My xs11 chop/build

[Nightengale]

good advice

as someone who rides a rigid XS, i can tell you from experience, it is way different and at times can be dangerous

one of the strangest feelings is getting on the back brakes and having it 'bounce' off the ground while coming to a hard stop because of bad road conditions

at first its terrifying, and it never gets comfortable, but you have to just be ready for it and keep in your mind that it might happen

at highway speeds its not too much different, until you hit a buckled seam or something, then its like getting a kick in the ass

luckily, i havent had it buck out in turns or anything

if you go the rigid route, just make sure you take it easy for awhile and get used to the different ride

if your riding with your friends, and they start hammering it, dont feel the need to keep up with them, ride at a safe pace until you know how the bike will respond to turns and hard stops

also, if you go rigid, make sure you have good tires, it will now be more important then ever

that is one thing that i for one needed to know being new to the hardtail experiance, and i havent heard a whole lot about riding a hardtail bike, other than horror stories.

[cywelchjr]

that is one thing that i for one needed to know being new to the hardtail experiance, and i havent heard a whole lot about riding a hardtail bike, other than horror stories.

That's why one of the recommendations for those who haven't ridden hardtail bikes who are considering it is to replace the rear shocks with solid struts in the rear. It creates a temp hardtail that is easily and simply reversible and by changing the length of the struts you can even play with different ride heights before you actually cut anything. Then if you STILL want to do it, you have an idea of how the bike is going to handle before you cut, and if you find you hate how it rides, you can change your plans before you have done anything that can't be undone.

[old_skool]

When I first joined this site, I was getting easily offended at comments or took a persons comment wrong, upset at what others thought were humorous anecdotes or what I perceived as obscene pictures, then after getting acclimated if you will, I realized its just social media, most here you will never meet, share a meal with, use the site for what it has to offer, info! I visited a site that had an off topic section that was a no holds barred religious or political views....whewww! I ran from that forum. You'll find plenty of useful already posted info here, and others who share your passion will help along with reluctant others, let the naysayers have their comments, it's what makes this a free country and I wouldn't have it any other way. Finish the build, and post it, I'll be watching, I've always been fascinated with bobbers, will probably never do one, but still admire others creativity. Now my next comment will get me dirty looks...don't get mad...get even... when finished, do it again and post it! Believe it or not, they're getting more offended than you. If you take nothing else from here other than this--->be safe, before-during-and especially after.

As a suggestion, I've seen a fake hardtail, where what looked like rigid braces or struts were really a 2 piece tubing where one fit in the other coming together with a internal spring similar to a front fork, and didn't cut the frame, had all the looks of a rigid bobber and fooled everyone. But will obviously take some fabricating.

[ambidextrous]

That's why one of the recommendations for those who haven't ridden hardtail bikes who are considering it is to replace the rear shocks with solid struts in the rear. It creates a temp hardtail that is easily and simply reversible and by changing the length of the struts you can even play with different ride heights before you actually cut anything. Then if you STILL want to do it, you have an idea of how the bike is going to handle before you cut, and if you find you hate how it rides, you can change your plans before you have done anything that can't be undone.

this is a great idea right here

a 'try before you buy' sort of thing

[Nightengale]

take the criticism with a grain of salt

i am making a bobber out of an xs, and posted about it on here. i have got both good and bad comments, but everyone on here has been extremly helpful. there is alot of knowledge here on these bikes, and everyone here is willing to give suggestions on what you might have not have thought of. I will have to say that i for one am glad i joined this site, its a bunch of great guys that love their bikes. use their knowledge to help you.

[cywelchjr]

i am making a bobber out of an xs, and posted about it on here. i have got both good and bad comments, but everyone on here has been extremly helpful. there is alot of knowledge here on these bikes, and everyone here is willing to give suggestions on what you might have not have thought of. I will have to say that i for one am glad i joined this site, its a bunch of great guys that love their bikes. use their knowledge to help you.

Whether we agree or like what your doing or not, we want to see you succeed rather than fail, as success means the bike stays on the road as a modified bike rather than going to the junkyard on on ebay as parts. Even for those of us who would never chop a bike ourselves, we can still appreciate a well done chop.

[Nightengale]

your right

Whether we agree or like what your doing or not, we want to see you succeed rather than fail, as success means the bike stays on the road as a modified bike rather than going to the junkyard on on ebay as parts. Even for those of us who would never chop a bike ourselves, we can still appreciate a well done chop.

i have noticed that about everyone here. I feel the same way, my bike would have just rusted away if i hadnt found it. I feel like i am breathing new life into this beast, i know it might be the same as everyone elses but all the same it will be alive and well, back on the road.

[Nightengale]

missed a word

i have noticed that about everyone here. I feel the same way, my bike would have just rusted away if i hadnt found it. I feel like i am breathing new life into this beast, i know it might not be the same as everyone elses but all the same it will be alive and well, and back on the road. sorry my last post my fingers were moving faster than my brain.

[cywelchjr]

i have noticed that about everyone here. I feel the same way, my bike would have just rusted away if i hadnt found it. I feel like i am breathing new life into this beast, i know it might not be the same as everyone elses but all the same it will be alive and well, and back on the road. sorry my last post my fingers were moving faster than my brain.

You know, sometimes I think we need to remember that. When someone gets a bike for 300-500 they were probably getting a bike that wouldn't have gotten back on the road otherwise. So the fact that it's getting back on the road as a bobber at least it's going to, as long as it does. The thing we worry about is those who get part way done and give up. If you get all the way through and finish and get it on the road and ride it, they it's all good. We are just so use to so many who start and then quite without finishing and then just sell off the parts because the give up without finishing but after they have destroyed the bike as a restorable machine.

However is sounds like you're well on the way to doing a complete finished job.

[Pat Kelly]

When I got my E (for $60) I intended to strip it down for a dragbike. Guess that didn't happen.

[Nightengale]

going good

You know, sometimes I think we need to remember that. When someone gets a bike for 300-500 they were probably getting a bike that wouldn't have gotten back on the road otherwise. So the fact that it's getting back on the road as a bobber at least it's going to, as long as it does. The thing we worry about is those who get part way done and give up. If you get all the way through and finish and get it on the road and ride it, they it's all good. We are just so use to so many who start and then quite without finishing and then just sell off the parts because the give up without finishing but after they have destroyed the bike as a restorable machine.

However is sounds like you're well on the way to doing a complete finished job.

things are going good on my build, after today all i have left to do is make some fender struts, a battery box, mount the fake oil tank and put wiring in it, paint, then the road.

[tv5150]

Here's a Comment

Ready or not here comes a comment...
To me it looks like the LOGO on the
gas tank could be enhanced if it read:
(and it looks like it would match the lettering)

"Ye Old Yamaha"

[RJFort]

Ye Olde Yamaha

hahahahaha, nice, I can fabricate a lance to put on the side of the bike and jab people who don't respect bike riders on the road. Wear a cool suit of armor helmet. I think you are on to something here. I love it.

[Nightengale]

rj

have you looked at my post "want some feedback on my project" here. i have gotten alot of both good and bad comments, but that is what i asked for, everyones view on what i was doing. also everyone that i have asked for advice or how to do something with these bikes everyone has been extremely helpful. someone stated it best, most people that start these type of projects never finish, thus killing one of these great bikes. so stick with it and bring that old beast back to life and back on the road. i get more and more excited with every little thing that i do to my bike, because i know that i am that much closer to putting, an otherwise neglected xs1100 back on the road. here is mine so far. almost there.

[RJFort]

Hey guys,
Wanted to give you an update on my build. After hearing and considering all your feedback and doing a little research on my own I have decided NOT to chop the bike into a hardtail. Customizing and massaging the bike into a rat/cafe/street tracker hybrid something or another. Not sure what to call it but I know what I want it to look like. I have decided to wait to hardtail a bike until I work on a cb750 or xs650. Something with a little less displacement. I have been looking into a fork swap to get a little more stability but am having some trouble finding something. I have seen that the 88 GSXR 1100 fits but it does not have inverted froks. If not then I may just add the emulators from racetech if I can find the proper fitment. I am sure that some of you will still not be happy with what I am doing to this xs but I can not wait to see how it comes out. I am including one of the few pics that I am using as inspiration.


feel free to respond. even the criticisms, lol