my first build complete (for now) comments and ideas welcome

[Outlaw4shrt]

Just got my old girl back on the road for the first time in 10 months and she pulls a lot harder than I thought she would and handles amazingly for a bike this big! With the chain drive conversion and some serious weight reduction my 1981 XS1100H pulls a lot harder than my 2009 XR1200 did before I sold it. Took about 10 months to build her in my drive-way and small 5x8 shed while in command of B/1-10FA which I don't think is too bad. I bought the bike for $450 last April and spent almost double that just for the chain drive conversion but I think it was worth it. Stage I of the build is complete with chain drive conversion, 2001 FZ1 front end with Traxxion Dynamics AK-20 fork cartridge kit, custom 2001 FZ1 dual shock rear swingarm with Bitubo 3-way adjustable rear shocks, 530 chain with 14/47 gearing, energy suspension poly engine mounts, acewell speedo, nissin front brake master cylinder, galfer front and rear ss brake lines, ballistic battery (freakin' awesome by the way), cherry bombs, and michelin power pure 2CT tires 120/70/R17 up front and 200/50/R17 in the rear.

My plans for stage II when I get the funds saved up are some serious engine work. Would like to see 100 rwhp or more hopefully, not sure where I'm going to get that work done since I don't think I can do it myself, but I'll be fully committed when I do. Stage III will be paint and powder coat, plan on keeping the stock seat since that thing is so comfortable but may get it re-upholstered, may change out to some even lighter wheels and brembro monoblock calipers, and maybe some more cutting of the frame just to clean things up. Stage IV, if there will be a stage IV, is going to be a custom supercharger. Would like to modify and adapt a procharger unit but we'll see.

I'm going to the Cafe Racer premier on 19 April in Atlanta and then to the Road Atlana AMA Race/Vintage Festival the following weekend. Hope to see some of you there.

Thoughts?

Adrian

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after:

[natemoen]

good luck on the 100rwhp. search the member list for Dan Hodges (i think that is how you spell it) she spent a lot of time and money either trying to get 100 or 120 rwhp and I dont think he ever made it to his goal. But if it is possible, he tried it.

[GTXS1100]

Looks great.

Awsome! That is all i can say!

[crazy steve]

If you're looking for big power, you'll have to go turbo or nitrous....

[Nightengale]

nice looking build.

[Lbrown311]

Sexy bike, but tis a shame you did it to an 81H. Either way, pretty unique, which is always BA.

[motoman]

Nice job building! Bet the rear handles well with the 'layed down' piggy-back gas shocks. BTW, that was an early on moto-cross 'trick' rear set-up. Thinkin maybe you may be somewhat aware of that. Your the first I've seen that knows how to do that set-up on the rear. Definitely gain some travel distance with the 'lay-downs' and a HUGE side force stability!. Just because of the rear suspension set-up, you get a high-five from me!

[tom clisham]

very cool!

Great cafe look.

But, I think it would look a lot better with a little smaller gas tank. Oh, man!. I"VE got one I 'd be willing to trade to help you out.

[Outlaw4shrt]

good luck on the 100rwhp. search the member list for Dan Hodges (i think that is how you spell it) she spent a lot of time and money either trying to get 100 or 120 rwhp and I dont think he ever made it to his goal. But if it is possible, he tried it.

Goal is definitely 100 NA rwhp , but if I don't get it I don't get it. This thing is still a blast to ride. I don't think I'm really interested in a turbo set-up, just don't need all the hassle and fussiness associated with those set-ups especially on a carbed motor, not really interested in nitrous either on a motor this old and with the 2nd gear problems these bikes tend to have. If I do any kind of power adder I think I will try a modified intercooled procharger kit for carbed harley's. I believe the hardest part would be getting the pulley and gearing set-up right but after that it's just carb tuning and having the manifold fabricated.

[Outlaw4shrt]

Nice job building! Bet the rear handles well with the 'layed down' piggy-back gas shocks. BTW, that was an early on moto-cross 'trick' rear set-up. Thinkin maybe you may be somewhat aware of that. Your the first I've seen that knows how to do that set-up on the rear. Definitely gain some travel distance with the 'lay-downs' and a HUGE side force stability!. Just because of the rear suspension set-up, you get a high-five from me!

Thanks! I can't take full credit for the inverted shocks. I initially did it that way so that the shocks would clear the chain. When mounted "correctly", i couldn't get the left rear shock spaced out far enough to keep the spring from rubbing against the chain so I just turned them upside down. When I took the bike over to Traxxion Dynamics they said that it was an ideal set-up and rebuilt the rear shocks to maximize efficiency inverted. Air five!

[motoman]

Thanks! I can't take full credit for the inverted shocks. I initially did it that way so that the shocks would clear the chain. When mounted "correctly", i couldn't get the left rear shock spaced out far enough to keep the spring from rubbing against the chain so I just turned them upside down. When I took the bike over to Traxxion Dynamics they said that it was an ideal set-up and rebuilt the rear shocks to maximize efficiency inverted. Air five!

Yup, that layed down angle almost doubles the swing-arm travel with minimal shock travel AND minimizes lateral forces. For what it's worth, that rear set-up WILL out handle what the front can by 3-fold...............