Lack of partication?

[Rasputin]

Has anyone besides myself noticed a lack of participation this spring. I have never seen this few questions or answers before in the spring. Be it newbies or chopper fans or even those that paint everything flat black.
I am starting to think that our wonderful babies are going extinct other than to purist collectors.
I, for one will have a XS11 in my stable until I die and my son will sell it. I am now 60 yrs old and still love the old girl. How many will keep one around even as they move on to Hardly Davidsons and Connies and everything else new? How many would keep one around for old times sake?
Many of us are hard-core and many can relate. My question is how can we make our bikes achieve greater things?
Anyone have any ideas?

[ViperRon]

Ok Ras taking you up on this I have a project I will be taking up again soon and maybe people will chime in on it. It has been explored here time and time again. I am going to try to do another main seal replacement in my 1980. I thought I had it stopped but it was merely a temporary resolve. I have a leak from the main crank seal mag pick up side that is about whipping me. I went threw 5 seals about 2 years ago and then got it to stop but it was short lived and came back to haunt me on the South East Rally. After I removed the original lipped seal I have had a real time getting one to stay in. They leak around the outside not the lip side and start pushing out. The last time what I did was use am aluminum cement compound that hardened up enough to actually tap threads in and Indian head gasket sealant. However Me and TC had to resort to a temp fix on the last day of the Rally with some JB weld to get me home.

The main thing I need Now is a good part number for the dual lipped seal. I have the sizing but do not have a number for the dual lipped to search on. I will tell any and all who go threw the seal replacement that some have had an easy time of replacing these. I can get them in but as for long term getting them to not leak around the sides I have not had success. This time I plan to use the new Permatex Black that is heat and oil resistant and JB weld. I would like for anyone having part numbers for the seals to search on send them to me. The dual lipped ones only and not the national numbers you can get from auto stores as those I have had issues just pushing right out as they seem not to drive in tight.

[madmax-im]

Been an owner since 1982 ...wrecked my bike last year...I'm retired...I can only afford one bike..owning one old bike and riding it daily is a chore..its old and although it made good poewr..it was dated and no matter how much work you do to them..they are getting harder with each passing year to be roadworthy and safe machines...
I for one do not want to be standing on the pegs @ 60mph and have the welds fail like it has for some members here...Once you have ridden a modern bike..
Yamaha doesnt owe me nothin and i dont owe Yamaha nothin..its been a great ride.....

[IanDMacDonald]

Hey Ras- Long time no see. I actually think the Facebook forum may be taking away from some of our XS forum usage. Definitely an upswing of activity on that page, versus here. I follow both. And, I still ride my, because I love it. Just refreshed the top end with a bore job, new rings, pistons, and gaskets. Love the bike. Can't ride it to work yet, as it has to be broke in, and I'm all highway coming here.

[webbcraft2150]

I don't "participate" much but I am usually on the site daily. There are many here with much more to contribute than I. I was very fortunate to get my XS from the original owner who didn't ride it much and when he parked it, stored it inside with the proper layup protocols. He dropped big bucks in it to get it ready for sale so I got a near perfect, turnkey ride. The 11 is not so much a dinosaur as it is a very endangered species. Yes, they take some extra care and feeding compared to a newer rig but that is something I don't mind doing. I don't have much fear of breakdowns on road trips. Even new stuff can take a crap on the road. Good thing with the 11 is its pretty simplistic and with basic knowledge, can be patched up to get it going again. Mine has never left me on the road save the time the main fuse blew and I had no clue of its existence. Pickup coils gave hell on a ride back from a now extinct MOM rally but I did make it home. Could I afford a newer, better, faster, nicer, more comfortable ride, yup. Being somewhat of a dinosaur myself, I like the old iron. I still have a 42 year old truck I bought new. No computers, no check engine light, no fuel injection, no mileage and no ride quality. Even my daily driver is almost 25 years old. What can't be replaced with the 11 is the cool factor. Bike never fails to drawn curious onlookers at rallies and events. "I used to have one of those, there were badass" is a common comment. Even after many years of ownership, I still grin when I roll the throttle on and my ancient steel steed returns the favor with a solid pull into the triple digits. Yes, both my 11 and I get older each year. We both have our aches and pains sometimes. But as long as I can swing a leg over it without dislocating a hip, I will keep riding it. Sites like this is why and how these rigs stay on the road. People a very willing to help here. Maybe I should actively participate more so here goes.
Can I use 20-50 synthetic oil and are Dunlop 404's any good

[Rasputin]

ViperRon take a look at 93101-32144-00 OIL SEAL. Should be the right one.

[Bergman16]

I read a lot but haven't been able to do much to the bike so nothing really to post. I turned off Facebook once and for all to get my life back. I highly recommend it--kept messenger so I can reach out to folks though if I have to.

Rode all of two times last year and never even got the bike inspected. Hoping to do better this year!

[soccer4m]

some lack of action

Howdy Rasputin, you are right, there has been some fallout of activity in the site, but for me, these ol 1100's are still a great ride. There is something about a bike that rumbles and roars, kind of like a new mustang or the original badass shelby cobra,,,,obviously which one is cooler and has an exhaust vibe that sounds cool. THe newer bikes are faster, smoother, but are like sewing machines, no cool factor, except the original style HD's like Scott's. Most of us can afford newer bikes but for me, I will have my Xj1100 maxim till I croak, faster than I need, cool looking, easy to repair, paid for, cheap insurance and license fees,etc.
As for the lack of action, I am guessing that there still is a bunch of xs's but many members have moved on and the new owners of these bikes are not aware, care about the website on a constant check. Plus a lot of the newer generation of kids do not wrench, or have the experience to repair, maintain older bikes. Since the schools have virtually eliminated shops from the curriculum, kids do not get hands on mechan. experience. I had 39 years of HS Science teaching and it was sad to see the lack of mech. skills over the years in kids. This site has tons of info, so newer owners can look up about anything in the search section, and not have communication with us old time owners. Plus, a lot of the xs's are sitting and neglected so the owners dont give a hoot about keeping them roadworthy, as I have seen from the craigslist ads.
SOOO, enjoy the ride, hope us xs1100 owners keep as many roadworthy as possible,,,,,someday we will wear out these bikes but it will be a long time..... a toast to all xs,xj owners..........MIke in SUn DIego

[Radioguylogs]

Present!

I'm here everyday.

I still ride my XS's nearly every week when it's warm enough.

However, thanks to the forum, they are mostly sorted out and gone through, so nothing new to discuss.

I have been involved with my Honda V65 as my recent project, so all of my "news" is on another site.

I never got the sticky shifter on my XS1100SF working smoothly, so maybe sometime soon I'll replace the linkage and post something interesting.

Meanwhile, I think these bikes do everything. They go fast, they are stable on the highway, they are manageable in the curves,....yet they are durable, reliable, and easy to fix like an old tractor.

[bikerphil]

Still here everyday, still ride XS11's every day.

[BA80]

Got tired of answering questions and being ignored or argued with because someone didn't like my answer.

Got no time for hacksaw "artists" either.

Still follow the rallies though.

[motoman]

Got tired of answering questions and being ignored or argued with because someone didn't like my answer.

Got no time for hacksaw "artists" either.

Still follow the rallies though.

+1 BA80!........bout covers it.

[MarkD]

I'm on here every day. I have been taking care of my 91 year old uncle for the past year. I didn't even ride one time last year, as I was living with him doing the 24/7 deal. I will ride my F this season. I am looking at replacing my 3/4 helmet with a modular. Even dug up some old threads to wise myself up.

[Bonz]

Got tired of answering questions and being ignored or argued with because someone didn't like my answer.

Got no time for hacksaw "artists" either.

Still follow the rallies though.

Greg, you know you love our oil threads and discussions. Yeah, thanks for being part of the last two Colorado Rallies, and for making this summer your 3rd coming up!

Traffic is drying up on here, no two ways about it. I do check in multiple times daily as well, but no new stuff to respond to or start a new thread about.

I will keep things going on the Rally front as long as there are guys that keep making it a great experience each and every year!

I am grateful to have joined up at the end of the golden years and learned so much before many guys started to move on.

[Rasputin]

I knew a bunch of the fellows that replied, would. 10 yrs ago if one signed in every day it would take hours to read all the posts and there were newbies everywhere. This time of the year is when one expects all kinds of posting and there seems to be shortage of new members/owners.
I too am on here fairly often but am not inclined to answer many of the posts. I am down to 3 XS11's and soon may sell off another. Wrecked my shoulder and have not ridden all of last year over it. Might be able to yet in a few more months.
Glad to see you guys are alive and kicking. Stay safe out there.