XS11 'Cafe'

[Slow Hand]

Ok, this one may be pushing both the vintage and the café titles!

It's a 1980 Yamaha XS1100. Picked it up Saturday afternoon after a short test ride. For a short time after the XS11 was introduced, it was the fasted production bike out there. Definitely the fastest bike I've ever ridden in my somewhat short motorcycling career.

As purchased it was no black top monster! It runs ok, a little rough, but it's been mostly sitting for a couple of years. The previous owner was riding it next to his dad, who was on his goldwing. Something caught his attention and he looked, and steered, left; hitting a guard rail. After that, the PO lost all interest in bikes.

So, here it is as purchased:






I started to strip off all the Vetter stuff and see what I have. It's a 'Custom' version vs the standard, so it has more of a teardrop shaped tank. I got everything off of it except the big handlebars. I'm going to get a set of clubmans for it. I have a steel cowl from another unfinished project. I just stripped the K&Q seat cover and foam off of the metal pan. My plan is to cut down and reshape the metal pan and attach the cowl to it, then some
Basic upholstery.

Here's a couple pics of it mostly stripped with the cowl sitting in the rear of the frame









I'd like a more streamlined exhaust, maybe even a 4-1 system if I CID find one at the right price. I'm sure there will be other tweaks, but my plan is to go basic this year and maybe revamp it some during the winter time. I'm
Hoping to move fast on this one and get it back on the road soon so hopefully I'll have more progress pics up soon.

[Deleted]

looks good w/out all the touring crap. I got 125. for a similar fairing and not as complete. selling that and all that baggage will no doubt help offset the costs. may take a few months, be patient, someone will want that stuff. it'll maybe help so you can push that bsa into the corner, cover it with a sheet and (try) forget it for awhile.

[Slow Hand]

I figured there was a market for that stuff, probably a small one but still. I also thought about talking to rob at cycle recycle and see if he'd take it in in trade towards a standard gas tanks or maybe a set of 4-1 pipes!

Oh, and I bet there's a hundred pounds worth of stuff I took off. That can only help out with handling acceleration and gas mileage!!

[undergroundempyre]

If someone can make a naked Goldwing look great Cafe'ed out, I am sure it is more than possible with yours. Keep us posted!

[Slow Hand]

I've got a little work done in the past couple days. Cut there airframe rails down and welded a new hoop in place



I also it a set of clubmans and installed them

[Slow Hand]

A little update on this one. I've got the side panels ready for paint after removing the emblems from them. I got the rear frame hoop all finished up and painted. Turn signal mounts transplanted from the old frame rails and the new aluminum blinkers are installed and wired. The rear cowl proved to be a PITA and I probably should have gone fiberglass like everyone else does. I'm just spray bombing it and I laid down a beutiful coat yesterday. I let it sit for a little bit and went to lay another coat and it all wrinkled up and looks like crap!! So, I get to sand it all back down and start again! Today I fabbed up a tail light/tag holder. I made it out of a couple pieces of sjeeetal an welded them together. It's sandwiched between the frame rails and the rear cowl, held in ace with the cowls bolts. I may go ahead and permanently attach it do it doesn't come loose when I take the seat pan off.

Here's a few pics of the light/tag mount with and without the light.












I also picked up a set of license plate bolts that have LEDs in them so I don't have to worry about a license plate mount.

[czynips]

Jul 14, 2013 17:10:58 GMT -4 Slow Hand said:

I also picked up a set of license plate bolts that have LEDs in them so I don't have to worry about a license plate mount.

Where did you find the led license plate bolts? I got hassled by the man over the weekend because of my vertical plate and lack of lighting. Luckily, he was a chiver and let me off with a warning because of my KCCO shirt. Hoping to find the bolts locally so I can ride this week.

[Slow Hand]

My local AutoZone had them! Only bad thing is that you have to mount the plate, then wire up the lights as the wires go through the center of the bolt. I think they were around $15. I gotta get me a KCCO shirt!