New member, who has finally finished dragging their feet...

[Miti]

Hi Hobbsy;

Great to see another XS11 resurrected from a far too early grave...

I think you'll find the changeover from the FJ12 to the XS11 a bit wierd... I'm currently using an FJ (3XW) as my summer "hack" (that is the only bike we own that I'm prepared to subject to the endless rain we call "Summer") and it's doing everything that my XS could, only better...

That is, everything except keep the back wheel clean and avoid annoying chain adjustments...  That is where the XS really scores...

Nice to see someone else getting m,ileage from the ZRX carb mod... I'm considering that myself... I'll be looking for a set of carbs with the TPS fitted and may be going with an Ignitech programmable ignition unit in favour of the Yamaha TCI...  (That'll allow 100 program points on the ignition curve, fo those that give a F...)

That carrier system is a Givi "Wingrack".  They can be bought as a "universal" kit consiting of the two sides and top-plate.  The latest versions are hi-density plastic mouldings that seem to be well up to the job (the originals were cast alloy jobs).  Givi also sell a "universal fitting kit" consisting of a bagful of assorted mechanical giblets (rods, clamps, bolt and plates) at an astonishingly high price, especially for something that you'll use only half of and bin the rest.

I used a Givi monorack on my 5K7.  It was designed (by Givi) to fit a Honda CBR1000F ('88-94 models) but I designed brackets, etc, to make it fit the XS and added two earlier Givi Pannier frames... Been using that since '97, so must have done something right...

I reckon your Zorst is the OEM front end with aftermarket tail-end... Did you post up a make..?  They have a real interesting end-plate.. Is it tunable..?

Miti

[tripodtiger]

rebuilding a 1973 RD250
-Hobbsy

I'd like to see that, please.
 

Perforated carb diaphrams can be repaired using Plastidip insulating spray paint.  The paint remains flexible.

[steptoe]

ay Hobbsy, there,s quite a few of us with in cooee now, either for assistance or a destination,
Ev and myself are only 4 1/2 hrs nth up the road

and an untold wealth of info

welcome aboard, look forward to meeting another 11 

[hobbsy84]

G'day Dave,

Wouldn't have it any other way, nothing like giving the V8s a run for their money with a 6 cylinder. That, and I reckon a 265 and a 4 speed is the only thing that would put up with the treatment it copped when I was younger. It gets a bit more respect these days, of course...

[Clutch]

G'day Hobbsy,
  good looking xs mate. hope to catch up with you soon,
and I hope that charger has a Hemi and a clutch.

clutch    aka.....dave



  my weapon of choice was '72 VH , 265 ,  3 speed floor shift , and a 2.92 rear ,  all factory.
 I only wish I still had mine in the shed.

[hobbsy84]

At the moment I'm running 135 mains (you can use Mikuni main jets instead of Keihin, much cheaper) and 37 pilots. I was thinking of upping to 38 pilots, but I'll just see how it goes for now. Brought the mixture screws out to 2 turns each, seems to be doing the trick. I made a post on the XS11.com forums with a few things I checked, the link for it is:

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36885

The tricky part was getting the vacuum advance to work properly. Since the ZRX carbs don't have a pickoff designed for a vacuum advance, you have to drill a small hole that exits just behind the throttle butterfly, so it'll work the same as the OEM carbs. Sounds harder than it really is though, just gotta be careful. Just needed a 1/16" drill bit, a drill, and a steady hand. Then a vacuum barb of some description to stick in the hole. If you go to this link...

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36055

... the fella who wrote it steps you through how he did it.

The throttle cable needs a bit of modifying to work properly, but its not too big a job, I just had to snip a bit of the outer sheath off, then bend the ZRX carby throttle cable holder to suit.

All in all though, installing them really was a straight forward process, the results are certainly worth the time and effort. The stock airbox even goes back on with a bit of fiddling, if you want to retain a more original look.

[melbxs]

Very tidy bike Hobbsy. I like it a lot.

What size jets did u put in those carbs? Also any tips for installing them?

I have a set waiting to go on.

[hobbsy84]

I'm admittedly not much in the way of a religious person, but from the sounds of it, I should be trying to get me one of those kits. It can sit in the 'carby tuning'' corner of the shed with the mercury tubes. Can never have too much stuff, eh?

[excess.11]

The colourtune kit is the closest thing to XS1100 Religion you ll ever experience..



Once you ve used them along with a good vac gauge............you ll be setting up a little shrine on the mantlepiece..........burning incense around them ........worshipping them in some strage inanimate way!
Well..i think you get the message.......both of those used together to tune your bike will make it......perform ...........like a gazelle.

The planet as you know it.....will become just that......little bit smaller.........



The transformation is phenomenal.

[hobbsy84]

I went through quite a lengthy process trying to get those carbs right, but realistically I was trying to push you know what up hill, the mixture screws were badly deformed (previous owner was a bit over zealous with putting them in, lucky the tips didnt snap off...), and I'm convinced one of the diaphragms had a pinhole in it.

To be honest, those old carbies would probably run on it now, since I've changed over the coils to a set of MikesXS coils, and replaced the intake boots (the old ones leaked badly). Also put a decent battery in it, which makes a huge difference. I have a set of mercury gauges I use for balancing, but I've never used Colourtune to tune carbs. That said, I'm not sure balancing was the issue in those old carbs. A lot of little things lined up at the wrong time, which resulted in me finding other things to occupy myself with, like rebuilding a 1973 RD250 and buying a 1988 XT600Z Tenere, for example. Also have a couple of Valiants on the build, just finished another Charger and currently doing a VG Hardtop. Single life makes for too much time and money, I spose...

But, I'm glad I had issues with them, or I never would have gotten myself to buy a set of modern carbs to put on it. She's never run better, and I really like the idea of not fiddling with 30 year old carbies.

As for the number plate confusion, I've had that Charger since I was 16 living in Inverell NSW, but I'm currently living in Ipswich. So the Laverda Concours sounds like a great idea, very keen.

-Hobbsy

[Eveready1100]

Gidday, Hobbsy. Glad you finally found us. It's hard to get a word in edgewise sometimes, but welcome to the Aussie clan! You'll have to play with your profile to let everyone know where you're from, too. The QLD plates on the bike and the NSW ones on your charger may make some wonder??

Wondering if you'll be available on July 15th to come to the Laverda Concours in Brissie for a meet up?

[excess.11]

Have you used vac gauges and a colourtune kit to set up the carbys?

[hobbsy84]

You know, I just realised that the first lot of photos had one with the rack installed. I know exactly what you're talking about now. Damn, I'm having one of those days...

The bike is a 1981 XS1100H Standard, and I've had it since around 2007 or so. Bought it off eBay as a bit of a sad looking case from down in Sydney, and I've spent quite a bit of time getting it to the stage its at. Bit to spend yet, going to be getting a new set of Ikon shocks for the rear, along with upgrading the front fork springs. Looking around for a front fairing at the moment, it's a shame Vetter fairings aren't as plentiful here as they seem to be in the States. For some strange reason, I kinda like the look of them.

I originally bought it to be a long range tourer, but due to a disagreement with the OEM carbies, that didn't really materialise, and I've been touring with a 1986 FJ1200 for a while. Now that bike is sold, I can finally get in and take this old girl places. Certainly keen for the XS Rally, I'm looking forward to getting out and enjoying this bike, rather than arguing with it!

[excess.11]

What History do you have on the bike?
I see it s an 81 H....how many kms?

[excess.11]

No........i meant the rack system........
.well done on what you ve done so far...i m from the world of............"you can never take enough"
The panniers even seem a little bulky for me and as you said......... a little high..........but your doing a great job i must say.
Your almost ready for "The Next XS1100 Rally".