new guy

[pianoguy]

Hey guys,

Just bought my first motorcycle, a 1980 XS1100SG with 6,000 miles on it. I submitted a couple pics to the site just a minute ago... tried to post some with this message too but I'm not quite sure how. ?

The previous owner got it from a friend of his, who had put a 4-into-1 header and some individual K&N filters on it, as well as larger jets in the carbs. The guy I bought it from went and replaced the jets again with one size down, and he thinks I may have to go one size down yet again ( that would be, from 115 down to 110). It runs fine when warm, but when cold it pops and sputters. Haven't checked the plugs yet. Opinions? Thanks for your time.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Pianoguy,

Well, first, when you say that this is your first motorcycle, if you mean "EVER", then "we" hope that you will get yourself enrolled in a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course before you even attempt to ride your bike! These machines are very powerful and can KILL you quickly if you don't know what you're doing! You're a professor, so you can understand the importance of proper training to use something like this, also wouldn't want to put your livelihood at risk falling, breaking those fingers, hands, arms, NECK, etc.!

The 80SG came stock from factory with staggered jetting, 110's on outer cylinders #'1 and 4, and 120's on #'s 2 and 3, richer to keep cooler due to less air flow on center 2 cylinders.

Main jets are in increments of 2.5 ! So, now you have to wonder what the Previous PO did, did he pull all the jets and just go to the same size all across....which is also really OK, the staggering didn't really have that big of an affect, and so they dropped it on the 81SH!

Those mods call for about 3 sizes, or 7.5 over stock, but like you said, you really need to read the plugs, but not just pulling them now, because you'll just probably be reading the pilot jets affect, you'll need to perform a throttle chop with NEW PLUGS to see what they are really showing, and then you may need to adjust according to what you find!?

IF the carbs have NOT been properly disassembled and cleaned, then you can have all sorts of poor performance, but it quite often is NOT directly related to the size of the jets!

Do you have much mechanical ability?? These machines are not overly complicated, but do require a bit of dexterity....which I would assume you have!!

Also, have the brass plugs in the top round recess areas on the front portion of the carbs been removed, so that you can see the slotted screw head down inside the well....this is the pilot screw/idle screw and if it's not visible, then the pilot circuit can't be cleaned properly!!!

If you were looking for a TurnKey get on and ride bike, then you haven't found it! But, if you like to learn, tinker, then once you DO get the bike into proper riding condition, it will take very little effort to keep it that way!!

[pianoguy]

Topcat,

thanks for the welcome. Yes, you read that right, first bike EVER. Never thought I'd own one, but thanks to OPEC & the weak dollar, now I do. Thank you for warning me about killing myself- believe me I'm mindful of it, and yes I plan to enroll in a course. I'm gonna be mega-cautious. Just got my permit 2 days ago. I have only ridden the bike up & down my friend's street just as I bought it off him. First thing I've ever ridden, other than a minibike about 20 years ago. It rides nice. Yes I have some mechanical ability, I restore cars as a hobby. Never worked on a bike tho. I appreciate very much your tech tips - I'm a total babe in the woods. Another question - I was given a center stand as a separate piece. I think I'm missing the axis-rod it rides on, and maybe a spring? I dunno. Shouldn't it be attached? I do have an owner's manual and shop manual. Guess I'd better dig 'em out. Hey, thanks again & please feel free tell me anything I should know. Love the B.O.C. quote!

[pianoguy]

OK, I'm starting to do my homework & been reading some of the FAQs. I have a feeling the aftermarket exhaust must've necessitated removal of the center stand. Why else would it be removed? The header, BTW, has gone blue at the first bend of each primary tube, but otherwise looks OK. Just pulled a plug (Champion RN9YC... what should I replace 'em with?) which is all black & sooty, but the soot rubs off the electrode easily and it's brownish-grey metal underneath. The friend I bought it from who worked on the carbs is a good mechanic, a car guy like me (more skilled than me actually... he's a heating/AC/electronics/dental equipment technician by trade!) but it seems to me that, if anything, the jets in it now (115s all the way across) should actually be too small for the mods it has. What else could cause the spitting & popping @ cold idle? Thanks as always.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey again,

The Centerstand uses 2 bolts at the frame/hinge points. You can get those from BikeBandit, or you might be able to source them in a close fit at local hardware/fastenal shop. The CS may have been removed due to not fitting with the 4-1 pipes, it may not swing up out of the way properly?? So, you can just put it on to perform maintanence, and then remove it for riding!

Please take some time and scroll thru the tech tips FROM THE MAIN FORUM PAGE, not just the links in the left hand yellow column, many have been added that are NOT linked from there!

There are some things that you can easily damage if you don't do them correctly, like the cam chain tensioner adjustment.

Okay, glad you have "skills", I only had worked on my car also before jumping into my XS11, easily transfers, especially with your manuals, and this site! There are a few errors in the manuals, so it's good to do a quick search here on what you are looking to do just to check for other's ideas, shortcuts, etc.!

I'm not a musician, but I do enjoy my music...classic rock..yeah!!
T.C.

[pianoguy]

Sorry, one last thing. What is a throttle chop? Is this a technical term or a bit of biker lingo that I'm not hip to...

[pianoguy]

I grew up on Classic Rock, but now it's just Classic...al. Still love the BOC, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, (old) Van Halen, etc.

[TopCatGr58]

Aside from the main jets, did the PO replace the Pilot Jets?? They sometimes get them with kits, and the K&L brand have been known to use nonstandard sizes, so they ended up being too rich for the pilot/idle circuit, causing the black plugs!?

If in doubt, would be good to get a new set of Mikuni brand, several sources including MikesXS.com the BS series, not the VM series!

When I say PO, I don't necessarily mean your friend, but the PREVIOUS PO, may have had it worked on by shop, they use kits, etc.???

A throttle chop is described in one of the carb tech tips, you put in new plugs, find a long hill, have the bike running up that hill in gear to maintain 1/2 throttle for a good 30 seconds or more, and then kill engine, pull clutch, coast to side of road, and pull plugs to see what they look like! Happy Researching!
T.C.

[TopCatGr58]

Almost forgot,

You said K&N filters, but are they TRUE K&N or knockoffs??

Some of the other brands of Indy Cone Filters have a prominent mounting lip, and restrict air flow thru the inlet bell and the ports, and can lead to an overly rich condition as well!

Did the PO report having any problems getting to run above 5K rpm?? If so, then most likely it was due to restriction of the filters, you can remove them and do a test run to see if it performs better, able to get to redline without them vs. with them! If runs better, then the filters are suspect.....see the tech tips....velocity stack mod!
T.C.

[Axel]

throttle chop / plug chop

Search also "plug chop"using the search function.
Here's a hint

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...ight=plug+chop

[pianoguy]

My cup runneth over... thanks!

I have the perfect hill just behind my house for throttle chopping.

I don't know if either PO or PPO replaced the pilot jets... nor am I positive the air filters are real K&Ns... I think I can find out however.

Thanks for all your help guys... the wife needs to check her email, so I'm outta here for now & off to bed .

[pianoguy]

At last...

Hey, remember me? I was the guy who just brought home his very first motorcycle. I was a good boy, signed up for the motorcycle class (which I'm halfway through), didn't take my own bike out because I had no plate... had to wait a bit for the title to show up. Well, the wait is over, I'm all legal, and today I went for my first ride on it (other than up & down the street once in front of the previous owner's house). And boy howdy, is it fun! Now I understand why some people just kinda chuck it all and go hop on their bike and never come back. Got my first ever wave from a fellow biker (on a Harley no less).

I found out from the PPO that the pod filters on it now are NOT real K&N, nor do they look to be Mikes... think I'll pick up a set from Mike. I noticed today he's got those two vent-tube lookin' things blocked off with rubber caps. Not good, eh? And the trip OD seems to be stuck at 2 miles... just keeps spinning the tenths over, but never more than 2 miles (I haven't had a chance to check yet if the main odometer works right). Also, i think I need a new hazard flasher solenoid... only one side flashes. Where are those things hidden?

Gotta get some tires too... any recommendations?

Now I feel like I'm really part of the club!

[CarolynS]

Welcome...again.

From another 1st bike/1st XS owner. Sounds like you're well on your way.
The guys will have an answer about the signals presently. Check the cable for the OD first. It may just be 'rounded' out.
Good luck with the bike and take it easy-well...at least at first!!
Ride safe.

[tarzan]

Hey welcome,hope you love your XS.They are a great machine.IMO.I replaced my speedo because the tripometer would click over in like 100 mile increments but still hold per mile accuracy.Weird I thought.Well I bought a 160 speedo off ebay and guess what ,same problem.Then I started to investigate.It turns out that the clutch cable would rub on the knob on the side and somehow cause this.I ziptied the cable to the handlebar away from the speedo and now it works fine.I dont know if that is your problem but worth checking.
I also have an 80 SG and I bought it with less than a thousand miles on it and it has 110 jets in it in all the carbs.I'm pretty sure noone had ever been in these carbs either.I read in the manual and a lot of posts here that they had smaller jets in the outside carbs 110's outside and 120's inside,but I have rebuilt three sets of 80 SG carbs and all three sets had 110's in all.It could have been late 80 model carbs since they cancelled the two size thing in 81 or maybe someone changed jets in all three sets.
Good luck with the new bike

[XSrunner]

WELCOME I too have not been hear long the guy's and gal's on here are great with helping out. and as you can see we come from all over the globe to be here and share our problems JUST LIKE A FREE PSYCH SESSION when you get frustrated with these love bikes. welcome aboard.