Before and after XJ11 restore

Here is the before pic. While it is not the bike in the following pics it is in the exact same condition. Same color, same amount of corrosion, they could have been twins.
The bike in the pic is a parts bike I just got for 125$ last week. The original I did not have a pic of. When I got this one I thought I need a pic to as a compairson to the end result because it looked identical to the other one.

The original XJ11 was taken as a trade for another bike I had( A 2003 V-Star 1100). I got the V-star for free and traded it to a friend for his XJ11. I know I could have sold it for much more money but my friend wanted a newer bike , so I offered a even trade. After all he wanted the V-Star and my wife wanted the XJ . My daughter took her XJ11 a few years ago to zip around at college so we needed another. The deal was made, a ratty but running XJ11 and 500$ for a nice V-Star.
So the project begins...........

 

I started the tear down in March 2015. The bike was entirely disambled to bare frame.
Sand blast and paint frame to start. Clean and paint all parts as they went back on the bike. Engine top end was taken apart to replace valve guide seals, engine was cleaned and painted .
New brake lines, pads, rebuilt all calipers and master cylinders.
New tires
Fully rebuilt carbs
New seat cover
New exhaust
New fuse box
Any thing that looked questionable was replaced.
I ended up with a almost new 1982 XJ1100 about 500$ ( I spend almost 1000$ in parts and materials durring the rebuild but got 500 in the trade)
I finished the project in August 2015 and this pic was just before its first ride.

 

Beautiful!

 

I like the color.

PS: that trunk is HUGE

 

Easy to do a wheelie with that trunk

 

Have not tried wheelies, don't think I want to. It does not add much weight back there. My wife wanted it to keep her purse. The first XJ11 had a trunk and she liked it. The trunk was leftover from a XS1100 touring package I got in trade.

 

Bravo!

 

Top boxes turn a fun motorbike into an everyday traveling machine.

 

Well if you got all that done for almost a 1000 bucks then bravo it is. Mine isn't even close to looking like that and I've spent well over 500 (I know wife keeps reminding me).
Looks beautiful, great job.

 

nice job!

 

That's exactly what my wife wanted. This is her bike.
My XS11 has the matching side bags

 

Nice work,really like that color.

 

Nice job, very clean. That trunk *is* huge. You could put one of those pit bikes in there, for a spare

 

I think the angle of the pic makes the trunk look bigger than it really is. It will fit one full face helmet with jacket and gloves.

 

babys got back

nice job, are those pods on there?

 

No pods for me. That is the stock air box with stainless foil tape highlights.

 

Love that blue color. Nice ride.

 

how did you clean that engine? Looks fantastic.

 

nice add on
I thought we were all going to have to rag on you for going to pods on such a nice ride

 

Lots of elbow grease.
Simple green cleaner and a scrub brush.
Paint engine case with everything assembled.
Remove side covers and polish.
Remove cylinder base and cylinder head, clean paint.
Put it all back together.

 

I like to keep things simple. Yamaha made a great intake system why mess with it.

 

Very nice restoration m.

Gary H.

 

I hope my 3 XJ1100's turn out as good as yours. Nice Job.

 

Beautiful looking bike. Great color choice. Nice work.