major project or parts galore

[pgnz]

Main weight loss comes from the removed bevel gears from middle and rear drive,  those things weigh a ton,  swingarm not so much,  XS steel swingarm on it's own is pretty light and skinny,  modern beefy alloy swingarms weigh much the same or even a bit heavier,  add heavy 530 chain and sprockets the difference shrinks again, but with light wheels/discs etc..the bike still straight away feels lighter to wheel around.  Still a heavy mother though 

[nozila]

Pretty much what I would have said.
 
I'll favor chain drive on the xs11 for only a few reason. 1) choice of larger rear with chain/swingarm combo but only if you are going to also change the front preferably USD forks 2) weight loss but really, these bikes are rather heavy and even if you are able to drop the weight with a chain - it is still heavy.

[pgnz]

So OK the "chain versus shaft" thing is all a load of bollocks,  who gives a rats ass what's considered best it's just whatever TF you want or prefer,  big miles touring and dusty roads the shaftie is a million times better than a grotty old chain,  as far as an XS11 goes there's no difference in smoothness,  you always hear shyte about how "smooth" a shaftdrive is compared to chain,  load of bullshlt sorry,  a chain is just as smooth if not smoother than a shaftie, gear-changes with chain are less clunky,   bestest thing on the shaftdrive is it's just ignore it and ride,  no fekking around with chainlube and having to wipe grime off everything after a few rides. Saying that modern o/x-ring style chains last forever and aerosol chainwax is clean and hassle-free.

 A chaindrive XS11,  you're really only doing it for something different and radial front and rear tyre setup and pretty big chunk of weight-loss which includes way lighter discs and wheels.  Makes the bike extra responsive and quick off the mark.  Top speed stays the same ,  there's no huge extra surge of power between shaft and chain on an XS11,  you need more than that with big extra horsepower to bust wind resistance over 100mph, there's noticeable more get-up-and -go from the chain but the difference ain't anywhere near the heaps-quoted 15% .  More like about 5%

[hen]

I have my op ions like all of us that's why I bought the XS I hate the sound of a CHain

[BrettS]

A friend tells me chain drive will have more power but shaft drive is smooth.... Is this a fair comparison?

[nozila]

great fun, do post pics of it when you can.

wish i had a chain drive hehe

[XSIIE]

The last 8 plug head I saw was on ebay about 5 years ago. it went for a paltry $1000 or there abouts.

so pretty scarce I'd say.

[Eveready1100]

Would also be interesting to know how many $'s they retailed for

It'd be very difficult to put a retail price on something that was never put on the general market. That's a bona fide  hens tooth you have in your possession.

Here's some info on the current version being manufactured now by Motionlogics - CLICK

Found this pic on the (ahem) XS triples site - CLICK, in amongst a lot of banter about the "other " chaindrive unit made by XSCHOP. Note that the unit in this photo looks to be exactly the same as yours, as opposed to all the other chaindrive XS photos I posted earlier in the thread, except for Tracktunes bike, which also looks to have a similar unit with the outrigger bearing.



Pehaps you could do a Pitmans superbike replica which would be a much easier project than a full blown racer.

You'd just have to get an 8 plug head for it  (easy peasy)

[pgnz]

Swingarm for chaindrive,  there's tons of choice,  go for a modern beefy braced type..  but ah,  there's no way an XS650 sprocket will fit without big alterations to the elevens engine casing,   650 sprockets do slot onto the 11's splined shaft but smallest stock 650 sprocket available is 16 tooth, 14 tooth is largest to fit without running out of chain clearance, even then you got to strategically skim a couple of mm's off the casing.

 Only stock available 14 tooth sprocket on the planet to fit the XS11 shaft is off a 60's honda 305cc CB/CL77 twin. 530 gauge is the go coz 520 chain is too skinny and flimsy for an eleven .  Sprockets come in "blanks" any halfway decent engineering outfit can whip out any pattern sprocket to fit any spline from a 14 tooth blank. 

 ps there's resident turkeys on the yank site who always spout horseshlt about how a "14 tooth sprocket will be no good" on an eleven because "it'll wear out the chain rapidly" ...  IGNORE THOSE TURKEYS!!  they don't know WTF they're talking about!   

[AussiXS11G]

hmmmm.......... simplicity itself..... I like it
now about a swingarm....

[Jonesy :-)]

hey Jones ....
nice score...I am jealous to the max...
when you get a chance I would like to see pics of the pitman chain drive bits......please

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
here ya go Horne,
This bit goes over the hole when the middle gear is removed and carries the inboard bearing

And this bit replaces gear selector cover and carries the outboard bearing

I assume you use the middle gear input shaft and (the PO told me) you can use XS 650 sprockets.
Maybe Mal is able to elaborate
Would also be interesting to know how many $'s they retailed for

[BrettS]

I'm curious, if the bikes run better with an air box how come all the race bikes don't have them?

[Jonesy :-)]

Curious as to how close the serial number of the Macho Maroon one compares to your other "twins"

Engines & matching Frames are 661 & the other is 230

[Aussiexs11]

Nice score Paul. Sounds very very appealing! A man with your mechanical abilities should be able to do wonders with all that me thinks......

Grant

[Jonesy :-)]

Will do Horne
One of the 2 castings in "the kit" replaces the gear selector cover and incorporates casting to carry an out rigger bearing