78 XS1100 Restoration

[foreda]

Nice find!

These best thing you can do is take your time! I would suggest powder coating the frame and swing arm if you can. They will last much longer than painting. I always like to focus on detail. One ugly part will ruin it for me but I am a stickler. If you run into problems with the carbs, I have a box of used carb parts and I believe I even have a couple of new carb bodies hiding somewhere in my shop. Don't hesitate to ask for help, there are plenty guys here that are chomping at the bit to help. If I were you I would post a list of parts needed and look here first, that way members here can be on the lookout for you. Have fun!!
Dale

[James England]

Since you have the bike stripped down, now is the time to do all sorts of things that you would not ordinarily have the chance to do. As has been said, you'll not make a good job of the bike if you rush it. You've mentioned being on a tight budget..... I'd be aware that a bike of this age and condition can soak up a lot of money if you don't take your time to shop around for cheap spares. Some spares are unavoidably expensive though.

IMO, the starting point is the frame and swingarm. These need to be stripped, derusted and powder coated, not painted. There is no point in 'restoring' a bike if the frame looks rough... or the frame is powder coated but not the swinging arm etc. In a sense, it's "in for a penny, in for a pound" as we say. At least then, you have a good solid starting point. Other things like tank resprays or whatever can all be done over a period of time but the frame is at the ideal point to be done right.

On a restoration I did, to a high standard, not including a very expensive stainless steel exhaust system, I spent about $3,000. However, the bike was like showroom condition and I did 'unnecessary' mods like coils, rectifier etc. I think you'd have to spend at least $1500 to get some sort of result.

As has been said, but to reiterate, it doesn't take much to spoil a restoration... one rusty nut, scabby bit of chrome etc and the whole effect suffers. I found myself in a classic 'mission creep' scenario and ended up with a bike that looked so nice that I didn't use it! I ended up selling it. Ironic.

I'd establish in your own mind what you mean by 'restoration'. If you mean adequate, reasonable looking and daily use of the bike, you'll spend a LOT less than 'showroom, competition, mint, hardly dare use it' condition.

Get your frame and swingarm done properly. Get the engine running well. Get the electrics working correctly. The rest is details and you can take your time and spend as and when in order to get the bike gradually looking better and better. As has been said, these bikes come apart easily and you can do things bit by bit once you have a good, solid, clean base (ie frame/swingarm) to work from.......

All said with the usual proviso of "in my opinion", of course.

[Jfries]

thanks James. i have been shopping extensively for the things i need to get done.. i have set up a spot at a trailer company( cant say names because there not supposed to do this) but a friend works there and they powder coat 5th wheels and they said if i get it stripped down they will blast the old coat away and make it smooth and powder coat it for me for nothing. so now im just waiting for the snow to go back away so i can work on it a little more. im not gonna do like a showroom resto.. i want the bike to show its age but not neglected if that makes any sense. it will definitely be a daily driver lol.

[James England]

thanks James. i have been shopping extensively for the things i need to get done.. i have set up a spot at a trailer company( cant say names because there not supposed to do this) but a friend works there and they powder coat 5th wheels and they said if i get it stripped down they will blast the old coat away and make it smooth and powder coat it for me for nothing. so now im just waiting for the snow to go back away so i can work on it a little more. im not gonna do like a showroom resto.. i want the bike to show its age but not neglected if that makes any sense. it will definitely be a daily driver lol.

I thought that would be what you're doing. Having a nicely coated frame and swinging arm is a good start. I think I would examine your steering head and swingarm bearings and replace them if in any doubt.... they are a relatively cheap item. Then you know they are done. I paid mostly for cosmetic things like respray, rechroming and other unnecessary (for you) things. But, of course, you need the bike to be reasonably attractive and roadworthy/safe. I'd check wheel bearings front and rear, renovate the brakes (master cylinders and calipers). Check your carb diaphragms (available cheaply in the USA)and use Georgefix rebuild kits ((although some members disagree that these kits are any good, so choose carefully).

Change all the oils and filter. Change the fork oil. Basic things like that. Then, later, ifyou want to improve the apoearance of the bike, you can replace bits in the smug knowledge that you'll not need to strip the bike entirely again....

This is NOT a sales pitch but I still have some rear left wheel bearings left, so let me know if you want one. You may not need one, of course, but then again, you might.

Your bike already looks quite nice to start with, so I doubt you'll go mad with the credit card like I did.

[Jfries]

awesome

there wheel bearings look pretty new maybe the PO changed it b4 it sat? the steering bearings may have to be changed i haven't messed with it to much to getting the bottom of the triple tree off, but just turning it side to side after the tire is off and forks still on it has a hiccup, so its worth looking at them maybe just needs greased? wont know till i cant get that off. georgefix is definitely the way im gonna go i have him saved as a seller already lol. i cant go mad with a credit card because i do not have one. but i have set my monthly budget so my wife is happy with what im gonna spend.now its all about holding my excitement in and not trying to make it done RIGHT now. number one thing im saving for is the carbs.its a must first so i can at least get the fluids change and see if the bike runs..once i get it to run then i will be onto fixing the fuse block and and lights. then the brakes. then tires then just maybe a road test? lol like i said before im not even expecting it to be done till NEXT spring(2013) its its earlier great but that's the time i set so my brain says i have lots of time! lol

[crazy steve]

...I'm not gonna do like a showroom resto.. I want the bike to show its age but not neglected if that makes any sense. It will definitely be a daily driver lol.

You don't have to break the bank to turn out a very nice looking bike; it cost me less than $1K over the price of the bike to build this one...



... and that included replacing quite a few missing/damaged parts to the tune of over $300. The numbers James is putting out there are pretty accurate for a 'showroom' restore, but that's a whole order of magnitude harder to do. Your bike looks to be pretty complete with good chrome (or at least plating that will clean up nice), so most of what you need to do is like Dale said, paying attention to 'details'. Once you start refinishing parts, what you'll find is that makes the marginal bits stand out even more and can really degrade the whole 'look'. This doesn't have to cost a ton, but do expect to invest a lot of labor. Repolishing all the aluminum for me is always very time consuming, as well as cleaning each and every part. Budget some money for replacement hardware as you'll no doubt find some rusty/discolored/chewed up nuts/bolts. You may have to make a few compromises on parts, but think about how 'visible' the part is; if it's something that won't be really 'seen', it doesn't need to be perfect. But the closer you get to 'perfection' (even if the look isn't 'stock'), the better the finished bike will look.

[Jfries]

i think those need replaced? i started to pull the carbs apart today and this is the first thing i seen lol

[crazy steve]

Yeah, and what I can see of the float in the next carb doesn't look good either...

[Jfries]

they all four look squished compared to ones I've seen that are "new"

[Jfries]

that one is the worst tho, probably the reason the gas poured out on the PO

[crazy steve]

that one is the worst tho, probably the reason the gas poured out on the PO

Yeah, I'm sure that didn't help.....

If they look 'squished', they probably are; time to round up some good ones...

[Jfries]

yeah the kits dont come with them do they? just the needles?

[Jfries]

the rest of the carbs don't look that bad.. almost like the PO did a rebuild on them but didn't replace the floats.. maybe he couldn't find them? i think just new floats and a good douche and they should be ok.

[fredintoon]

Hi Josh,
those floats are FUBAR. MikesXS has brass floats that'll work. Has the plastic floats too but I'm not sure they'll fit, anyone know?
The rest of the carbs look like they should clean up OK.
What I'd like to see in your carb photos is the big cafeteria tray they should be in so those little parts don't get lost.

[jetmechmarty]

New floats here, too:

http://www.siriusconinc.com/pro-deta...roduct_id=4131

I'm pretty sure you can use Mike's plastic floats Part #20-6502. The brass ones are for a 38 mm Mikuni.