1981H xs1100 rebuild project, started Feb.2017

[mschor]

Good job Frank, it's a great feelin', keep it up

[FranksBMW]

Thanks! The people on this forum have been quite helpful. Much appreciated!

[mschor]

I just took my 81 Special project for a 60 mile trip down the coast at freeway speed. I started breaking into it last November, got it from a guy who left it in his garage for 20yrs. A lot of the same stuff you went through---tank, carbs, brakes, tank again, electrical, tires, carbs again, and again, fluids, a little polish, and a day of much needed expertise from Bikerphil who fortunately lives not too far away. She's about 80% now, not a screamer but I think she'll get there

[mcmotohistory]

1981 h

I'm into the third year of restoring my 1981H. Love the bike keep it up and you'll love the finished project.

[IMG][/IMG]

[mschor]

Very nice bike!

[FranksBMW]

After several days out of town after riding the bike successfully around the block, I tried starting it again and it still works!

Are the tires on these bikes tubeless or do they have inner tubes? (Rear tire has a slow leak.)

[motoman]

After several days out of town after riding the bike successfully around the block, I tried starting it again and it still works!

Are the tires on these bikes tubeless or do they have inner tubes? (Rear tire has a slow leak.)

If the XS is what your sig. shows, then tubless.

[3Phase]

'81 should be tubeless but you never know what someone has done before you got the bike so look at the rim.

The tube-type rims have three holes drilled in them for bead locks. There will be bolts sticking out of them or the holes may be sealed with JB Weld.

The tubeless rims use a similar casting but the bead seat is slightly different and there are no holes for the bead locks, they just have three flat pads where the holes would be if they were drilled for bead locks.

[TopCatGr58]

An Easier way to tell is LOOK AT THE SPOKES of the rim,

IT will say TUBELESS if they are in fact tubeless rims.

Slow leak could be corrosion of the rim at the bead, or the tire valve innards, or even the actual tire valve....they can be replace....over fill it a little and then slather it with some soap film and look for bubbles around valve.

T.C.

[FranksBMW]

Hi everyone, it's been a while. Other stuff in life demands attention.

Here are a couple of observations.
- JB Weld does not hold up to gas. Patches on small hole began to leak after a couple of weeks. I found an epoxy paste that is advertised as gas tank repair so I'm trying that.
-My clutch cable was very stiff and resistant to movement. There may be such a thing as a cable luber but I don't have one. I cut the corner of a sandwich baggie and sealed it at the end of the cable with elastic bands. I poured in some WD40 and penetrating oil, and suspended the cable vertically so the liquid could find its way into the cable. It took 2 days but the cable has now freed up.

Still to go: paperwork with MTO to obtain a title, and I really would like a seat in better condition. Mine is ripped (I duct taped it) and a section of the seat pan is rusted and disintegrating.

[FranksBMW]

Put everything back together and put gas in the tank. Still leaks, must be more pinholes and along the seam. Will have to buy tank liner epoxy. Even though it was leaking, I took it around the block. Starts and idles well but hesitates during acceleration, but then it wasn't warmed up yet.

[mschor]

Caswell is a good liner. Hope it works, I cleaned and coated my tank only to find that the metal had rusted to paper thin all behind the emblem....had to replace it in the end

[FranksBMW]

Thanks Mschor. Caswell was recommended to me as well. I've also been told that fibreglass resin would work. Thoughts on that?

[Schming]

Still to go: paperwork with MTO to obtain a title, and I really would like a seat in better condition. Mine is ripped (I duct taped it) and a section of the seat pan is rusted and disintegrating.

Hi Frank,

I have a Venturer seat in very good condition that I won't be using as it's too wide.

I had it on my '80G full dresser for a year last Summer and my 30" inseam has trouble reaching the ground. As of last weekend I was able to modify my SF's stock seat pan ( slight trim at the tank) to fit the G.
It's narrower than the Venturer seat by 2" in width at the front so I have a better, safer reach for the extra weight of the full dressed bike.

I'll work on getting some pics up asap for ya.

[mschor]

In my research I only heard that fiberglass doesn't hold up over time. Some types may work on small holes. I replaced my tank because I ended up with a 1×6" rectangular hole. Thought seriously about trying to fiberglass it, but everyone said nooooo