Life Expectancy?

[brazz]

For some reason I always end up in strange situations when I jump into a new project or hobby. (ie Motorcycles) What I mean by that is, my first bike 20 years ago was a Suzuki 380 GT 2 stroke. A very fun bike, but hard to get parts for as it was a rare bike. And the same goes for my XJ1100. I picked it up cheap from a friend not knowing anything about that particular model etc. I love it but once again find it being a somewhat rare bike for parts etc. Not to mention I am the last person you would ever want to have do mechanical work. These forums have been super helpful as I have found helpful solutions to issues, but as I was broke down 2 weeks ago by the side of the road because my brake froze up, and was assisted by someone who told me, "If you own one, you gotta be able to fix one". I began to question how long I hang on to this bike. I have 30,000 + miles on it and wondered what a good life expectancy of the bike is. My other delema is the wife says this is the last bike I'll ever own. So if I don't keep it, I don't ride. (Gee, I think I just answered my question). Sorry for the ramble but just looking for feedback.

[Jerry]

With routine maintenance your XJ should do 100K or better. Only real 'big' maintenance item is that you should change your cam chain at 40K - 50K miles.

So if you do 10K miles per year, you are set for another 6 - 7 years...

BTW, I rode a GT 380 briefly in the summer of '74 and enjoyed it.

[chevy45412001]

48,000

I'm real close to 48 thousand right. Just got off of it 3 min. ago,put 106 on her today.I expect it to last forever,i do have a parts bike with only 8,000 miles on it.(dont ask) But as long as i'm able to ride,i will be riding my xj1100.And its in need of cam chain right now,cant adjust the noise out of her(adjuster to max)

[Steve Linderman]

Life expectancy

Hello,
Those who have done their research will already know that Yamaha spared no expense when it came the the XS 1100.
"X" meaning 'expieremental'..."S" meaning 'systems' according to some.
Remember we're talking 1977...a time when motorcycles were notoriously unreliable.
All systems were either 'new' or every component was 're-engineered' for the purpose of designing, creating and producing a motorcycle that would last for 50 (yes FIFTY) years!

I know that's hard to believe...but it is TRUE!
According to some X-perts it is the LAST Asain motorcycle so designed...
So depending on the amount of miles you put on per year...your Grandkids could probably take turns riding it someday...
If you purchase a "CLYMER" or other competent manual and take some time to look through it...you will find that periodic maintenance can be performed by most ANYONE!
And 'getting to know' your machine is part of the Fun!
And un-like a car 99% of the major components are hanging right in front of you...
Good luck with it...and keep postin'
Steve-N-Mo

[Geezer]

Re: Life expectancy

Originally posted by Steve Linderman
Hello,
Those who have done their research will already know that Yamaha spared no expense when it came the the XS 1100.
"X" meaning 'expieremental'..."S" meaning 'systems' according to some.
Remember we're talking 1977...a time when motorcycles were notoriously unreliable.
All systems were either 'new' or every component was 're-engineered' for the purpose of designing, creating and producing a motorcycle that would last for 50 (yes FIFTY) years!

I know that's hard to believe...but it is TRUE!
According to some X-perts it is the LAST Asain motorcycle so designed...

Steve-N-Mo

Not to talk trash about our bikes but I've seen early Goldwings with an amazing ammount of miles on them. They're easy to service and go forever. I suspect some one told you a real wopper.

Geezer

[Steve Linderman]

LIFE X-pectancy

HEY TONY,

It must be that rarified Oregon air that you're breathing again...
since when do "MILES" equate to "YEARS"?????
IF a person rode a motorcycle (for let's say) 7 days a week...320 days a year...(ARIZONA) how many miles would that make in one year ?
Now if a guy rode 2 days a week 180 days a year (WASHINGTON) how many is that?
But NOWHERE does that account for TIME...
Add up the total after 50 (YES 50) YEARS....
ONE bike would have WAY LESS miles than the other!!!!!!!!
But let's not waste time arguing....go read the book printed by one of the XS 1100 GURUs'.
BOB JONES of MERRIAM Cycles...( I will add a small X-cerpt from his book, XS 1100 Heaven)

"The XS Eleven... was made to do everything and anything on the pavement.
The Best kept secret in the motorcycle industry during its' development, it caught the Competition with their pants down... .

Nearly every device on the bike known to be Superior was used, and anything not up to the standard of the bike was newly Designed from scratch.
Even the engine was made to rotate backward... , the Mindset to make a motorcycle that could last 50 years was never used again,
There is not now, nor will there ever be, any model of anything... that is meant To last that long, ever again."

NOW Tony before you go shooting off your mouth about things you know NOTHING about (these AIN'T Goldwings)
You should AT least check your FACTS.
I you need to borrow a copy of "XS 11 Heaven" let me know...
It is a GR8 read...and one might LEARN from it.

I'm not yelling because I love these machines...it's 'JUST THE FACTS"

And Tony...you should TRY RIDING a Bike (XS 1100) someday...it may change your perspective.
And by the way...it's "WHOPPER" not "WOPPER"
Get a life....

[Underdog]

Where could one get a copy of the book? Thanks

[John]

Steve,
Those are some mighty strong, almost fightin' words. I hope you know Geezer, and are only messin' with him. I don't think those comments were called for. Just my 2c worth.

[Geezer]

Re: LIFE X-pectancy

Originally posted by Steve Linderman
HEY TONY,

NOW Tony before you go shooting off your mouth about things you know NOTHING about (these AIN'T Goldwings)
You should AT least check your FACTS.
I you need to borrow a copy of "XS 11 Heaven" let me know...
It is a GR8 read...and one might LEARN from it.

I'm not yelling because I love these machines...it's 'JUST THE FACTS"

And Tony...you should TRY RIDING a Bike (XS 1100) someday...it may change your perspective.
And by the way...it's "WHOPPER" not "WOPPER"
Get a life....

First off Steve, you're a jackass. Second, I was a motorcycle mechanic years before the XS11 came out and I now have 3 of them (down from 5.) There is nothing rare or experimental on an XS11. It's a dam fine bike for its vintage. Just because some one wrote something in a book doesn't mean it's true.

Yamaha had a TX500 twin some years before the XS11 that was far more technically advanced than the XS11. This is just one example that blows your point all to hell. There have been many Japanese bikes since the XS11 that were built to last a man a lifetime but the Japanese rarely sell replacement parts for much more than 10 years. Yamaha seems to be the worst about this and the fact that you cannot buy XS11 piston rings from a Yamaha dealer is evidence of that.

If you’re going to pick on spelling, see my first point again.

Geezer

[mitch]

Hmmmmm

Steve i knew u stepped in it soon as i read your post, Geezer been around a long time and knows his stuff! Who really cares who said what, long as we all ride and get along life is good.Personaly ( cant spell either lol ) i hope they do last a long long time cause i gonna get a special to play on !! So i think you two should kiss and make up ....................MITCH

[Dennyz]

I have 85K+ miles on my "F" and it still does wheelies. The only parts it has required in the 50K+ miles I have been riding it are brake pads, and tires. It is my opinion, that once all the kodies have been chased out and it is riden regularly, they will last for ever.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Geezer,

Funny you should mention the TX500 4 stroke twin, that was my first NEW bike in '76, got it for HS Graduation. Double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, dual carbs. It ran great for the 6 or so years I had it, took it with me to the "Motherland" Japan when I got stationed over there, ended up leaving it there when I picked up my XS1100 and my 850 Triple Special! It was that bike and the 305 2 stroke twin before it that sold me on Yamaha. I had ridden Hondas, but they just didn't seem to have the pep, torque, or throttle response that the Yams had!!! I hope mine does last for many years to come.

Now let's put away our flame throwers and enjoy the upcoming summer riding season, shall we?!

T.C.

[Geezer]

Originally posted by TopCatGr58
Hey Geezer,

Funny you should mention the TX500 4 stroke twin, that was my first NEW bike in '76, got it for HS Graduation. Double overhead cams, 4 valves per cylinder, dual carbs. It ran great for the 6 or so years I had it, took it with me to the "Motherland" Japan when I got stationed over there, ended up leaving it there when I picked up my XS1100 and my 850 Triple Special! It was that bike and the 305 2 stroke twin before it that sold me on Yamaha. I had ridden Hondas, but they just didn't seem to have the pep, torque, or throttle response that the Yams had!!! I hope mine does last for many years to come.

Now let's put away our flame throwers and enjoy the upcoming summer riding season, shall we?!

T.C.

My first Yamaha was an R5 soon to be followed by and RD350. Back when I had my shop, I had a lot of different bikes including a few British and Italian bikes. I always admired the TX and later XS500 twin. I was surprised that when Yamaha built the XS11 it wasn’t based on the 500 twin. A 16 valve XS11 would rock.

I have to admit that I lost my temper on that reply and shouldn’t have written it but I meant every word.

Geezer

[Steve Linderman]

My Life X-pectancy...

Hey Y'all
The last time Tony-n-I had breakfast together we had pretty much this same argument when he started on about...Honda..or something...GS, or was it...I can't seem to recall it at this moment.

Yea, Tony knows a LOT about a Lot of Bikes...so do I
MY FIRST REAL MOTORCYCLE (not including minibikes) was a 1972 YAMAHA LS2 100...bought it NEW
Almost can't count how many I've had since then (who cares?)

In MY mind...the XS 1100 is THE Motorcycle (for me)
If spinning the motor 'BACKWARDS' (in 1977) isn't technologically INNOVATIVE (wow, big words!) then show me (in 1977) what is.

I don't write this stuff...just read it...I never said it was true.
And if you design a motor to 'last 50 years' why-in-the-heck would you NEED to sell piston rings...and who's gonna' buy 'em?
back then (1977) most (big) Motorcycle buyers were in their early 30's...I don't know many 80yr. old's who can or want to change their piston rings. (X-cept Denny's dad, when he's 80)

"CYCLE" (January 1978) called the Bike "Innovative" and the "Reigning Superbike Champ" and the article mentions BOTH the Z and the Wing in comparision to the XS 1100.

For you (fightin') Texans out there the ONLY fighting me-n-tony's ever gonna' do is over who gets to ride the last XS 1100 left on the planet (if it ever comes to that) and since the old gray biker ain't what he used to be...I'll just yell "HEY Tony...LOOK!! a Grateful Dead concert"...and when he turns his head to look...I'll jump on the XS 1100...and burn off...

And I'm a jack-ass only because TONY PROMISED to send me some parts for my VINTAGE Bell helmet...LAST August
(the 16th, I believe) and he hasn't done it yet!

So while the bike-a-holic is endlessly arguing about which bike is what...I'm ridin' around with a whistlin' noise in my ears...and it's ALL Tonys fault.

And Tony...TYPOs ain't GRAMMAR (as mis-spelled words ARE) so if you're gonna knock MY typos...
Please let me point out that a 'dam' is something made to hold back water...and 'damn' is a 'slang term' for 'Damnation' which is what you'll get...if you don't stop knockin' XS 1100s.

In closing please let me qoute from one of our greatest Americans (Humphry Bogart)
This is a scene where Some British soldiers are ribbing Humphry about "his tank" (from the Movie SAHARA cir-1943)
Humphry 'goes off' on the BRITS and afterwards he offers this apology to the British Officer present...

"Sorry I blew up like that back there...but those cracks about my tank really burned me"

Tony, have a safe ride...goin' down to the Three Dog night concert...the next time we meet...I'll tell you the story of how they got their name, from the Aboriginies...
And when you find those helmet parts...let me know, PLEASE!!
BYE!

[Underdog]

And if you design a motor to 'last 50 years' why-in-the-heck would you NEED to sell piston rings...and who's gonna' buy 'em?
back then (1977) most (big) Motorcycle buyers were in their early 30's...I don't know many 80yr. old's who can or want to change their piston rings. (X-cept Denny's dad, when he's 80)


Reminds me of a phrase a fiend of mine coined. "a lifetime gaurantee has a different meaning to someone over 60" LOL!