1980 Yamaha XS11 Special

[2LZ]

Front end back on. New bearings, seals and new brake pads.
Weirdest brake pads and calipers I've ever seen (yet to be mounted in the pic). Angled pads (opposite angle per side) and the calipers bolted on with a single, long, vertical bolt. There is a name for that design I saw on the XS forum, but I'll look it up later.
Tomorrow, it will run.

[TxTaoRider]

Looking great!

[2LZ]

Shakedown cruise today. Been years since it ran (2015). I was expecting some valve issues due to build-up but no. Ran like a scalded cat. The bench sync worked out fine other than idle adjust. Snappy throttle response once operating temp and the choke rebuild acted perfectly. I could use this luck on other projects!

Ran it at cruise at 4500r's in fourth gear, cracked throttle down the road....and it sang like a Singer sewing machine.

On the way back, I opened it up to about 7000 r's and after 4500, it ramped up like a 2 stroke.Wow!

Tomorrow....Mrs. 2LZ is heading to her dads in Sac. More hot laps to follow.....

[dinhviquan10]

great, excellent, wonderfull. original

[herbie]

Just kind of curious, I know the XS1100 would spank the wee strom but how would it compare down low to mid range? I'm glad the pod filters are working out for you, I too have heard of a lot of issues with them and cv carbs. Great looking bike for sure!

[2LZ]

Originally Posted by herbie

Just kind of curious, I know the XS1100 would spank the wee strom but how would it compare down low to mid range? I'm glad the pod filters are working out for you, I too have heard of a lot of issues with them and cv carbs. Great looking bike for sure!

Hey herbie! Let me put a few more miles on it and I'll let you know. The front binders are still not right and I have a new master cylinder coming. I figured if it goes like hell, I better make it stop the same way. ;-)

I can tell you this though, compared to the Wee (26 years tech difference), the XS11 is a TANK! Just shoving it onto my bike lift is a hernia popper.

The Wee, as you've experienced, while not super-powerful, has one of the most useful power curves I've ever ridden. Completely friendly across the tach. On the XS11, it's just a brute. It's amazing how far bikes have come. Old bikes are cool and nostalgic, but man, you have to pilot them.

[herbie]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

The Wee, as you've experienced, while not super-powerful, has one of the most useful power curves I've ever ridden. Completely friendly across the tach. On the XS11, it's just a brute. It's amazing how far bikes have come. Old bikes are cool and nostalgic, but man, you have to pilot them.

It’s been so long since I’ve rode one of the old school bikes I almost forgot what it’s like. My fondest memory was in high school with a orange Honda 750 4 cylinder. That bike ran like a striped ape, until the Rd350 went against it! In a 1/8 mile that 2 stroker would kick its butt, but like a train the old 750 would pick up steam as it went along.

[TxTaoRider]

I've got a friend with an 82 gs1100e, stock suspension (sonic fork springs) with an 1150 engine. Ive got the same bike with an 88 gsxr1100
front end w/ sonic springs, emulators, and the much bigger brakes and Progressive shocks. Mine handles allot better, but the most noticeable difference is the brakes. I feel almost unsafe trying to stop his bike with the stock stuff.