How far would you trust your 11?

[yamahansolo]

Bought my 79 several years ago it had 8000 miles on it in about 4 years I have made it to 36000 no problems! Awesome bike. I ride prett much all year and I have madeseveral 500 mile trips.
One of the guys from canadarode his 81 down to succhess last year. His wasn't running quite right but he still made it! They don't make them like this anymore! I am. Very very heavy on the throttle I pull to 8k a lot. And I have been to speeds on mine that I can't mention here I trust mine with my life! Just not the other drivers

[Geezer]

I don't take long trips any more but that's more because of pain problems rather than anything to do with my bike. I would trust my XS11 to take me as far away from home as it's possible to ride and bring me back. I don't think it would fail me on say a 10K mile trip around North America.

I wouldn't ride it to Tierra del Fuego but that's because of roads and routs...

Geezer

[tom127]

I was by the motorcycle shop today where they fixed my 78. They have another customer that goes there with an XS, he has a couple 80's parts bikes that are stored there.

He puts around 20,000 miles a year on his XS. Other then buying a lot of rear tires, he doesn't have any problems. Sounds like a guy I need to meet sometime.

[yamahansolo]

I only go through maybe 2 a year...

[cywelchjr]

I trust mine to go a lot further than my A$$ will go. Even with an aftermarket seat which I think is pretty good and all, I still can't outlast a tank of gas on the road without having to get off the bike for a while and walk around.

Actually, these days it's more my hands. After a while my hands go numb, and I have to take them off the bars. This would be easier with a cruise control that I can't afford yet, although a throttle lock might help some, but I don't like the concept of that, I figure if I'm going to do that, I may as well so it right and go with full on cruise control (yes, I know it doesn't do the steering for me as well, so I can't take a nap ).

I keep saying I don't really trust this engine cause of the noises it makes, but in a year and half, they haven't changed a bit, so I'm beginning to think they are just normal noises amplified by the fairing, so yes, I trust it.

[rb240tuner]

I trust mine immensely because I knew the person that owned it before me. My uncle owned it from 79 only rode it 4800 miles and then sold it to me last year. The bike is in immaculate condition aside from the yellow trim he painted on it. The only thing I fixed was a leaky valve cover and it was good to go. So I would ride it as far as money will take me. In that I mean gas and go till I had no more.

[subike]

Trust your bike?
MMMMMMm...
My 80STD english assembled, has seen all of Europe. and a bit of Russia
It fought the dust of Africa for 3 years,
Was bone lazy traveling the American highways for 4 years,
Was challenged by the bull dust and Kangaroos in Australia for 4 + years, returned to England for another few years
Then the PO (also its first owner) decided to let it enjoy the glorious roads of NewZealand untill at 378,000miles it broke a cir clip in the gearbox and stopped! The only time in the 29years of traveling around the world it let its owner down,
I bought the bike in the condition shown in my pic in my signature for $20 NZ!
At the moment I am doing a ground up restro to bring it back to its prime,
But the engine? still running sweet as apart from an oil leak from the head gasket which a new gasket fixed.
Trust this one or my other to keep on going? Yup with out a doubt.

[79XS11F]

So we can expect to see you at XSNorth now that you have true confidence in your bike.

That is a possibility
Rob

[forexbob]

Electrical?

Anybody have anything to say about electrical issues? On such an old bike has anyone ever experienced problems with the wiring harness or other electrical?
Mechanical I can deal with....somewhat.

Thanks
Bob

[natemoen]

Yeah, the electical issues are numerous. But care and.cleaning can take care of most of that.

[Dragon Tamer]

Electrical is easy, just check all the connections and grounds, clean and seal. Barring some mechanical damage to the wiring it will go forever. As for the engine and other mechanical, just keep the lubrication up to standard and there should be no problem.

I would take mine anywhere there are decent roads and have been almost anywhere there were and a lot of places there weren't. I have friends with a lot newer bikes with WAY less miles on them and they are broke down a LOT more than I would put up with. 32 years of "turn the key and go", hell yes I trust it!

[HobbyMan]

The question is not how much I trust the bike, it is how much do I trust myself to fix it properly. These bikes are great machines. However any machine with old tires, bad cables, worn clutch and dirty fluids isn't going to work properly forever. If you want reliability, start from scratch. I am not saying tear the whole bike apart, just make a list of all of the consumables and prepare to change them.

-Obviously, change your oil before a long trip with a new filter. (middle and final drives as well)
-Forks (change your fork oil, How are your seals?) Only takes an afternoon to change them.
-Tires (how much tread is left and how hard do you ride? Where are you going to be riding?)
-Clutch and throttle cables (if they are old, replace them or carry spares)
-Carbs (its best to clean them periodically, why not before your trip? Check the floats and seals)
-Electrical (carry some spare fuses and bulbs. Can't hurt and doesn't take up much space)

The list goes on... For some things, its better to be safe than sorry, especially on a motorcycle in the middle of nowhere.

For myself, in July am resurrecting a my 80G which has been in storage for the past four years. I have 3 days to get it back on the road and then its 1700 miles from DFW to NYC. Not trying for an IBA because I want to hit the mountains and enjoy a 2 or 3 day trip in the mountains.

The bikes are just a piece of machinery. They are only as good as the work and preparation that is put into them. Just like a computer, they do what you tell them to do.

[Lamric]

...The list goes on...

Sure does

there's a large "List of jobs before running and riding" here