xs1100 Trike

[Dennis]

Winter 2016/17.  1978 XS1100 Yamaha.  I got this bike a few years ago when Shep was a new member.  While visiting his garage on a club night I noticed the bike under some snow and leaves; definitely needing some love.  At that time I was looking for a shaft drive bike to build a 70's style chopper trike.  I mentioned to Shep that I was interested in the bike.  He offered it to me for free and I graciously accepted.  At that time it had a well weathered touring fairing, panniers and rotted seat.  The first thing on arrival in my possession was to tear off and ditch all that junk. 

As with many bike projects, it was stored for several years in my garage.  I acquired a Chevy S10 differential and some cool wheels for the trike project.  Then nothing.  The GS650 mono shock caf? racer, the Stolen Sportster, and two rigid XS650s intervened, while the XS1100 stood quietly parked (now loved in a heated garage), awaiting its moment of resurrection.  Alas, this is the time.

At least two years ago I realized that the trike project just wasn't in me for this bike.  The XS1100 was the fastest production motorcycle in 1978 until Honda introduced the 6 cylinder CBX (only slightly faster).   This should be revived as a motorcycle, but like all of my projects, a stock restoration is not going to happen either.  It is going to me a motorcycle built for riding, and built for riding fast.  That means it will not be a hard-tailed chopper/bobber.

I got it up on the stand.









Peace & Grease, Dennis

[Dennis]

One of the reasons my enthusiasm for a trike project waned was because the S10 rear differential I have would have to run in reverse.  Ring and pinion gears are designed to be optimal in one direction.  The S10 was also sold in 4wd (and the Blazer).  Query: anyone know if the ring and pinion from the front diff would work in a rear diff?  Just reconsidering my options.

Peace & Grease, Dennis

[Qball]

let me know what you find out for the rear end there denis.  I have the same bike here I was thinking of a similar project

[stikman]

A trike build could be interesting to follow.  I say exhaust all options down that route first.  At any rate, have fun with it.

[fast1]

  My two cents. During my career I have ridden both trikes and sidecars. you already have the better of the 2. With a sidecar you can straddle a pot hole, with a trike you pick which wheel is going through it. Steering effort is markedly increased due to 2 wide contact patches "pushing" 1 narrow one. On loose gravel at low speed it won't turn at all--just scrubs the front tire sideways, but they do attract attention and girls... you already have one of those! CHEERS.

[Kaw-meister]

I think you should find the front diff from the s-10 turn it around, use the independent suspension and turn it into a lowrider at the same time...

[Dennis]

I haven't posted in awhile despite much work being done.  I have been having difficulties with photos.  This is a test to see if my new iDick and Imgur app will work.

After I decided to go with the trike project, I went and dug the differential I had out of the snow and brought it home.  This was a couple months ago.



Had some Club members over after a Tuesday night meeting and we (Ted actually) hammered off the totally rusted on brake drums.

Since then I have purchased a complete disc brake set up, had the diff sand blasted, and it is currently with Jeff to get narrowed 12 inches.

Since my iDick and Imgur app seem to now be working, I will try to keep some photos coming.  I rebuilt the carbs, and their resurrection would have been a great photo op.

Peace & Grease, Dennis

[Qball]

Denis, it is funny we seem to be on the same path.  I just picked up an 1100 for a trike project as well.  Have you determined if there is any issue with rotation of the drive shaft vs differential rotation?  What differential are you using?  Are you going to shorten the axle or just run full width?  I literally just picked up the 1100 last week and haven't even developed a plan yet.  do you have a vision yet? 

[Dennis]

Denis, it is funny we seem to be on the same path.  I just picked up an 1100 for a trike project as well.  Have you determined if there is any issue with rotation of the drive shaft vs differential rotation?  What differential are you using?  Are you going to shorten the axle or just run full width?  I literally just picked up the 1100 last week and haven't even developed a plan yet.  do you have a vision yet?

The rusty old differential is from a 1989 Chevy S-10.  I picked it because the drive ratio is approximately 10% less than the xs100 final drive ratio... at least that's what I recall when I did the calculations a few years ago.

Yes it will be narrowed.  It is currently with Jeff for that.  I am narrowing 6 inches on each side.  That should result in a 39" width flange to flange.

I do not anticipate much problem with running in reverse.  The load is much lighter than a pick-up truck.

The drum brakes were beyond salvage so I bought a complete disc kit.  A trike in BC has to have a parking brake.  These calipers have a mechanical actuator as well as hydraulic.



Peace & Grease, Dennis

[Sr.X]

Is this the xs that came from Smithers?

[fast1]

   Nope, that bike is a 650 now known as the Smithers bobber. Probably the bike of Dennis' I envy the most. This one came from Shep a few years ago after a shop night, took him this long to decide what to do with it. CHEERS.

[Sr.X]

The XS I was wondering about came from the same place as the 400 2 stroke drag bike that Dennis built a few years back.
Bob

[stikman]

Right on.  Nice to hear you decided on a trike.  Looking forward to watching your progress.

[Dennis]

The XS I was wondering about came from the same place as the 400 2 stroke drag bike that Dennis built a few years back.
Bob

Close but no cigar.  The expansion chamber on the Drag Bike came from the same place as I got the S-10 differential; Mike Olan just west of Hooterville.

[Dennis]

The carbs were actually done over the last couple months.  This is what they looked like when I started.



I wish I had some better pictures of the carbs disassembled.  They were a real mess.  The photos of the goo on the needles sort of shows what I was dealing with.  They were completely bunged up.  Whenever someone is doing a carb rebuild the discussion always comes up about the best way to clean them.  I have tried just about everything.  These ones were disassembled (all brass bits removed) and soaked submerged in Hydro-Seal for a couple of days.  All the goo came off easily after that.  So far, Hydro-Seal has been the best method I have used.





Now they're beautiful.   All new jets, floats, etc.



Jeff shortened both axels 6", and the diff case 6" each side; 12" narrower than stock.



The bolt/studs for the lug nuts are too short for my new rotors and wheels.  I ordered longer ones  from Chieftain Auto.  Once I have them I should be able to assemble the diff for a mock up.

Peace & Grease, Dennis.