My plans your recommendations

[Mike D]

I am restoring my 78 xs 11 e. I wanted to rebuild the engine and was wondering about the 1296 cc upgrade.
also I have been having problems with my gears the tend to ride together before shifting. Is that a clutch problem. I tried adjusting to clutch lever but it still does it
Also how can I lower the bike with out any dramatic riding problems
Next I want a TURBO any clue on to who I can talk to. As well as ignition solutions.
I want this bike to smoke any bike out there. Any help would be great

[strom]

I found a page somewhere on the net bout a guy who built a top fuel dragster from the XS11. 1/4 mile in bout 6 sec, finishing speed in that 1/4 mile bout 180mph...
Do a frame upgrade, convert to chain drive, fatter rear tire, replace forks and rear shocks,

It's cheaper to get a ZZR 1100 and a turbocharger from mr turbo.
Dunno bout the 1/4 mile, but top speed is around 250 mph...

It's even cheaper to get a gun and a bullet.

And send the address where to send the flowers and stuff...

[Jerry]

The 'rocket' days of the XS 11 are pretty well over. While it is possible to build an XS 11 into a hotter bike, you are looking at a custom job and very expensive. Better off going with a Suzuki B12 Bandit, now getting into the $3,000 range for a used one. Look at some Yamaha V-Max bikes, which can be built to 160hp fairly easily. (The XS11 was rated at around 95 hp, most I saw on a streetable XS was claimed to be about 130 hp.)

The XS 11 was the fastest 1/4 mile production bike when introduced in 1978, but that lasted less than a year. While the performance is still respectable, design limitations (tire size, brake design, no fuel injection or turbocharging system) make the XS less desireable to build into a 'modern' high-performance bike. Can be done, but not easily.

Having said all that, check Merriam Cycles for a list of go-fast goodies they have assembled over the years. Don't remember the web address, but ther are on the vendor links page at xs11.com.

If you decide to build up your bike, keep us posted on the progress!

[strom]

there was a page on the web, where u could pick the fastest, strongest,... bike up to the chosen year. Great site for comparison. The only problem is, I forgot the URL... anybody?

BTW: Which bike did better than the XS? CBX? I don't think so... Z1000? GS?

LP

[Mike D]

thanks

Thanks for the info. pending on the old money situation I still want to build the bike. it has been my father then my uncles then my brothers. only thing is I'm young and want speed. We'll see what happens.

[strom]

Re: thanks

Originally posted by Mike D
... only thing is I'm young and want speed. We'll see what happens.

What can one say to a guy with a deathwish...

[TopCatGr58]

Re: thanks

Originally posted by Mike D
Thanks for the info. pending on the old money situation I still want to build the bike. it has been my father then my uncles then my brothers. only thing is I'm young and want speed. We'll see what happens.

Hey there Mike,
Well, aside from the modern crotch rockets, and the rare beefed up Harley, you should have no or little trouble staying with if not beating many of the bikes you come across. But speed without control kills!!!!!!!

As for the big bore kit, I got the 1179cc one since my bike had sat for 9 years, lotsa rust in cylinders, needed a bore to get clean, and regular oversizes were no longer available. This size increases the diameter a wopping 3mm which is 1.5 mm larger than the largest stock oversize recommended, which means the cylinder walls are getting quite thin, these are steel sleeves inside aluminum jugs. So....I would recommend just getting this first big bore kit, which at the least leaves you the possibility of getting another bigger bore kit if this engine gets damaged inside the cylinders, room to resurrect it if you do get it rebuilt and drive it so many miles that you wear out this new set of rings/pistons.

Next question is, does the bike even run, how many miles on it? Does it really need to be rebuilt, like does it have very bad compression level, burning oil badly, etc.?? You said it was your dads, uncles,brothers, and now yours. In prime condition this bike is plenty powerful for most applications/needs. But if you're gonna want to race every biker you ride up next to, why not just stop at the next gas stop, drop your drawers and whip'em out to compare??? Amounts to about the same thing ! !

Spirited competition is one thing, trying to be the "baddest" on the road is merely juvenilistic. But, if you don't live to produce children, then Darwin was right!!

Good Luck!

[Mike D]

wow

well the bike does run and yes the bullet would be cheaper. In my area though there is a lot of street racing. Also alot of kids who have dads money. I wana keep up, if not beat em. The bike is grinding gears though. The dogs don't seem to want to go in right away. the engine is burning a little oil but does not need rebuilding. My brother did run the bike pretty bad though. I always had to check the oil for him. and keep the bike running. After a while he would pull up and it seem like I could hear the engine needed oil. I wana keep the bike running but I guess your right. I should buy a bike thats already fast.(er) Hybusa maybe

[Mike Hart]

it is what it is...

...and can be a bit more than what it is, but not a lot more.

IMO, the swingarm, forks, and frame really limit how far you would want to hop up an XS, unless it was for straight line racing.

1296, 4-into-one, individual filters, jet up a bit and you'll have all the power the bike can really stand without breaking the bank.

My Bandit is no Hayabusa (there's a guy around here who races a Bandit 400 on the tracks, but his street bike is a turbo Busa, about 250hp I think) but it's definitely a lot faster than my XJ.

oops but that's off topic! See the Other Bike Discussion forum in the Bandit thread, there's a link to a guy w/ 2 of em, one's a turbo.

In the end, the best rider wins, not the best bike.

[kenkrieger]

I believe the 78 Was beaten out by the Honda CBX, I am checking on it ,but this is what my memory is telling me. lol,,,but its been a few years,,,,and more than a few beers.

[strom]

Re: wow

Originally posted by Mike D
well the bike does run and yes the bullet would be cheaper. In my area though there is a lot of street racing. Also alot of kids who have dads money. I wana keep up, if not beat em...

Mike, I guess u're OK, just don't get yourself killed. I guess we all lost a few friends on the road...
I just like riding, no so much racing.. well, I have my moments when I ride like a lunatic, but most of the time, I ride LS-LT (Lagano Sportski - Lagano Turisticki = Easy & Sporty, Easy & Tourist-like).
Traffic light races... no problem.. the other guy burns rubber, oil, clutch, etc,... and I start easy... guess who looks like an idiot? I'll give u a hint... it aint me
Anyway... learn to control the bike, get used to it, then kick some ass

LP

[silverspirit]

i was wondering where i could find the 1296cc upgrade,also the turbocharger and also if anyboody has plans or tips for the installation.another thing is if there is any other performance parts for a 1980 sx1100sg ans also where to find them thanks,
dan

[sixtysix]

Do a search for 'big bore kit' all the info is there for ordering. NOBODY makes a turbo for an XS anymore, that I know of. If you want straight direct answers about performance and need to no where, who, and how much call Merriam Cycles. Have your Credit Card ready though. They specialize in XS11's and if anybody makes it they would know. Other than that do some searches here for 'perfomance' 'turbo' etc. and see what turns up. Common mods are K&N filters, aftermarket exhaust, big bore kits.

Merriam Cycles

[pgg]

In NZ and Oz 20 odd years ago , there was a yearly production bike race called the castrol six-hour. THE race it was back then. The races started back when the "superbikes" first started to come out. I went and watched a fair few of them in the days of CBX's, GS1000's, XS11's, Z1R's, and screaming H2's. These were full on hard-out 6 hour races man! All the top riders too. All production bikes, and they copped a hiding. 6 hours of redlining must have given those motors a workout and a half. The GS1000's were the ones to beat as they were the best handling.

I remember watching an XS11 cleaning out everything on acceleration down the straights, and that included CBX's and H2's. Seen a CBX blow its motor in a great explosion of smoke down the front straight - missed a gear - Ha! Ha! You could see the CBX and XS11 were a real handful to race, weaving and twisting like crazy at nightmare speeds. The Z1R's were down on speed and the sweet handling GS's had the advantage on the track. The GS1000's would grind the crankcase covers right through on the corners. Even so, an XS11 won the aussie 6-hour once, heavy shaftdrive and all. Brute force had it's day!

[mitch]

Z1R

I had a 1978 Z1R in 1980, it was the worst handleing bike i ever had in the corners felt like it was hinged in the middle. In a straight line pull my cousins 80 xs11 special, would blow me away at any speed!! Thats why i bought my XJ1100 years later . The xs1100 was a pretty hot unit in its day and IMHO still is