Yamaha XV1100 custom with AME chopper rake kit

Customised 1997 Yamaha XV1100. In my ownership since 2001.
A few custom specs as follows :
- AME 14º Chopper rake kit with 8" over stock tubes, overall rake now kicked out to 46º.
- Stock Yamaha A.I.S. (Air Induction System) fully removed, exhaust ports capped off with allen bolts, stock vacuum sensor tube removed.
- Single intake manifold replaces stock dual intake manifold.
The silver manifold in this video was soon removed due to its poor Y-shaped design which made the bike run badly on acceleration. This was replaced with an alternative and much better "V-shaped" single intake manifold design by "searayguy". Since then it accelerates and behaves much better with no starving of fuel to the front cylinder.
- Mikuni HS40 carb replaces stock Hitachi dual carbs.
- K&N RC-0850 5" chrome high flow air filter. Main jet 170.
- K&N 62-1010 2" Crankcase breather filter (replaces stock breather hose originally directed up into bike frame)
- Highway Hawk Dragon Pipes.
- CNC Forward controls with billet aluminium pegs, chrome plated steel rods and plates.
- Steel Thorn/Kolec76 Customs "35" 14" chrome ape hanger bars with 1" diameter tubing, tapering to 22mm to accommodate stock Yamaha controls.
- Wide Glide chrome 4" straight risers (for 1" diameter bars).
- Kuryakyn Scythe chrome mirrors with Yamaha adapter bolts.
- Granucci Fantasy gel seat.
Thanks for watching.

[@Alex-xq5jx]

Now that is a chopper! 🤘🤘

[@Jpizzle925]

i want to see it in action!! beautiful bike!

[@1071jmkz]

I intend to do another video after I've made some more changes, thanks man!

[@joseyamidgomezatehortua5994]

Super linda Saludos desde Colombia

[@1071jmkz]

Gracias

[@CustomMax1]

Well done👍

[@rockinronnie6666]

Hi fantastic motorcycle are you still riding it?

[@yngvardharjo3704]

wery nais man

[@1973you3ma]

pika pika!^^

[@blakeswain3705]

Great bike! Considering doing the same AME kit on my 1100. How’s the handling with this setup?

[@1071jmkz]

Thank you! It handles really well. Obviously you can't chuck it around corners like you can with the stock XV set up, and it's noticeably heavier to steer but it's very stable with no flop.

[@nickmullerITFC78]

part 2 you or someone riding it

[@mtyler295]

And did u extend ur forks or did u just buy the kit? I'm kinda confused on what u did to make it look that way? Also the carberator and air filter are cool where did u get that at?

[@1071jmkz]

Here's the link : www.chopperkitusa.com The kits come with raked trees and longer fork tubes in varying degrees of rake and length of tubes, according to individual preference. Your stock tubes and trees are replaced while you retain the stock lower fork sections for your brakes. They're "bolt on" kits, so the frame isn't welded or altered in any way. Mine is a 14º rake kit with 8" over stock tubes. The manifold I currently have fitted (not the one in the video which didn't run right) is made by seayrayguy on eBay. carb is a Mikuni HSR 40 : www.ebay.com/itm/virago-700-750-920-1000-1100-manifold-single-carb-2into1-intake-xv-v-star-1100/303334763361?hash=item46a0292b61:g:GOIAAMXQQJBQ5JKp

[@crippledwizard666]

Anyone ever seen a virago with 4 or 6 inch overstock tubes without raking the fork angle?? Curious as to what that would look like or if it would work

[@1071jmkz]

The issue you'd have there would be the whole bike angling upwards at the front, and it would most probably make the handling a bit weird. Maybe you could be the first to try it though!

[@stevemilton9304]

done it works ok 6 0ver using plugs

[@sylviequirin2371]

what the difference please of using a single carb

[@apophusra59]

Sweet Bike, What did you use/do to block the AIS ports on the heads in this video, Looks like a big bolt screwed in to me!, did that work out ok in the long run?

[@1071jmkz]

Thanks man, I think I used Allen bolts as I couldn't find anything else to fit tightly enough to plug the tubes, although I can't remember the size. After I made this video I had the searayguy manifold kit installed instead the heap of junk you see here, but even that never ran right, so in the end I got so sick of the single manifold idea, I had the stock dual carbs re-installed with an air filter off an old Jaguar. Stock XV pods still discarded. Lo and behold, the engine is happy again. I hope to do another video after I've tinkered with a few other bits and pieces, so watch this space.

[@apophusra59]

@@1071jmkz Ok, thanx for the info, it's much appreciated, just out of interest, what were the actual problems you had with both single intake manifolds? I'm only asking as I am almost ready to install a single manifold similar to the one in your video?

[@1071jmkz]

Sure. The Adam Smith “Smithtech” manifold you see here is designed with a strange dogleg “y-shaped” arrangement which caused the front cylinder to run very lean and the rear rich. No amount of adjustment/change of jets sorted the problem. Just didn’t flow properly. Piece of crap. The searayguy manifold I fitted afterwards was more of a “v-shaped” arrangement which I passed over to a mechanic friend to fit “, with the same Mikuni carb. The running did improve, but I still had the same problem albeit to a lesser degree. One cylinder being consistently starved of fuel, particularly in critical situations where you needed to crack open the throttle. The engine just choked and spat. It was a pig to ride. When it finally blew a hole in the side of the K&N air filter one night nearly leaving me stranded at the roadside, that was when I decided I’d had enough. Some guys like this set up, but it’s a compromise and a lot of tinkering, and I’ve yet to speak to another XV owner who can prove hands down that it works faultlessly, AND back it up with some concrete, comprehensive advice on how to set it up, AND properly road test it in a video. The increase in HP is so minimal too, I just don’t personally think it’s worth the money. If you're really set on this idea though, I can sell you both the single intake manifolds I have complete with the Mikuni carb for a good price (depending where you are)

[@apophusra59]

@@1071jmkz Ok, thank you again for your info & Kind Offer, My friends xv1100 that I rode a couple of times a few years ago seemed to ride nicely, but he did have an OEM Harley CV40 carb on it. I have a spare OEM Harley CV40 carb which I plan on using. I will let you know how I get on with it ok :) PS: I'm in the UK.

[@1071jmkz]

@@apophusra59 No problem, I'd be fascinated to know how you get on. Maybe you'll have all the answers...! ;) Another problem I had with the single manifold set up was the weight of the Mikuni carb sagging on the rubber boot. The solution was a small fabricated metal bracket to act as a prop underneath the carb, but it wasn't ideal and didn't look great. The designer of the Smithtech manifold said it didn't need a bracket, but it clearly did. F.Y.I. The HS40 I had on it can also be fitted directly to an 883 Harley as they're interchangeable apparently, but glad you've already got one. Good luck Brother!

[@Oakleaf700]

Have you a spare lid??

[@nickmullerITFC78]

lol

[@grimg8663]

What were the cable lengths for those bars? And did you buy them or make them?

[@1071jmkz]

Hi grim g8, thanks for your question, I had a specialist company make up a new pair of longer throttle cables (which are now a bit too long as I've re-installed the original twin Hitachi carbs!) There was enough slack in all the other cables so I was able to reuse those.

[@apophusra59]

@@1071jmkz why did you switch back to dual carbs?

[@1071jmkz]

@@apophusra59 They run better

[@mtyler295]

Hey where did u get ur extended forkea at I got. 750 virago I like the way ur front wnd looks like a chopper what did u do to it

[@1071jmkz]

Thanks, I got my kit from a company called AME in Germany. There's also a company in the USA who import their kits.

[@mtyler295]

Is there a website u can give me? I cant find any KZbin vidoes on the front lits or fork extensions? I want my front end stretched out like urs chopper style

[@crippledwizard666]

Hey I'm looking to get similar handle bars for my virago where did you get yours from??

[@1071jmkz]

Hey, I got mine from a company called Steelthorn out in Poland ; steelthorn.co.uk/c/1/kierownice-.html They're not cheap, but they make them up exactly to your own requirements, pull back, rise, etc. Chrome plate has also held up ok, considering I have to keep my bike outside under a cover in all weathers. -Just make sure you remember to have the grip/control sections of the bars tapered in to 22mm if you intend on keeping your stock handlebar controls. Hope this helps.

[@crippledwizard666]

Cool thank you!!

[@DAN--K1024]

What did you do for the forward controls?

[@1071jmkz]

This is pretty much the same kit : www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-Virago-750-1100-XV-XV750-XV1100-Forward-Controls-Floorboards-Advanced/383724971020?hash=item5957ca640c:g:cuQAAOSwa1xfY3oK

[@Donjacobson11]

Where did you get the forward controls?

[@1071jmkz]

There are various companies that make them, like Tech Glide and Jardines. These ones are knock offs, but they’re solid enough and they’ve held up pretty well mechanically.

[@nickmullerITFC78]

IS THAT YOUR BIKE

[@1071jmkz]

Yes :)

[@nickmullerITFC78]

@@1071jmkz thats great

[@yngvardharjo3704]

liking oil not god

[@benpritchard4710]

What pipes are those

[@1071jmkz]

2" Dragon Pipes

[@nickmullerITFC78]

easy rider LOL