XS11 Heaven Book

[Ken Talbot]

Marty, my copy is 'in the mail' as we speak. We actually chatted about the spacer problem but apparently it was something that had not become an issue by the time Bob and Yamaha 'parted company'...

[MartyA]

OK you review it and we'll take your recommendation as to buy it or wait for the movie.

[Jeff]

I just noticed that the book is available at Amazon.com for $40 and it qualifies for free shipping under their SuperSaver plan. It also states they only have 1 left with more on the way.

The book description is not much more than an excerpt from the Merriam Cycle description and as of yet... no readers have left a review. I plan on checking back periodically to see if anyone speaks up about the book. Once I get my tax return and can get out of penny pinching mode for a bit.... I may break down and order a copy.

[Ken Talbot]

I'm a few chapters into Bob's book 'as we speak', and am happy so far with what I've seen. I now understand why he and Yamaha parted company, and I've picked up a completely new perspective on the issue of the marginal charging system on these bikes. It is pretty obvious that Bob and I are totally different people in most ways, and I won't say that I would agree with some of his thoughts and attitudes, but I am enjoying his story. More later...

[pgg]

This 'Bob Jones' character attempted to "pull the wool over my eyes" when he replied with a whole load of B***** after I once E-mailed him and queried him over his websites' phoney bike performance claims. I make no apologies for taking to task people in these positions who deliberately give out misleading imformation. All said and done, it's all freedom of speech and he can say what he likes, but for me he doesn't make the grade. Feel free to disagree.

[wanderersx22002]

xseleven heaven

I've read his book and I think its really good. I can relate to some of his storys. But he has traveled to a lot of places I'd like to go. So its like getting a preview of what to expect instead of a bad surprise. The book is also full of tested upgrades, and lots of ideas. This is an awesome bike and the sky's the limit to what you can do to it and go with it. You may not like the man but if your stumped with a problem with your xs he'd be the one to call.

[xssiveone]

Re: xseleven heaven

Originally posted by wanderersx22002
You may not like the man but if your stumped with a problem with your xs he'd be the one to call.

I have to agree with this statement. Bob Jones and I passed several emails back and forth a while back regarding painting cylinders and heads. A fountain of knowledge, even tho he knew he had no financial gain from it.

[Bill__Woods]

I have emailed with Bob a few times. He gave me very solid FREE advice each time I asked. I know he gets a lot of flack on this forum for being expensive...BUT you get what you pay for in life. True craftsmanship is PriceLess, and worth every dime. I have never met bob or got to see any of his bikes in person, but would like to do both.

Give the guy a break & get off his bike. he is the Jesse James of the XS11.

Hey KEN T.,
I have read the merriam cycles website about the spacer, but don't understand fully. Is the spacer in the wrong spot from the factory?

[pgg]

I'll climb off my high horse and grudgingly admit that in his favour he at least makes the effort to reply to questions. Just don't tell him he's wrong!

[Ken Talbot]

Bill - from what I understand, just about every one with slippage problems has the spacer in the wrong place, and that's the way it was put together in the factory. I don't think that Yamaha got it 'wrong' all the time as there are a lot of XSes still out there, still racking up the miles, that still do not have 2nd gear slippage, but then I've personally never taken one apart that did not have problems.

[MartyA]

I bet they did get them all wrong. I am thinking that the factory had methods and the operators are trained so why would they put a spacer on one side one time and the other side another time?

I wonder if perhaps there was some variation in the tempering or heat treating of the gears that hardened some better than others, combined with some folks who did not 'beat' their trans as much as others, or maybe were more religious about changing the oil, and some of the gears have just survived longer.

I have not been inside a tranny yet, but someone here asked if the spacer is wrong on the parts fiche on the EMPART web pages of the Yamaha site. Bet lots of dealers who repaired trannys got it wrong also.

[wanderersx22002]

xseleven heaven

Bill, me and my wife got to met Bob Jones at his shop a couple of years ago, in Kansas City,KS. Its one hell of a shop& store.Bob is so easy to talk to, hours will go by if you don't have your wife with you to watch the time. The storys he tells about the xs1100 will have you saying to your self (damn, I did that to!) anyway, ya ever get to Kansas City,KS give bob and his crew a visit. You will enjoy it I promise.

[Ron]

Originally posted by MartyA
I bet they did get them all wrong. I am thinking that the factory had methods and the operators are trained so why would they put a spacer on one side one time and the other side another time?

IIRC the factory shop manuals have it backwards too.

FWIW, YMMV, etc.

Bob Jones - nice looking bikes, very free with information when i asked about painting cylinder cases, etc. If he is the only guy doing this level of work, there is no reason not to pay the asking price. And if people don't pay he'll lower the price. Some obscure supply and demand idea.