Big Bertha - Cafe/Tourer 79 Special

[Bikes]

I'm looking forward to seeing it finished......i dig all types of bikes.....

[motobrix]

I think we all have to take a breath, and realize it's not done yet, and will hopefully see a finished product. I like the tread pattern on the XS tires. What are they? If the wiring is complete on the bike, it looks clean. Any plans for side covers?

Any plans for color on the SV?

Thanks, still some work to go.

The front tire is a dunlop D404, pretty standard cruiser tire. The back is a dunlop GT501. I would have gone with something a bit more interesting, but these tires are still good, so I'll keep them until they're worn out.

The wiring isn't complete yet, since I'll be building from scratch. But it should be hidden pretty well from the way I've designed the frame.

No side covers, just a battery box, exposed, and an electronics tray hidden under the seat. I'm using a Shorai LFX-18 battery, which has 270 CCA I believe and 18 Ah. I'm hoping it's strong enough for the beast, but I wanted something a bit smaller than recommended, just so I could save some space and make it look a bit cleaner.

The SV is bare metal with a clear powder coat.

[motobrix]

I've been working away before I take off on vacation for a couple of weeks.

I had the tank nickel plated. I originally wanted to go with a clear powder coat like I did on my SV, but thought I'd try something different. The nickel turned out pretty shiny! Even without polishing. It takes some getting used to, but I think it will look interesting when everything is done.

I also started working on the seat. Took two different types of foam and layered them. I used spray adhesive to glue everything together:



Then I started shaping with a turkey carver, and then sanding with a grinder. The grinder was a bit too agressive, but I made a decent shape out of it:



Then I wrapped it in 1/4" foam, and sanded some more, this time with a rasp for woodworking.



And this is what it looks like on the bike (ignore the rough patches , they'll be covered with another sheet of foam to smooth everything out):




Next I'll be sending the seat off for upholstery. I may not be able to post updates until July, but when I get back I'll be fitting the carbs and doing the wiring. Hopefully I can have the bike up and running by mid-July.

[Rasputin]

Myself I am still wondering why a bike like that is meant to suffer? I would have sold you 3 that would have fit the bill for your build (at no cost to you). But each to his own and the more that bastardize these bikes, the more an original or restored will go for, so have fun.

[motobrix]

Myself I am still wondering why a bike like that is meant to suffer? I would have sold you 3 that would have fit the bill for your build (at no cost to you). But each to his own and the more that bastardize these bikes, the more an original or restored will go for, so have fun.

Next time I'll be sure to crash the bike first.

[IanDMacDonald]

Next time I'll be sure to crash the bike first.

Lol, that was funny.

[alaskey2]

Don't take it super serious, it's not like you knew you could have bought three bikes that the forum thinks are donation worthy.

I think we're all a little sensitive from seeing people selling "cafe project, pulled motor, chopped the frame, no time to finish the job" bikes that looked like what you started with.

[motoman]

Myself I am still wondering why a bike like that is meant to suffer? I would have sold you 3 that would have fit the bill for your build (at no cost to you). But each to his own and the more that bastardize these bikes, the more an original or restored will go for, so have fun.

Could'nt agree more. IMO, there has only been two(the black one and red one, if someone still has those pics of the two) that were done in this way keeping the flow lines of the XS11. Alot of you 'oldies here know exactly which two I speak of.
IMHO, these type of mods on the XS11 are better left to those 'across the pond' that REALLY know how to build and modify these scoots, with the momoshock, inverted front forks, along with the all the other mods that take some SERIOUS skill-sets.

[motobrix]

Don't take it super serious, it's not like you knew you could have bought three bikes that the forum thinks are donation worthy.

I think we're all a little sensitive from seeing people selling "cafe project, pulled motor, chopped the frame, no time to finish the job" bikes that looked like what you started with.

Thanks alaskey2, that's a good point. In all honesty if I could go back in time and someone could have given me a bike that needed more work, I would have gone for it. But keep in mind I rode the bike last season the way it was, and bought it in running condition so that I could actually ride it for a season. My other bike was being worked on and was out of commission.

And... yes wait for it... a bit of my own humility: I'm still learning! You don't get good at building bikes by leaving them alone. And if you believe that motorcycles shouldn't be touched, well, I think that's pretty boring!

What better bike to learn on than one that has a running motor? Take it in baby steps so that you can learn to modify less functional aspects of a bike, and then move on to engines when you have the skill. I'm currently rebuilding a 70s kawi 2-stroke engine. It will be my first engine rebuild, and hopefully will help me gain confidence to take 4-strokes apart.

Restoring bikes exactly the way they were?! Boring still.

Me, I like taking risks; making mistakes; and above all getting down and dirty with something creative!

[skids]

Am I the only one crying over the metamorphesis of a nice XS1100 into another machine

Yeah me too.

[79xs1100s]

I wonder where you got your inspiration from...

[Buckmaster79]

79 xs1100sf

A little nicer than what you started at the bid is $3050.00
i would love to buy the seat if you still have it?
402-618-7222

[motobrix]

A little nicer than what you started at the bid is $3050.00
i would love to buy the seat if you still have it?
402-618-7222

Yeah, I do still have the stock seat in good shape. I'll call you soon.

[motobrix]

Here's a quick update:

Finished the seat in a brown leather vinyl:


Working on the electrical system now, and I'll be painting the tank with a stripe, and clear coat.

I have a clicking sound in the forks. It sounds like it's coming from the left side only, but I'm not sure. It's mainly if I lift the bike a bit and then recompress the forks that I hear the clicking noise. If I just push down on the forks I hear nothing. Any ideas? I think this sound might have been there before too, when the bike was stock.

Also, the rubber o-ring, or gasket as Yamaha refers to it as, on one of the fork caps is in bad shape. Anyone know what size the o-ring is for a replacement? I was going to just buy an o-ring kit and hope one of the sizes works.

[alaskey2]

I can't answer any of your questions, but I can say it's looking good!