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  • #1

    No need for a VMax...

    I have been considering acquiring a VMax because of the aura and speed associated with it, and the looks of it too. But let me tell you, today I have a newly acquired appreciation of our venerable XS11's. I was travelling to a destination about 45 miles from home and trying to outrun a fast moving storm cell. Needless to say I was hustling. Kept the G pegged at 85 to 100 mph and when I needed more there was plenty there for me to tap. I was riding on the I-95 slab and there was no one that could keep up.
    Got to my destinantion, waited for the cell to pass and on the way home I had to outrun another cell before it got to my return destination.
    When these bikes are running well, well..... you know
    1980G Standard, Restored
    Kerker 4 - 1
    850 Rear End Mod
    2-21 Flashing LED Arrays on either side of license plate for Brake Light Assist, 1100 Lumen Cree Aux Lights,
    Progressive springs, Showa rear shocks
    Automatic CCT
    1980GH Special, Restored
    Stock Exhaust, New Handlebars, 1" Spacer in Fork Springs, Automatic CCT, Showa Rear Shocks
    '82 XJ1100 (Sold)
    Automatic CCT, RC Engineering 4 X 1 Exhaust, K&N Pods, #50 Pilot Jets, YICS Eliminator. Sorely missed.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Amen, bro. Glad she's running great. Watch out for them cops up that way hiding in the woods in the median. You'll need a 160MPH speedometer now
    2H7 (79) owned since '89
    3H3 owned since '06

    "If it ain't broke, modify it"

    ☮

    Comment

    • #3
      Originally posted by Cobia View Post
      I have been considering acquiring a VMax because of the aura and speed associated with it, and the looks of it too. - - -
      Hi Cobia,
      good that your XS can still outrun the weather but investing in a rainsuit would be less costly than paying a 100mph ticket?
      But the way the VMax looks would put me off getting one.
      Plastic fake air intakes on a plastic fake gas tank fer chrissake? Betcha most VMax owners bought the bike despite those styling touches rather than because of them.
      Fred Hill, S'toon
      XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
      "The Flying Pumpkin"

      Comment

      • #4
        Fred,
        True on all counts. I believe they made the intakes functional in 2009, but still true on the fake tank.
        Although, as they say, different strokes for different folks.....
        I like the older, pre-2009 look better than the new look. Regardless, the newer one is beyond my budget. Even the old one now doesn't seem as attractive now.
        BTW - re: ticket - Around here it's $250 for a bike going 30mph over the speed limit. For 50mph over it's $1,000 + court costs for the first offense !! It's $2,500 and one year revocation for a second offense and $5,000 and ten years for a third offense.
        Hell, they fine you $1,000 for doing wheelies. Not that I do any.
        For an improperly affixed license plate it's another $1,000. In FL it MUST be mounted horizontally 24" above the ground, centered on the bike and not obstructed or obscured!!
        We can thank those crotch rocket speed demons for that.

        So yes, I need a rainsuit!!!!
        1980G Standard, Restored
        Kerker 4 - 1
        850 Rear End Mod
        2-21 Flashing LED Arrays on either side of license plate for Brake Light Assist, 1100 Lumen Cree Aux Lights,
        Progressive springs, Showa rear shocks
        Automatic CCT
        1980GH Special, Restored
        Stock Exhaust, New Handlebars, 1" Spacer in Fork Springs, Automatic CCT, Showa Rear Shocks
        '82 XJ1100 (Sold)
        Automatic CCT, RC Engineering 4 X 1 Exhaust, K&N Pods, #50 Pilot Jets, YICS Eliminator. Sorely missed.

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by Cobia View Post
          BTW - re: ticket - Around here it's $250 for a bike going 30mph over the speed limit. For 50mph over it's $1,000 + court costs for the first offense !! It's $2,500 and one year revocation for a second offense and $5,000 and ten years for a third offense.
          Hell, they fine you $1,000 for doing wheelies. Not that I do any.
          For an improperly affixed license plate it's another $1,000. In FL it MUST be mounted horizontally 24" above the ground, centered on the bike and not obstructed or obscured!!
          We can thank those crotch rocket speed demons for that.

          So yes, I need a rainsuit!!!!
          Holy sheep Sheit!!! At those prices I know folks who would need to mortgage their house to pay for the tickets!!! then again, 50 mph over the speed limit is PRETTY darn fast!!
          Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

          When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

          81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
          80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


          Previously owned
          93 GSX600F
          80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
          81 XS1100 Special
          81 CB750 C
          80 CB750 C
          78 XS750

          Comment

          • #6
            Ya know Humpty Dumpty did not fall He was pushed.

            XSively
            Bruce
            Bruce Gerken
            '79 XS1100SF
            "The Black"
            '2009 BMW k1300GT'
            The Red Sled.
            St.Augustine (354-430 AD) wrote,"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page . Well motorcycles turn the book of the world into a page turner. That is often impossible to put down.

            Comment

            • #7
              Well, the PO of the bike had the concept that all these older jap bikes are so cheap, you just ride them till something breaks so bad you can't anymore and then go buy another one.

              So it was "pushed" as well!! And let me tell you, it took a few horses and men and a few other things to get it back together.
              Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

              When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

              81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
              80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


              Previously owned
              93 GSX600F
              80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
              81 XS1100 Special
              81 CB750 C
              80 CB750 C
              78 XS750

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by Cobia View Post
                Fred,
                True on all counts. I believe they made the intakes functional in 2009, but still true on the fake tank.
                Although, as they say, different strokes for different folks.....
                I like the older, pre-2009 look better than the new look. Regardless, the newer one is beyond my budget. Even the old one now doesn't seem as attractive now.
                BTW - re: ticket - Around here it's $250 for a bike going 30mph over the speed limit. For 50mph over it's $1,000 + court costs for the first offense !! It's $2,500 and one year revocation for a second offense and $5,000 and ten years for a third offense.
                Hell, they fine you $1,000 for doing wheelies. Not that I do any.
                For an improperly affixed license plate it's another $1,000. In FL it MUST be mounted horizontally 24" above the ground, centered on the bike and not obstructed or obscured!!
                We can thank those crotch rocket speed demons for that.

                So yes, I need a rainsuit!!!!
                You just get a ticket and court time for 50 over? Thats lose your license for six month to a year for a first everywhere I have been!
                Nathan
                KD9ARL

                μολὼν λαβέ

                1978 XS1100E
                K&N Filter
                #45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
                OEM Exhaust
                ATK Fork Brace
                LED Dash lights
                Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
                Green Monster Coils
                SS Brake Lines
                Vision 550 Auto Tensioner

                In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

                Theodore Roosevelt

                Comment

                • #9
                  I was surprised how cheap speeding offenses are here in Alabama compared to Minnesota. Of course, around good ole Mother Rucker here, the fine officers of the law arn't too keen on anything with military stickers creeping above the posted speeds.

                  It might be cheaper...but it's also a lot easier to collect them them down here sadly.
                  Joab

                  "If nothing else, it will be interesting..."
                  ______________________________________________
                  1979 XS1100SF
                  1972 XS2 650
                  ______________________________________________
                  Ozark, Alabama

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    For the sake of comparison only, no discourtesy intended to our beloved XS's!

                    I like my 80 SG Special a bunch, but a V Max it ain't... I'm not sure what a stock Gen I V-Max put out for power, but it whoops any XS... I mean, the first year they came out in 1985 they ran the quarter mile in 10.6 seconds at 128 mph...

                    That performance even beats my 2001 Kaw ZRX 1200 if the ZRX is in stock form. With the mod's to my ZRX as shown in my signature line, it puts down 130 hp and 85 ft/lb torque to the rear wheel. That'll take care of most any Gen I V-Max out there, 'cept for the new Gen II 2009+ models...

                    Speaking of the new 2009+ V Max... My uncle in the Chicago area took delivery of his 2010 V Max in January. I had the distinct pleasure to go on a long ride with him this summer while visiting the area for a family reunion. He has a Harley Road King and the new V Max. We spent 2+ hours chasing each other around (meaning, whoever was on the Harley was chasing the other on the V Max).

                    I am here to say that I cannot imagine being flung down the road any faster, from any speed, than what the new V Max is capable of. NO lie, NO joke, I rolled on at 30 mph in 2nd gear (actually went WFO) and the speedo looked like it was countin by 20's it went up so fast. 50, 70, 93 (shift light came on) then a quick shift to 3rd, pinned the throttle again, 105, 115, ok, time to roll out. This happened in the span of I-kid-you-not about 4 seconds or a bit less. Read a road test of the newer V Max in most any cycle mag, they will concur... About 175 hp and 110 ft/lb torque at the rear shaft driven wheel...

                    I am not a proponent of doing this under any conditions other than the wide open spaces we were riding in. Suffice it to say, my modded ZRX 1200 feels like a relative pussy cat (in sheer roll-on power or acceleration) compared to that visceral rush the new V Max is capable of.

                    Heck, with all respect to the XS, my son has a high school friend with a 2007 Suzuki SV 650 and that would about equal the XS in terms of overall performance based on my riding of it.

                    So, not to "rain" on outrunning storm cells, but I will ultimately agree that an XS will outrun most things (not a V Max..), including storm cells, with a lot more class and rider pride than most any other bike.
                    Last edited by Bonz; 08-25-2010, 04:35 PM.
                    Howard

                    ZRX1200

                    BTW, ZRX carbs have the same spacing as the XS11... http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35462

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Nathan,
                      No, I didn't get a ticket, thanks God. I was just replying to Fred's comment on the possibility thereof, and what the penalties are here in FL.

                      Bonser,
                      I'm afraid of exactly the scenario you mention rolling on the power of the VMax. Not afraid of doing it, afraid of the addiction to it and doing it as often as I can!!! It would surely spell trouble for me, although I'm fairly astute about where and when to pour it on.
                      My comment had the intent of saying how satisfied I am with the power and speed I got from my G the day I was outrunning the storm cell. I was running as fast as I wanted to and still had more on tap for the asking w/out the bike feeling squirely(sp?) or unstable.
                      And I do like the VMax a lot, except for what I hear about its performance in the twisties (and the head shake)..... which is a large part of the fun of riding. But who am I kidding here in flat FL? I do have about a mile stretch very close to home with decent twisties where I go and get rid of the cobwebs quite often.
                      1980G Standard, Restored
                      Kerker 4 - 1
                      850 Rear End Mod
                      2-21 Flashing LED Arrays on either side of license plate for Brake Light Assist, 1100 Lumen Cree Aux Lights,
                      Progressive springs, Showa rear shocks
                      Automatic CCT
                      1980GH Special, Restored
                      Stock Exhaust, New Handlebars, 1" Spacer in Fork Springs, Automatic CCT, Showa Rear Shocks
                      '82 XJ1100 (Sold)
                      Automatic CCT, RC Engineering 4 X 1 Exhaust, K&N Pods, #50 Pilot Jets, YICS Eliminator. Sorely missed.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Cobia View Post
                        And I do like the VMax a lot, except for what I hear about its performance in the twisties (and the head shake)..... which is a large part of the fun of riding. But who am I kidding here in flat FL? I do have about a mile stretch very close to home with decent twisties where I go and get rid of the cobwebs quite often.
                        Are you saying that poor performance in the twisties and bad head shake are what it's all about? Come on, enquiring minds want to know.
                        Cy

                        1980 XS1100G (Brutus) w/81H Engine
                        Duplicolor Mirage Paint Job (Purple/Green)
                        Vetter Windjammer IV
                        Vetter hard bags & Trunk
                        OEM Luggage Rack
                        Jardine Spaghetti 4-2 exhaust system
                        Spade Fuse Box
                        Turn Signal Auto Cancel Mod
                        750 FD Mod
                        TC Spin on Oil Filter Adapter (temp removed)
                        XJ1100 Front Footpegs
                        XJ1100 Shocks

                        I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          No, Cy, what I was saying is that those things are bad.... the head shake and lack of performance in the twisties. Nobody wants their bike to headshake at any speed, and you want at least decent performance in the twisties. I've been able to improve the performance on my G in the twisties by installing progressives in the forks and tightening my rear springs to the max. I also dropped the front by about 3/4", which helped too. I'm now looking for replacements for the rear shocks and springs w/out breaking the bank.
                          1980G Standard, Restored
                          Kerker 4 - 1
                          850 Rear End Mod
                          2-21 Flashing LED Arrays on either side of license plate for Brake Light Assist, 1100 Lumen Cree Aux Lights,
                          Progressive springs, Showa rear shocks
                          Automatic CCT
                          1980GH Special, Restored
                          Stock Exhaust, New Handlebars, 1" Spacer in Fork Springs, Automatic CCT, Showa Rear Shocks
                          '82 XJ1100 (Sold)
                          Automatic CCT, RC Engineering 4 X 1 Exhaust, K&N Pods, #50 Pilot Jets, YICS Eliminator. Sorely missed.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Cobia View Post
                            No, Cy, what I was saying is that those things are bad.... the head shake and lack of performance in the twisties. Nobody wants their bike to headshake at any speed, and you want at least decent performance in the twisties. I've been able to improve the performance on my G in the twisties by installing progressives in the forks and tightening my rear springs to the max. I also dropped the front by about 3/4", which helped too. I'm now looking for replacements for the rear shocks and springs w/out breaking the bank.
                            Sorry, I see that I used the wrong smilie on that one. I was joking about that, as I was sure that you meant those were bad.

                            Hey, for better rear end handling find yourself a set of XJ1100 shocks. They are air over oil, rebuildable and have adjustable damping. They really improve the handling and the ride.

                            I'm noticing a trend in my posts lately, where I'm not being very accurate in conveying my meaning (what the posts read as after the fact doesn't match what I was thinking in my head when I wrote it). I'm gonna have to do more offline thinking on my posts before I hit the reply button I do believe.
                            Cy

                            1980 XS1100G (Brutus) w/81H Engine
                            Duplicolor Mirage Paint Job (Purple/Green)
                            Vetter Windjammer IV
                            Vetter hard bags & Trunk
                            OEM Luggage Rack
                            Jardine Spaghetti 4-2 exhaust system
                            Spade Fuse Box
                            Turn Signal Auto Cancel Mod
                            750 FD Mod
                            TC Spin on Oil Filter Adapter (temp removed)
                            XJ1100 Front Footpegs
                            XJ1100 Shocks

                            I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              I agree with CY from what I know, which isn't very much. LOL You can also source a good set of progressive Showa's or Yoshimura adjustable, both are re-buildable and dampening. Both of these come in various colors and lengths. Another is Daytona's. Good luck

                              Comment

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