Godzilla Resurrection: Re-build thread

[TopCatGr58]

Hey John,

Swingarm photos are now up in that thread.

Greg, new Air Shocks are on my shopping list. I'm running some slightly longer front spacers which put a little more preload tension on the springs, running Dextron III "fork" oil which is ~15 wt equivalent, am running an Elite III rear, IIRC, ChengShin 110/90-19 front.

I'm working on the testicular courage, gotta see my Doctor for my Testosterone shots for LOW-T !

[BA80]

I've found that the tires (OMG! ) that you are running have a huge effect on handling and a tire that handles good for one person is squirrely for another. It takes experimentation to find the right combination for anyones personal style of riding.

As far as "stiffening" the swingarm, the shocks you run will be the way to correct any issues there.

The combination that puts my SG on a rail is a Shinko 712 110/90/ 19 on the front, Dunlop Elite III on the rear, XJ shocks on the rear (40 psi air), 15w oil in the front forks with about 18psi air, and enough testicular courage to trust the bike in an OH ****! situation.

The last being the most important mod.

[TopCatGr58]

Swingarm mod

Hey John,

I found my old thread, circa 2007! http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...arm+stiffening

The photos on the last/3rd page are missing because I had linked them from my old cox.net web space, but then lost them when I had changed to Verizon for a couple of years, then went back to Cox, but never recreated the photos or links in photobucket.

Doing this was in an attempt to try to tighten up the handling of the bike at higher speeds. I later learned that both my bent frame/reduced trail was a big component of the feel of looseness, and then the poor aerodynamics of my rectangular flat faced/edged saddlebags also contributed to the wiggle feel! I tried a high speed run without them later and it felt a bit more stable. I knew that my swingarm bearings were in good condition and properly tensed/set/centered.

SO I went ahead and performed the mod with square tubing. I think it did help to stablize the rear a bit and takes some of the stress off of the shocks as well since the swingarm doesn't flex as much. You can read the comments in the thread from some of the other members and come to your own conclusion. I'll see about putting a few of the photos on photobucket to update the thread.

T.C.

[jwhughes3]

I have never seen the swingarm stiffening mod or discussion of it here. Was it just something you decided to do? Or did the need arise from the accident?

John

[HalfCentury]

T.C.

Your MacGyver solutions are a pleasure to observe. Much like Kurt's Harley muffler magic. The history of your bike and pictures are awesome to read/see. Thanks for sharing!

[TopCatGr58]

Just to show that I'm actually working on this thing!

Hey again folks,

Okay, first update, got started working on it today. Wanted to address the steering neck bearings on the donor frame! When I was perusing the PNM website, I saw a "tool" for removing the bearings....a modified piece of PIPE for $30.00!!

SO..I thought I'd try to borrow the design and customize it for our bike!?

First a view down the steering neck, notice just the 2 small recesses barely showing the lip edge of the lower race!



This is the view looking UP the neck, the upper race has a more prominent LIP 360 degrees around!


So...I picked some Galvanized 1" ID pipe, which was 1-3/8" OD, 12" long to be able to reach well beyond the neck length. ~$9.00 at LOWES, the black pipe was the same price, opted for Galvanized just to prevent rust!? I don't know if the BLACK stuff is any stronger.?


I cut the slots down the side, and then cut the threaded section off, note at an angle so that when the ends are spread, the edge would be at a better angle into the race edge!


I used an AXE head to spread the end, to about 47mm. Then you put the small end down into the neck and tap the pipe to compress the end until it pops down below the upper neck race edge.


Then, I used the HEAT GUN technique to heat up the neck/bearing, and then spritzed the bearing with spray cleaner to help cool and shrink it a bit. Then started hitting the bottom end with a 2lb peen/hammer, and the race started moving with just a few hits.


After a few more hits the race was essentially up out of the neck.



So...then I thought about the lower race, there is very little lip edge to grab, and the steering neck tube sticks out into the neck area. SO I had to modify the pipe piece with the grinder/cutting wheel to leave 2 sections ~7mm wide and about 1.5 inches long. I then hammered the prongs against my vice/anvil to bend them outward a bit more to allow them to have a better angle into the race lips!






Now, this is where I would LOVE to say that I had success! But I didn't. The pipe material was just TOO SOFT for the small impact area of only ~14mm total, and so when I would hammer against the race....even after doing the heating/cooling process, but the metal just shaved off an edge of the tips, I would then take it out, regrind the surface/ends with the cutting wheel to put a new sharp edge, spritz it with brake cleaner to cool it, and try again. It did get the race to move a little ~ 0.5mm, but that was it, just kept chipping off the sharp edge of the end of the prongs!?

So...I had to resort to the dremmel, cutting diagonal sections, it's a little difficult to not cut into the frame/neck portion, but finally got it out a little UGLY, but it shouldn't cause any problem/weakness once the new race is installed.


I didn't try using my welder because I haven't switched out the sleeve yet from last year when the aluminum wire got stuck in it!

Thanks everyone for the comments, encouragement. I'm hoping to be able to make some teachable moments from this process as well. Stay Tuned!

T.C.

[kboehringer]

Return of Godzilla.

Here's the "SHORT" list of what I plan on doing over the next few months hoping to be done in time for XSSE 2016. This list is open to amendment !
T.C.

Hey TC.
Love the history of the bike. I bet there aren't many around here driving the same XS11 for 33+ years. We're going to have to talk some more at XSSE '16 as Nancy & I were both stationed at NAS Norfolk until late '86.

I'm looking forward to watching your progress with the rebuild. I've performed a bunch of the stuff on your list to my DUCK, Mayberry DUCK, and DEAD DUCK and in about the same amount of time you have remaining until XSSE. But, you're gonna have to get moving to get it all done in time!

I noticed you mentioned: XV1100 foot pegs and DRL's. I really want to see those mods. I upgraded to XJ1100 pegs as I like those better than stock XS and I'm playing around with some Chinese LEDs trying to make ME more visible. I'll be watching that activity on GODZILLA closely.

I have a some spare stuff so if there is ANYTHING you need let me know. If I got it, it's yours for the asking! You've provided a TON of help to me with my 11's and I sure hope I can help you somehow.

Sincerely,
KURT

GO NAVY!
Sailors have more fun!

[bikerphil]

I'm thinking about putting an additional brace...way away from the range of the sliders travel, but still far enough away from the TT that I think it may help in the stability

The chopper guys call this a 'tweak bar'.

[madmax-im]

Great history and pics...and a great read...cant wait to see the progression...

[BA80]

[red bandit]

Cool review.

[TopCatGr58]

Continued Bike Porn!

2009 Just riding



2011: Auto Race 1 Wire ALT Mod, HID headlight Mod, Swapped in DYNACOILS for dead MikesXS.




2013: Did the dual piston Caliper Mod on my special=PITA; and the Manual CCT Mod



2014: Added the Digital Speedo/tach gauge cluster; SuperBright LED Aux Lights; Fiamm Horns; and ruined tank paintjob from overfilling and heat expansion on the trailer.






Here's the bent frame/neck views, along with what it should look like, the donor frame. There's a 79 frame behind it, just ignore it.




Tod, there is some 4+ inches of fork below the triple tree that never gets touched by the sliders, and that's where I'm thinking about putting an additional brace...way away from the range of the sliders travel, but still far enough away from the TT that I think it may help in the stability??

Okay, gotta get out there and clean up the garage to make more room so I can start working on this project, have already received quite a few of the parts I've ordered.

T.C.

[TopCatGr58]

Bike PORN!

Hey folks,

I know how we all love photos, so I've collected quite a few to show the history of Godzilla, hope they all fit within this one post, otherwise I will have to split it across a couple of posts....the site's software sometimes glitches when trying to put/post too many in one post!?

I got the bike "NEW" in 1983, rode it for a couple of years while still in the NAVY, then got a civ. job, had to commute on it, and here's what happened the first month of commuting. Note the smashed/crushed windshield that I impaled against as I flew thru my windscreen and across her hood!
This was also the incident that bent the steering neck/frame unbeknownst to me and the bike shop for some 20 years.

1986




You can see how I had already had to spray paint the headers due to rusting, and this incident was IIRC when I put on the 4-1 pipes along with the 4" longer fork tubes. I don't have any photos from '86 thru 92 or later due to too early for computers, all of my real photos are in boxes in the garage, so we'll just have to start with when I did my 1st rebuild in 2000-01.

2002: Shortly after the 1st rebuild/1179 BB, etc.! Rattle can paint job, softside saddlebags, Aux lights and such.



2003




2006: SS Brake Lines, Pods, MikesCoils, SOFA, windshield, CenterStand
Did the Velocity Stack Mod, started making the SOFA's myself, replaced the broken windscreen with one I cut/bent myself, extended my centerstand due to the extra height from the extra long forks....had extended my sidestand back in '86 after the repair and first putting on the forks. Also the crappy BLACK MikesXS High output coils....they didn't die until 4 years later.









A few photos comparing a STOCK specials forks, my4" over, and then another Xsive's 6" over. But you can clearly see how mine are on a different ANGLE than the others, I think it was this year, or the next while at XS SE that BikerPhil or Gene showed me where my frame was bent!?




2007: Did the Swingarm stiffening mod; Add the Trunk bag.



2008: Did the custom PAINT job.







Okay, got the error, too many photos, only allowed 30, had 43, so splitting the post! Continued next post.
T.C.

[trbig]

Sounds good, TC! Only thing I wonder about though is the fork brace on the uppers you mentioned. I'm not sure there's any room for one. On a hard brake, they'll compress almost up to the nameplate in front.

Congrats on 30 years at your job!

[Brent]

encouragement.

I, too, look forward to your progress and the process of getting your old companion back to ship-shape! We're pullin' for you and your SH.

Hi TC,
I am looking forward to seeing you and Godzilla. I do really like some of the mods you have done. Paint and extended forks with sporty steering geometry; greater ground clearance and lean angle. Seems to handle very well when I have been trying to keep up with you. I believe that your set up is better than stock for someone with a Loooong inseam. Glad to hear of the time, money, and interest coming together. That is a good bike, well worth some TLC. The horsepower & torque graph from the dyno run you had done would also be of interest to anyone following this thread.

Good luck wrenching.