How Much HP?

[octane]

How much HP can the XS frame handle? I acquired mine not running and am curious how much of a monster motor I can build for it. I've heard the frames are a bit flexible on these bikes, but I have no direct experience with them. Thanks.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Octane,

The bike is rated at around 90 or so at the crankshaft. One Xsive has a turbo on his, and he has problems keeping driveshafts, they keep twisting and breaking!

You can get big bore kits for 1179cc and 1196cc's with normal aspiration which gets you a decently powered machine, but no monster!! Real performance parts are hard and expensive to come by for the XS11. If you are wanting a powerhouse, you'd be better off spending your $$ on a new bike!

The XS11 is a very strong and quick machine, but there are several "rockets" that can easily blow us out of the water.

SO...it would depend on what you are wanting to do with this "Monster" engine and bike? If you want to blow away most V-twins and HD's, then even a STOCK XS11 will do that!!
T.C.

[octane]

Hey, thanks for the response! My XS is a basket case freebie donated by a friend moving out of town that needed it out of his yard. I was thinking more along the lines of transplanting a different motor into the frame. When I priced exhaust and a few other important bits the bike was going to need I quickly realized it was going to cost a bunch of money just to get the old girl roadworthy again. I'm pretty handy with a wrench and have been known to do a fair bit of horse trading...so I thought I might be able to bolt a newer motor in the old girl. I'm really in the planning stages now - have another project to finish first. I dig the look of the XS though and hate to see the bike languish in it's current state for too much longer.

I've got a bad habit of starting with projects that are a little further gone than they should be started at. More fun that way though!! I just finished a fun little GS500 with GSX-R suspension that's a rip on the track. The little GS handles great and embarasses bigger machines so long as there isn't too much distance between the turns, but even though she's been breathed on, the bike is way underpowered. I've got a Hodaka I'm almost done with that was another freebie basket case. Once it's put back together I plan to tackle the XS starting with stripping it down to the bare frame. I really want to make it a nice all around bike - comfortable enough for long trips (the GS gets a bit uncomfortable after a few hours in the saddle!), well mannered enough for the occasional track day, and powerful enough to have fun with some unsuspecting sport bikers.

I stumbled onto this site a couple years back when I first acquired the bike. Glad to see it's still going strong and I hope to get much more advice from you guys as I start the build.

So - any common motor swaps out there for the XS11?! Thanks guys!

[octane]

Hey TopCat - I just noticed you're in Portsmouth, VA. I'm right here in 23701!! Good to meet ya!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Octane,

Good to meet ya, too. If you would EDIT your profile with a little more info, like year,model of XS11, as well as general city, state location, I probably would have figured it out sooner! Will have to get together some time!
T.C.

[octane]

Profile updated. See ya around!

[CruisingRam]

So what kind of HP should a person expect with a good aftermarket exhaust, well tuned carbs with pod filters?

[GNEPIG]

.. search for a thread called "Dyno Results" i think there are three dyno test sheets of slightly modified bikes for your reading pleasure
TC's bike is a little more than slightly modified though