XJ1100 customization now under way

Nice looking gauge.

 

Trimmed the grab rails down. Need something to grab for shifting the bike sideways when all together. eventually I will make a little light luggage rack to go between them. Need something to carry my lunch on when I head to work.

 

Started on making something of a rear luggage rack. While test fitting for the picture, i thought of something: how close is that fender gonna to that tire when I hit a bump? Now I need to find out how much she sinks on a bump when being ridden compared to how close it gets when i compress the suspension with a ratchet strap. The manual says the max shock travel is 3.15". Does that mean that the shock compresses that much or that the back end clearance decreases that much at a max? I can compress it about 2" and that puts the fender within a 1/4" of the tire. I can get about 1/4" more with a little tweaking of the rack. Man, do I ever want to put it together to find out and then take it apart again to paint the frame. Unless someone out there knows.....

 

The build looks like its coming along nicely, amazing gauge too. You'll have to let us know how the individual air filters work when you get It running. Keep up the great work!

 

I've only ever run the bike on individual filters. I've never had an airbox for it. The plugs have a nice color to them, power is smooth and consistent with no lag. Fuel economy sucks compared to my Maxim-X, but seems to be on par with what the XS1100 guys are getting.

 

tweaked the luggage rack a bit, got myself about an extra 5/8" clearance. will see how that goes when it's all put together.
like always, i appreciate all constructive comments

 

OK, individual filters is something that I've been wanting to do, but I've heard mixed reviews. It's good to hear some positive feedback. Again keep up the good work on the bike.

 

I should warn though, the XJ1100 is a completely different beast. It is more XS than XJ. The XS line of bikes seem to care a little less about the filters than the XJ line. Then again, since i've never had an airbox on it i have no point of reference either. All I can say is that it runs smoothly, has good power and seems to behave well.

 

took the bike completely apart again. I am happy with how the fender sits, how the rack looks and the seat shape. I had one bit left to cut off the frame : the left side center stand mount. the PO had broken the other side off and I had never thought to check this side before. with my motorcycle jack, I have no real need for the center stand, though I may re-make them at some point.

anyway, i flipped the frame over to grind off the remaining mount. as i started i'm thinking to myself "that's not a weld, that is silicone. same here. and those are just two little tacks on the sides". so i ground off the tacks and whacked the mount with a hammer to reveal this:



so i took the mount, chopped it up and ground it down to make a plug for the hole.



and now you almost can't tell it was fixed. I may do a couple more surface passes to build up the strength again. after it cools down more i'll decide.



gotta love POs

 

I get 34MPG with US gallons with my both XJ11 and my Maxim-X.

You're doing some really nice work & you have met the bane of so many, the PO $%^& !@ that leaves you wondering what the $%^&...

The PO of my XJ11 should have never been allowed to touch anything mechanical.

Gary

 

everything is ready to go out and be blasted, then time for paint. just have to wait until i get the replacement VIN decal in my hands before I get them blasted, you know, just in case it can't be duplicated.

 

Got any updates?

 

Man this was awhile ago. What's the state of your bike now?