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I think this is all I’ll do for the summer. Winter I will flush the coolant system, replace brake pads and replace the brake fluid and any hoses that look suspect. Edit to add need to replace the battery.

Oh Boy, bubble wrap you can pop.

@ChiefGunner Correct!

@Patch I'm definitely a problem child, but definitely not picking on your english. Was just pointing out that the scenario you created is what we all experience in married life - the killed mood, hence the fewer words version of "are you married?" My bad attempt at a joke. Should probably get used to it, its one of the things in life I'm really good at.

Problem child 1968, are you picking on my English? And NO I ride one up, don't stick around long enough to make the same mistake twice

Looks like a tire to me! I just got a front one of those the same way.

What’s in the box? Tomorrow is a busy day. 😀

Figured I should update this. I ran seafoam through the system, replaced spark plugs, cleaned air filters, oil and filter change, adjusted the idle (it was too low) and did a carb sync. Tremendous improvement to how she is running/performing.

I got some time in the saddle with my '86. First time in a couple years. I'd forgotten what a nice ride she is!

Is there a reward. I am not currantly working and could use the bounty money. Nothing personal @videoarizona

We have a lot of those out here. Pawn shops that is.

Legal or not, I would never do that. To many aggressive, distracted and just plain stupid drivers out there.

As far a training or teaching your kids, our policy was: We had no idea what life would hold for them, what kind of skills or mental makeup would be needed, for we had no handle on how the world would change during our or their lifetime. So we taught them to be kind, considerate, loving, caring and benevolent..... We tried to show them that there was lots more to life than just making money, but above all to realize that the only way to a much better and a truly perfect life would be to get to a place called Heaven, a place of eternal rest and peace. For that to happen they needed to realize they couldn't in no way do it on their own, but needed a Savior, and there is only One. They have all taken that to heart.

Problem is when it comes to trying to influence your kids in one direction there is a whole twisted other world and media influencing your kids in another direction and you tend to be out numbered.

Hello everyone, I finally got around to shaking some photos out of my phone and wanted to show off my new project, I've been lurking a while and thought it was time I said something. Ya'll seem like a decent bunch so if you don't mind I'll elbow up and open my mouth. Almost a year ago I found this beauty on craigslist for a price that looked too good to be true. Turns out it only had 4th and 5th gear, wouldn't shift below that. Having experience with the XS1100's it sounded to me like the shift pin issue which is about a $40 fix. We had just started a major remodel on the house and I had no time for a new bike but I had to have this one, I've been bringing bikes back to life since I was a kid and of all the bikes I've had the one I wished I hadn't let go was an '83 Venture. Best all around bike I've ever ridden, I think of it as a full-dress sport bike. I'd go on but I think I'd be preaching to the choir. The bike had been well cared for by its original owner who garaged it and had all the regular maintenance done by the dealer, including updated items like the water pump impeller. There isn't any rust anywhere except the expected speckles on the exhaust system, the bike is really quite clean considering that the second owner was commuting about 70 miles round trip a day on it for the year he owned it. All I had time to do when I brought it home was shove it into the shop, but over the last few months have squeezed out a few hours here and there and have made some progress. So far I've fixed the shift issue, removed the oil pan to retrieve the shift pin, removed all the engine covers to fix weeping (mostly to polish them, really), pulled valve covers to check valve lash, (all good) flushed the cooling system (which didn't need it), dropped the exhaust for gaskets and welding of the collector mounting bracket, and pulled all the bodywork to fix an incredible number of broken tabs and cracks. There were some very slight scuff marks on the left side of the fairing, slight enough that they came out with a little rubbing compound, but every darn tab on that side was either broken off outright or cracked like a desert, and there were stress cracks at nearly every corner of the fairing. And the headlight trim was broken at the screw holes. My thinking here is that the elderly (and I do mean elderly, I'm no spring chicken) original owner arrived at the end of his riding career with a slow speed tip-over against the minivan or the riding mower in the garage, breaks out a tube of epoxy and sells the bike to the family friend who needs cheap transpo, who in turn sells it as soon as it costs him anything but gas. At this point all the above is fixed but there is more to do before she hits the road. Here is how the bike looks now Upholstery is good except for the usual stress separation on the front seam - 58,00 miles on the odometer While I had the covers off I stripped the clear coat, polished and detail painted the ends and painted the centers with high temp silver - Looks kinda nice peekin out there - The water pump cover "before", the "after" is above - Missing shift pin - 70 miles a day. On this tire. The bike starts and runs like a sewing machine, but before it hits the road I'll replace the tires of course, and go completely through the brake system. I like the linked brakes and will retain them, but the calipers, masters, and valves will all come apart and be renewed. And stainless lines, I'm a big fan of stainless lines. Same thing for the clutch. I have an overhead lift setup so while the bike is hanging for tires I'll drop the swing arm and service all that mess. I fixed the weeping forks with the "tool cut from a milk jug" trick, other than some slight weeping they checked out just fine. The forks will be stripped and polished, and I'll probably repaint the bodywork if I have time before summer. Thanks to everyone for all the great info collected here, it's been a great resource and enjoyable reading! I'll post some more when there's more to post, for now its back to the house. Waaaaa. Thanks for reading! Tim

Thanks guys. Puc, thanks for the tip on the stator lead, the stator is in good shape and has the cooling kit, I'll check that lead. I have three XS1100s and am familiar with the second gear issue, this one seems fine so far. Yes, the glass is perfect, it was out for repair of the headlight trim and is in a cabinet wrapped in a towel. Nice job spotting that! And progressives are on the list. And Dan the frame appears to be reinforced, there are gussets that I didn't see in the photos I've seen of the early cracked frames. I had the bike in the air and everything looks solid underneath. I found it at just the right time, she was at that tipping point where so many bikes end up rusting under a blue tarp, or parted out, or could have a whole new life if given some attention. Luckily the gentleman who owned her had fallen in love with what was supposed to be just a cheap way to get to work and wanted the bike to go to someone who would bring it back, which is kinda my deal. After 40 years of vintage bicycles, motorcycles, boats and outboards I understand that TLC = Tender Loving Complete restoration, and I'm ok with that.