Project Phoenix

[essjay]

Definately well said, and that is always how I do things. I will never build a car or bike with a credit card, i would always rather use my own two hands. Really like your bike steptoe, liking the sidecar and the trailer too, been looking into building something similar for when she is ready, would both be very useful to have around. Did you make your trailer and sidecar? Or adapt them to the bike? would love to see more photos, been through your website looking at them all

[melbxs]

Well said Steptoe. 

[steptoe]

and at the end of it you'll sit and look at it in the shed and be more than satisfied,,

and the next bike show you enter and THAT will happen some one will make a half smart comment,,you'll able to say no I didn't buy it,, I built that by my hand from scratch, with a tear of pride building

and that my friend will be worth more than any trophy they'll give out 

http://steptoexs11.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=43999990

I thought of it,, I designed it,, I built it,, and I BLOODY WELL RODE IT  {it's now back to a solo}

[essjay]

I shall assume that is a hilarious clip for those with sound, i have no speakers on this computer, shall check it out at home over the weekend.

The plus side of the situation is that the wife has no argument at all to me fixing/modifying the bike now mwahahahahaaa. "But honey, it needs new liners and bigger pistons and rings just to get it back on the road, otherwise its a complete waste..." hehehe
Plus I enjoy a project
Plus wife is interested in bikes finally
Pus i will know who built the engine and the quality of workmanship when i am finished

Not a complete waste. No didnt get any money back from them, i didnt ask for it either. At the $800 i paid, licence and complete, was worth it in my book, but then i have a habit of looking at a rotting pile of rust and seeing a sparkling gem from yesteryear hehe

[AussiXS11G]

mate - that is a tale of woe.......one never knows when its a lemon - onward and upward from here -
to make light of the situation though...................

 

[steptoe]

I hope he hasn't advertised that "Insanity Customs" to far and wide then,,,,,, what a goose, 

don't spose you'll get any portion of your money back then 

I left a bit of info on your other post

[essjay]

Howdy. Im new here. But this is probably the correct place to post my XStory.

Long time rider, i needed cheap, reliable transport, capable or running me 200+ kms some days, or just around the corner other days. When an XS1100 cropped up cheap, i went out to have a look, made an offer, and intended to ride the 100kms home. Previous owner had advertised and again told me in the flesh the engine had just been rebuilt, needs some fine tuning but runs sweet, good reliable bike he says. Well. 500m down the road, number 3 spark plug brushes my leg as it makes a desperate leap towards the sidewalk, and the engine growls in anger and is determined to stop and retrieve the escapee. So the bike went back to PO's house and i trailer her home the next evening. Fit a thread insert to the stripped plug hole, all is good. Riding a measly 20kms to work, a rattle begins. To me, sounded like a timing chain rattle - pull over, let her cool a while, carry on - noise gone. Made it to work, only just. Riding home not so lucky. The rattle came back, and then got MUCH MUCH WORSE so i pulled over and killed the engine.

Checked what i could again, until i became brave and thumbed the starter button -  "THUNK"

Engine is locked solid. Not going anywhere. A very annoyed wife drove me home while the bike hid behind some convenient bushes, and i had to hire a trailer for the 2nd time to trailer her home.

Removing the spark plugs and looking down the holes while turning the engine by hand confirmed my fears - Piston not moving with the rest of them.

To summarise, the previous owner had left a rod cap nut loose - and on further investigation, countless other bolts loose on the bike. Including brakes. Anyhow - engine. So the end cap as worked its way loose, and dropped into the sump. The rod has decided that looks fun and it will follow. The crank continued to come around and smack into the side of the rod, sending the rod through the bottom of the cylinder liner. Could have been a lot worse than it was, but as it is now i have to split the case to fit bearings and get the rod bolted back together. And I need one cylinder liner, but after a long search i have found a second hand set of jugs with pistons and rods, so $200 later I am back in business.

It has allowed me to paint the frame while its apart, inspect and service a few other items, etc etc. Everything happens for a reason, perhaps if the engine hadnt let go, the loose caliper bolts would have. Who knows.

Some interesting things to come for this bike, one of them being that now i have a spare set of jugs for her, i have spoken to some engineers and machine shops, and comparing many car and motorbike parts. It looks very muchly like i can fit some off the shelf liners from a suzuki or kawasaki, and some suzuki car pistons and rings, and come out of it with about a 1288cc machine. Can get liners made up to any specs, $150 for the first one and $30 for each liner after that, so with some used or some common engine parts it could be a very cheap upgrade. Will post all the details once i have a working prototype.

Anyhow that is my story for the moment, there is much more to it but i wouldnt want to bore anybody, you dont need to hear how easily the engine came apart with a few sockets and a 1/4 drive ratchet from bunnings, or how he nicely lined all the ring gaps up on the pistons so it would be nice a pretty...