. There are some other areas you need to check before you get too concerned. I would start with checking the valve clearances on all the cylinders. Although it is not uncommon for the rings to be stuck and be the cause of low compression, it is also likely that tight valve clearances could be the cause. The reason I say this is, adding oil directly to the cylinders will always give you a higher compression even if the rings are not stuck (regardless of valve lash you will see some increase in compression). If adding oil only makes a small difference in compression then it is likely valve clearance issue but, if you have a significant increase then its just the rings. In either case, the recipe for a good running XS includes having good adjusted valves.

[RJFort]

thanks guys. I will try the oil first and see where we stand.

I am not covering the emblem brackets. I am leaving it as is. I like it like this. Kinda industrial, rat, finished unfinished.

Thanks again as always guys. I will update here as soon as I know more. thanks again.

[Nightengale]

how are things going

thanks guys. I will try the oil first and see where we stand.

I am not covering the emblem brackets. I am leaving it as is. I like it like this. Kinda industrial, rat, finished unfinished.

Thanks again as always guys. I will update here as soon as I know more. thanks again.

just wanted to check on the project and see how things are going.

[RJFort]

Been on hold actually. Still have the bad compression. Have had several house projects to take care of, new bathroom and kitchen. Busy and money. Its at my buddies garage waiting for me. I was thinking about this jusI a few minutes ago on my way home from work. I have vaca coming up so am gonna try to get something done while on vacation.