Author Topic: A Deadwood makes it big!!! (Read 15583 times)

Jumper · « **on:** September 30, 2015, 07:46:45 PM »

The "Steam Punk X" ( as a style all to it's own) has made it on to AMC's show Into the Badlands... Looks different and sounds great!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KyHy4KRvIc

http://www.amc.com/shows/into-the-badlands

Donkey Hotey · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2015, 11:06:36 PM »

I wonder how many "stunt bikes" are going to get destroyed as a result of that (gotta' have backup bikes--can't miss a shoot day).

What was wrong with using a Virago?

Berlin Bob · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2015, 03:54:37 PM »

Who cares ...they don't....I am sure they are going pay enough for them !!! I am proud that they are using an X and it is on freaking TV !!! that's more exposure than they had back then when they started up for God's sakes ...be freaking Proud !!!!
...that's all i got to say about that !!!! hehehehe

Donkey Hotey · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2015, 11:46:55 PM »

I care. Nobody is going to know what that bike actually is or care about the brand as a result of a B-grade TV show.

Or worse, a bunch of booger pickin morons WILL care, they'll start buying up Excelsior Hendersons, destroying them trying to make their own interpretation of that bike, then losing interest and dumping them on the market in pieces. We'll see them hitting Ebay in baskets. Yeah! EHs being parted out so they can put the forks onto Honda Shadows!

I'd rather have nobody ever discover them and allow them to age gracefully into a significant spot in motorcycle history, rather than have them ruined. I still believe these bikes are an overlooked gem of a machine that relatively few have been lucky enough to own. I cringe at the thought that Excelsior Hendersons could become the next General Lee:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/30999/what-happened-all-those-chargers-destroyed-dukes-hazzard

Quote

Over seven seasons, the General Lee went airborne more than 150 times. Although it seemed fine on screen, the General rarely survived a jump. Warner Brothers totaled an average of two Chargers per episode. By the time filming ended, an estimated 300 Chargers had starred as the General Lee. What happened to all those cars? WB salvaged the most beat-up vehicles. Mechanics saved the doors, the rebel-flagged roof, and engine parts, which were cannibalized by future Generals. The car’s wrecked remains were then sent to a junkyard crusher, where it was crumpled beyond recognition. An estimated 75 to 220 Chargers went to the car yard in the sky this way.

ChadeArndt · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2015, 12:24:24 PM »

Yeah, could be trouble if the show makes it big. It really looks like it's an X carcass mostly with a lot of production alterations that make it almost indistinguishable, but the forks are a dead give away. Hard to tell if it's an authentic X motor.

ChadeArndt · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2015, 12:31:39 PM »

Couple of searchable screenshots

Donkey Hotey · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2015, 12:24:24 AM »

Oh, it's a real Super X. In this picture, you can plainly see a stock primary case, air cleaner, shifter and even the floorboards. The other side is a stock brake pedal, master cylinder reservoir, etc. That's a stock headlight ring. The controls are all stock, with the switches removed.

A Deadwood was sacrificed for this? I want first shot at buying the bike when the production company is done.

Donkey Hotey · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2015, 12:43:09 AM »

http://www.online-instagram.com/media/1094594273451188499_1543523847

Quote

A lot of you have been asking about Sunny's bike. It's a custom built steam punked out Henderson Excelsior. I love all the copper panels added to it and the big knobby tire in front.

ChadeArndt · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2015, 07:37:07 AM »

Geez they changed all my favorite parts. What a bummer

Jumper · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2015, 12:36:37 PM »

You notice where the crankcase breather is vented??! No no no!! If it pukes, it'll wash down the rear brakes!!!

Jumper

BIGJAKE · « **Reply #10 on:** November 21, 2015, 12:32:52 AM »

Quote from: Donkey Hotey on October 01, 2015, 11:46:55 PM

I care. Nobody is going to know what that bike actually is or care about the brand as a result of a B-grade TV show.[/b].

[/quote]

You have No idea how hard it was to find this bike. Google has no idea what the heck one means by "into the badlands motorcycle". As soon as I saw it I wanted to know what kind of bike it was it was. Absolutely love the springer look of the bike.

Looking at the base/only model, the bike in and of itself is a thing of beauty. The anti dive front suspension, the carved gas tank, unique motor for its day. Its sad to see such an ingenuitive bike die out so quickly. Harley's are designed to Die by a certain point but this bike looks like it will just keep giving.

I do have a few questions for your community here. Whats the average mpg do you guys get and at what speeds. Places like Utah, freeway is 80, then you have places like Oregon that's 55.

How many of you have your EH as a daily?

How many use theirs for long distance?

Is there a life expectancy? Or has no one really reached that point yet?

wytfut · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2015, 07:32:30 AM »

Jake,
So how did you find out the make of the "into the badlands" bike?.... As you stated, its really not mentioned by brand anywhere that I know of.....

Its always a lot of fun when someone new approaches the community. Fresh perspective, and lots of interest. .... so welcome..

With no major modifications..... they will average around 40. And that will be pretty much at all speeds. Our "blue" has the H5 cames and we were expecting a noticeable change in economy.... but there really wasn't.
Jim Kepford rewrote some mapping on his in South Dakota, so he could run a much richer ethanol mix... and I believe if I remember right, it dropped down to around 25 mpg. ....

There are a lot of us, that do a lot of distance riding with our X's. It appears to me that for a while during our evolving, that a lot of us were pretty nervous about riding any distance from home, as it was just asking for trouble (breaking down far from knowledge and help). But as we have evolved, our bikes have become very dependable. I'd say as much as anything else out there right now.
Jumper (Gary Houk), Mike Locklear, Myself, Chookie, (these are all off the top of my head) and many others will ride any distance without thinking twice.....
So in that same context, there are even more that do ride them as daily's. There are many X owners that own more than 1. And of these, there are some owners that will not ride certain X's, in their stable, as to preserve them. And I totally get that, it just not gonna work for me. Plus we have a few owners not as involved in this community, that still don't trust their X, but don't want to part with it.. ...

Sidenote;.... as a distance bike, they are very comfortable long range bike. The ride is still superior to many bikes of its day and today. You (as some of us do) may have an issue with the seat. But then again, many owners think the seat is just fine.

Out there on the left coast there are several members... Joe Sullivan (retired? ship pipe fitter), I believe in Washington/Oregon..... Mike Degrood (owns 2 and a board member of this site) out of California.... and more.... Contact them or any of the other left coasters, if you wish to see one in person.

Again welcome,
Bruce Whitefoot

Jumper · « **Reply #12 on:** November 21, 2015, 09:05:52 AM »

Hey Big Jake!
The best thing to do is research this bike... Get one..Ask LOTS of questions..
And join the fun!

Jumper

BIGJAKE · « **Reply #13 on:** November 21, 2015, 10:34:37 PM »

Around the 9th page into a google search for "badlands custom motorcycle" I found the EH Google+ page:

https://plus.google.com/communities/117283796143056070844

From there I found the name and started to google it. There is a metric crap ton of negativity about this bike on the web. All of it rumors though, except for the people talking about the test rides back in '99 at Sturgis. I find it a little unfair to judge a bike by a non production model known to have issues though.

I started riding a little over a year ago now my first and current bike is an XJ1100 with a '79 xs1100 engine. I've put close to 15k miles on it already, daily and cross country. I don't really get the gas mileage I would like for a number of reasons. The most likely cauze is I just cant seem to let go of the throttle, its just too much fun

. I've been looking at Harley's for some time but just couldn't bring my self to buy one, 12k for the used bike I want then I need exhaust, air cleaner, dyno tuned, bags, seat... list goes on and on, I can't justify it. And when its all said and done every one will see it as just another Harley.

One of the best things I have found with the XJ11 is the amount of confusion you get from people when they see it, or you get that one random person who has stories about all the stupid stuff they shouldn't have done on theirs back in the day. The down side is I can't get bags to fit right with out having them custom made. The handle bars are weird and I cant get them just right for my broad shoulders. It's too fast for a daily, I can't help but let her sing (110 in 3rd takes a hole 8 seconds to get there from 0). And weighed down from gear for a long distance trip I average 35mpg.

I'd love to see one in person, pictures never do a bike justice. The more I look at the X's the more I love em, cept the front fender, but I can live with that. I doubt I'll dis-like the bike at all. When I was getting my endorsement I was told "Buy the bike you love. If you don't love it you wont ride it and if you don't ride it then whats the point? You can make any bike fit your comfort level."

That being said I'm curious to know if this Jennie has been sold:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Other-Makes-Excelsior-Henderson-Jennie-HCXT-/291564198700?nma=true&si=Ogr9ap5lV0UrNCqcG4%252B4BO46rLA%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Thanks for the welcomes
Jake

wytfut · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2015, 10:32:17 AM »

Jake,
You had to go a long ways to find us.... we're used to it. One of the most fun quirks of owning an X is that famous question "what is that?"..... never ends.
The jennie you are asking about, is pretty much next door to me in this region, and I have no idea if it has sold or not, as I don't even know the owner...... and as long as our story has continued, there are fewer and fewer owners that we don't know.... but the stray X's still straggle in here and there.
I'm currently updating a jennie (1973) for Chad Arndt out of St. Jo Mizzou.... he got it for a little bit under market price, with some updates and some unknowns. Pretty sure its never been plated, and it has only 1,700 miles on it. ....

Yes there were a lot of negative comments about our bikes in the day..... and I believe as many positive though too. when it all boils down, to me, with the small production number produced, they are in a sense, prototypes. Since the factory doors shut, a large portion of critics changed their story over to: "who'd want to buy a orphan bike, you can't get parts for.......?" Amazingly, parts really haven't been an issue yet. But as they age, I'm sure we'll have to cross that creek....

Prices on our beauties are currently pretty cheap actually... You can buy/find nice X's with all updates done and fair mileage in the 6-7 range. Exceptions will be up and down this area..

Watch ebay, craigs list, and cycle trader... ebay has the most. AND I've found if a person just asks around within the community, there are some dandys here and there. You may pay a little more, but you probably will know more about what you are getting, and being we are such a small community, most of us don't want to get burned, or burn anyone within ourselves. I'd recommend to stay away from dealer sales, unless you know everything about that bike, as most dealers have no idea what they are talking about when it concerns X's....

Very hard to compare, your Yamaha to an X. Power ban will be different (a pleasant different), ride will be much more comfortable (you be sitting in the bike, not on it), long distant rides will be more tolerable, short runs will be fun (but much more heavy), And looks outstanding (sorry, I'm bias).

Front fender is a "love it, or hate it" thing.... and unfortunately it is usually the first impression when walking up on one in the wild (lol). Its hard to hold someones attention to the other marvelous plus's of our bikes, if they have snubbed the front fender right off the get go. ...

Best buddy is a hard core HD guy.... He loves our X's, but won't buy one, because he hates that front fender..... well, that, and his HD is a full dresser, with all the toys....