New again

Hello DTT,

I'm from illinois, just outside Chicago.
I have a 1981 XS1100 special I am customizing
2 1983 virago XV500s, one is a runner, the other being
Used to build into a custom
A 1982 XV920 I just picked up.
And finally in a million pieces I have a 1979 zuk GS425

Welcome.
Quite a few of us around the Chicagoland area. What's the plan or vision for the excess eleven?

I am looking to rebuild the shocks, maybe HD springs and a fork brace. Or an R1 fork swap keeping the xS11 wheel. Auto Chain tensioner swap. Jet the carbs for foam pods, new lights and that's about it. Love riding that one. Oh, a standard tank would be nice but people want stupid money for those.

Have a spare motor for it, the one in it runs but has a couple spots where the P.O. broke small parts off the case.

Oh, and one of those slim batteries to tuck under the seat. And an XS750 18 inch rear wheel

Welcome to the forum bud. Love me a GS

Hearty welcome from Montreal mate

Thanks guys, yeah lost the title on the GS when we moved. Tore the engine down cause it was stuck, couldn't get the cases apart (rough rod bearing) got new pistons and cylinders as well as a full gasket set. Just tossed the parts in a container for now. Might not get back to that one.

Welcome. I'm also modding an XV500.

Nice Karlloss, what are your plans for it?

Chris Livengood is the man to rebuild those RFY shocks. He's on this forum somewhere. I think his handle is Savor.

With a name like ColvinDesign i was expecting to see all sorts of style ideas to create something new. Those bikes had a lot of get up and go for the time but are a long way short of modern performance or handling. rear shaft drive makes rear wheel options a little more complicated than most, but front end should be easy to modify. Living anywhere in Illinois sort of dictates that a bike will spend 99% of its time upright and not swinging through the curves and that lends itself to a lower stance street rod - muscle sled type style with overall low, long street brawling look.

You could probably keep that teardrop tank and design a set and side covers that work with it. The motor is very square, so that adds to the styling challenge, so a headlamp bucket seat or brat seat probably doesn't work well with the look.

Another style that might work is post apocalyptic street scrambler look with high bars and MX sort of style but more Mad Max than civilized MX.

Oh I do design work, don't have any bike designs on my phone right now.

Time to draw up some different options for the Excess.

Just got my 18 inch rear for the XS, need to clean it and paint it