Life Expectancy?

[Underdog]

I wanted to address this point separately. It takes a full line of engine parts available to keep a fleet of any vehicle in service. Otherwise we will be cannibalizing many bikes with little wrong with them to keep others running. This is a sad fact of riding old Japanese bikes. Sometimes it makes me want to get a Harley.

Tony, IMHO If you had an old Shovelhead (harley dudes call em "Troubleheads") you would get less support from HD than Yamaha gives for these bikes. The Motor Company is only interested in selling new bikes, chrome and clothes. Only thing that saves the day on the Harleys is the strong aftermarket suport. Law of supply & demand I suppose.

Steve, thanks for that link. Yeah, I was begining to think my deodorant wore off or something

Just have to tell you guys that I agree with youngnip there on this being an entertaining thread. What with all of the depressing war news, debate and strife we live with each day, it's really refreshing to see such a vigorous exchange started by an arguement over.............old jap motorcycles??? Arguably a subject that 99.9% of the general public wouldn't even know what you guys are talking about much less give a s*** about. Stuff like this makes me proud to be an American

[Geezer]

Originally posted by Underdog
Just have to tell you guys that I agree with youngnip there on this being an entertaining thread. What with all of the depressing war news, debate and strife we live with each day, it's really refreshing to see such a vigorous exchange started by an arguement over.............old jap motorcycles???:

It's possible that were just a couple of old farts that both have to get the last word in... or maybe not. ;o)

I've got a question for the group. Is the term "Jap" an abbreviation here or a racial slur? To me it's always been an abbreviation but I've been accused of being a racist for using it.

I really hate political correctness.

Geezer

[chevy45412001]

old farts

Jap is both,aslur and a racist remark. But i ride rice so what do i know. i see very few harleys this old on the road ,hence the reason i love my ole xj.Back to the LIFE EXPECTINCY thing...lol.sorry for cutting in on your post young member.

[Underdog]

I'm with you Geezer on the political correctness thing. It gets hard to keep track of sometimes. Having said that, I assure everyone that I didn't mean it as a slur or to be racist. I've simply considered it as slang for motorcycles of asian manufacture. I have a friend and neighbor with a new Suzuki that refers to them that way too ("Jap Bikes"). I meant no disrespect to Japanese people.. or any other people for that matter. I didn't mean to be refering to the race or country as Japs, just a short term for the bikes. I can see how it could be interpreted as a negative remark. I assure you that if I felt that kind of prejudice, I wouldn't have bought one of these bikes. Thanks for bringing my insensitiveity to my attention. I'll definetly refrain from doing it again and I sincerely apologize to anyone I offended. I certainly don't want to create any enemys here.

[Geezer]

Originally posted by Underdog
I'm with you Geezer on the political correctness thing. It gets hard to keep track of sometimes. Having said that, I assure everyone that I didn't mean it as a slur or to be racist. I've simply considered it as slang for motorcycles of asian manufacture. I have a friend and neighbor with a new Suzuki that refers to them that way too ("Jap Bikes"). I meant no disrespect to Japanese people.. or any other people for that matter. I didn't mean to be refering to the race or country as Japs, just a short term for the bikes. I can see how it could be interpreted as a negative remark. I assure you that if I felt that kind of prejudice, I wouldn't have bought one of these bikes. Thanks for bringing my insensitiveity to my attention. I'll definetly refrain from doing it again and I sincerely apologize to anyone I offended. I certainly don't want to create any enemys here.

I don't want you to think that I accused you of being racist. I brought this up because you used the term in the way that I do and that is as an abbreviation. Japanese is a bit of a long word with a well-known shorter version. I often say Brit for British but British is on the edge of the length that will sometimes be abbreviated and other times not.

I think political correctness is the scourge modern-times but unfortunately we have to live with the fall out. A word that we have been using for years in now frowned upon when we never meant anything bad by using it.

Geezer

[Underdog]

I never thought that Tony. Just wanted everyone else to know I meant no harm.
Back to the original point of this thread. I have some other old stuff besides this bike and can tell you that no manufacturers I know of support old vehicles forever. Heck, I have a 79 Ford PU that I wanted a new tailgate latch for...discontinued. Found one in the boneyard. My MGB enjoys the support of a strong aftermarket which is fortunate because the original Co no longer exists. I'm totally new to the XS11 but am impressed that Yamaha has all of the parts books available online. And.. there are dealers more than willing to sell the stuff if it's available. Even giving a discount, a concept HD dealers don't seem to comprehend....yet. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a Harley dealer even willing to look up a part for a 1980 bike if they even have the capability. Bottom line is, if there is enough interest & support of the aftermarket specialist who supply parts for these bikes, they will come up with solutions to keep them on the road. Just some more of my $.02

[Geezer]

I guess it depends on the Harley dealer. About a dozen years ago I worked at Columbia Harley in Vancouver, WA. Those guys would do what ever they could to get a part for a customer.

Geezer

[young nip]

old farts

Geezer I have some rulesI use when in a crowd of strangers, I dont talk politics or religion. When were on this site I know what you mean when you say Jap(.) bikes.( hello!its just a short form) My buddies have called me Nip , a label which is a long embarrassing story from my youth.We all are so enthused about our bikes and the knowledge learned from other bikes from over the yearsand now here we are.Fantastic! some one who would take exception to a short form with out seeing the sincerity in its descriptive context is just looking for a fight. I suggest that with those folks ,one would just "politely avoid."Im here to talk bikes and ask my dumb questions and listen to a couple of old farts who I know I would like if i met them. Im sure the consensus on the site here would be we are all just good guys and gals who love motor cycles. Enough said about that. Back to bikes!!!!!
A hem , Hey tell me more about dat XS 11 thingy wheel thing, you know made by smart people.
Young nip

[Geezer]

Re: old farts

Originally posted by young nip


<snip)
We all are so enthused about our bikes and the knowledge learned from other bikes from over the yearsand now here we are.Fantastic! some one who would take exception to a short form with out seeing the sincerity in its descriptive context is just looking for a fight.

Enough said about that. Back to bikes!!!!!
A hem , Hey tell me more about dat XS 11 thingy wheel thing, you know made by smart people.
Young nip

Cool and thanx for the input on the subject.

Unfortunately I'm not sure what wheel thing you're referring too. If you're talking about the fork brace in the picture of my bike. Those haven't been made in years and I was lucky enough to snipe one on eBay. I'm tempted to look into reproducing them but I'm not sure if the maket could support the project.

Geezer

[young nip]

back to bikes

Yah that wheel thingy what is that??
Young (dumb )nip.

Is a brace really nessessary??I guess if you have to have a brace because you go fast ,could be your going to fast.Havent seen those since kawi 500 and 750 triples.remember that 750 triple?? now that was a widow maker outta the crate.Talk about life expectancy- the rider that is.
Steve

[Geezer]

Re: back to bikes

Originally posted by young nip
Yah that wheel thingy what is that??
Young (dumb )nip.

Is a brace really nessessary??I guess if you have to have a brace because you go fast ,could be your going to fast.Havent seen those since kawi 500 and 750 triples.remember that 750 triple?? now that was a widow maker outta the crate.Talk about life expectancy- the rider that is.
Steve

Read the tech tips and do a search on fork brace. I don't think it's nessessary but it sure helps. I'm rather cowardly these days and I don't ride real fast any more but I think a fork brace and progressive springs are the cat's meow for the XS11 no matter how fast you ride.

I had a bike shop on the southern edge of Portland, OR near Millwaukie from late 1979 through 1983. I've had more than a few Kawie triples. I was mostly into 2 strokers until I got my Guzzi in 1983. I had Suzukis an Kawies but mostly Yamahas.

I have a cast aluminum brace for my KZ650 too, if I ever get around to putting it back together.

Geezer

[Underdog]

Yeah, A friend of mine has a 74 Kaw 750 H2 he bought new sitting way back in the corner of his garage. I think he put it over backwards once in his younger days. That two stroke would hit the power band and you better be ready for it. I keep trying to get him to drag it out. Needs brakes, tires, carbs ect. He's not much into it though.

[Bubba1954]

"A friend of mine has a 74 Kaw 750 H2 he bought new sitting way back in the corner of his garage."

Dang what a shame. Somebody should rescue that bike someday.

My first motorcycle was a '69 H1 Mach III 500! Like you said, when they hit their powerband,,,,LOOKOUT!

Bubba

[Underdog]

Yeah, he's got so many toys that he's just not interested. I offered to buy it off him but he didn't respond. I even offered to do the work on it if he'd let me take it out to Mid Ohio. In the meantime I got this MNS needing work that I want to take for sure. He'll be start'n with his jet skis as soon as the river clears up. So.....looks like it'll stay put for a while longer.

[young nip]

progressive springs-- life expectancy

Geezer, or anyone here, Whats the difference between the progress and the standard spring in the front.I always keep the fork oil freshdouble check alignment and always a new and balanced tire.. I drive a 79 f and ive always kept it on the center stand ( keep stresses even)when storing and at the end of my rides.Just to prolong the equipment and i hate the idea of one carb 1 bowl full and 4 empty. I have the front suspension set to the middle setting and I find that about right. if I turn it up to the next, the stiffest I find the front bangs over the bumps and to soft theres too much travel. Also I still have original shocks on mine and theyre set toabout 3/4 stiffness. Same thing again if theyre too stiff ,its more of a bucking. Express way concrete sections can be like riding a bronc.dont like them too soft , its a challenge enough with the XS to yank em into and outta corners.
Never really thought of suspension upgrades. Never felt I needed it.
comments please--thanks Steve