newbie soon-to-be-rider with ?'s

[firekick3]

Hello from North Carolina. I'm searching for my first motorcycle purchase and have some questions for ya'll. I have never owned a motorcycle, but do have a good sense of balance and am a decent automobile and 4-wheeler operator (might not even matter here). anyway, there is a local guy selling a 1982 1100 maxim. He wants 900 for it. It has been sitting in a garage for quite a while. he ran it up and down the road for me so i could hear it. first, it has a 4-into-1 straight exhaust (VERY loud and crackly). would a new set of 4-into-2 pipes quiet that crackling down? OR is that a different problem? keep in mind he was going by me "wide open". also, most of the non-black parts are a very dull metal, i think he said it was all aluminum parts that could be replaced with shiny chrome. How accurate is that statement? Bottom line is, I don't want to pay too much for a "beginner" bike for me, and I want to be able to work on it some, i.e. adding some chrome, new paint job, needs possibly a new tach, and headlight, and he said he THINKS he might have broken off a "tooth" in the rear gears, (second gear i think). how bad of a problem could that be.

sorry for all the rambling. should i offer him alot less than 900?

THANKS for any help!!!

[randy]

Bart,

Welcome to the forum.

As for what's the the '82 XJ worth? that depends on your mechanical abilities and willingness to work. That 'tooth off the ring gears' is most likely worn dogs on the second gear. Fixing involves opening the engine and removing the transmission mainshaft. If you think you're up to the task, go for it and offer no more than $300-$400. If you're not up to the work, keep looking.

[firekick3]

thanks for the reply randy! The seller says it is not a big deal, and that he only hears the problem when he is "showing off", in other words when he goes full throttle. he says a normal rider would probably not even notice the problem. Again, he just "thinks" this might be what that clicking noise is that he hears sometimes. think i should go that low with an offer? sounds good to me.

[randy]

I'm an accomplished mechanic and I wouldn't want to tackle the work, I'd rather keep looking. Especially now that spring is here, you should see a lot more pickin's.

[firekick3]

good enough for me! back to the looking board...

nice work on your bike too! wow

[ratbyk]

New Rider

First off an XS-XJ 1100 is a "LOT" of M/C for a first time rider. Before you ever consider getting on it for a ride take the M/C training course so you have a hope in surviving. Riding a M/C is entirely different than driving a car. They only similarity is that you are sharing the same bit of road.
The second gear problem is repairable "IF?" you are very handy and mechanically inclined. Do not attempt without more talent and experience. Enthusiasm will only go so far.
I know myself and most other experienced XS owners here would not likely pay more than $400 for one which needs transmission work. Maybe even less.
Don't like to discourage people but you would be a lot safer on a 250 to 400 cc bike as your first motorcycle. Bravado and youthful enthusiasm does not help when you hit a fixed object at 60mph.
Ken/Sooke

[firekick3]

much thanks raybyk! I know it is a LOT of bike, was first thing I noticed when I looked at it. Am looking at a couple others: a honda shadow 700 and a 500. And, no, I'm not one to go tearing open an engine or transmission to try to fix something. But I do love the look of a well maintained 1100. thanks again!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Firekick,

The others are right in that it is very most likely the dreaded 2nd gear malady that afflicts these otherwise fine machines. It acting up now under heavy load is just the beginning, as it would continue to wear it would get worse with just "regular" driving. And most likely 1st gear isn't far behind! I've repaired 2 XJ's with the 1st gear problem, and cleaned up 2nd while I was in there, cause they looked quite worn and would have only been a matter of time!

I won't say most, but many of us started out with smaller bikes and honed our skills before we advanced up to the XS1100. So... find a decent 500-700cc bike(not a crotch rocket!!), it' doesn't have to be pretty, just reliable, cause you will eventually want to upgrade to the larger machines once you learn how to ride and have a few thousand miles behind you. And spending much less on a starter will make it not hurt your wallet so bad "WHEN"/not if you fall down.

There's a guy in N.C., Ralph Meeks who has 2 machines, not sure if he's in the market to sell one, but might be? You'll be able to find an XS11 or an XJ11 when you're ready to "Step Up" !
Ride safe, and have fun!
T.C.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Firekick3,
As always lots of good advice here.
i too strongly suggest a Rider training course. they are fun and you will learn a lot. If you like the look of the XS try a
Maxim 650 or 750 still plenty of power to scare yourself with.
MaximPhil

[Jerry]

Firekick3:

A couple pointws about a first bike and the XS/XJ1100 series.

The first XS1100 was sold in the US as a 1978 model. The last was sold as and XJ100 model in 1982. Yamaha sold theses same bikes in Mexico and Canada for a couple more years. There were various models sold (Standard Special, Midnight Special, XJ) and European variations of the same bikes.

ANY old bike is going to take a fair amount of maintenance/fixing/upgrades to be reliable on the road. Given the isues with this XJ, (1 year only model in the US) you can expect to put several hundred more into it. Remember, you are looking at 24 year old suspension, brake systems, wiring, and such. The instrument pods (tach and speedo) are unique to this machine, and other aftermarket stuff built for the XS doesn't always fit without tweaking...exhaust systems, specifically muffler mounts, are not the same. Most things cabn be adapted or worked around, but my feeling is that $900 is a bit high for a bike needing transmission, exhaust, and instrumentation repairs.

If you really have a love of the XS/XJ series and are willing to put the time and efford into finding parts, doing upgrades, and getting all the maintenance done, these are great old bikes that still perform well and have a lot of miles in them. Just be aware that most of us have put, not only into these bikes but others, far more than they are probably worth on the open market. You will have to decide if you are going to buy a bike for the long haul or find a newer, more reliable bike that will give you good service will less fixing.

[firekick3]

Thanks all who responded to my questions! Here's what happened today....

I found a trustworthy deputy sherriff in the town where I work. He was selling a 1986 Honda Shadow 500. So I grabbed it up and took it home with me. It only needs a little polishing of some aluminum and chrome, thats about it! only has about 12,000 miles on it. (I doubt seriously that it turned over 100,000 but the deputy didn't have any information from his previous seller). So I will sign up for the local riders instruction course at the community college, learn to conquer this mid-sized boy (still has alot of pep!) then I will come back in here and look around for my next upgrade. thanks again all!!!!! ride safe!

bck

[chevy45412001]

firekick

they know of what they speak. I actually started with a 650 maxim (xj 650 ) for a street bike. Thats what got me up to my current 1100 xj. As stated above the 650 WILL PUT HAIR ON CHEST just fine! Get one ride one start to tune on one,next thing ya know your giving advice to the next new rider in line. Ain't life grand

[ratbyk]

Wise sensible decisions. You will learn things at the riders course that you would never even have thought of. All of it is to keep you safe and able to move up when the time is right.
Enjoy being a bike owner and keep the rubber side down.
Ken/Sooke

[jayklink]

Hey Firekick - sounds like you made a good choice.

I just wanted to add my 2 cents here -even though Firekick has found his ride.

My first bike was my XS1100. Probably not a good choice for a first bike, but I did OK on it. Of the three bikes I have now, I would say the most dangerous is my FZR600. It has lots of power with not much weight. 600 bikes now have 20 HP more and are much lighter than my FZR. My XS11 is just more rideable. I know it is an easier and safer ride than than the seemingly growing popularity of choppers.

No matter what you ride - you have to respect the danger of being on a motorcycle. Ride smart- ride safe.

[bkush]

firekick:

Good choice, but don't forget to come back when you're ready to take the leap!

These bikes are great! They've got plenty of power for anyone, but I don't think they're quite as dangerous as the crotch rockets (high power, high weight vs. high power, low weight)

The first bike I ever drove was an XJ1100 (1982). It was my father's. Mom didn't like bikes very much, so Dad only had it a year or two...

I've owned other bikes since then, my "learning bikes" as I like to call them, but I always had the image of the XJ1100 in my head and the feel of the ride in my bones...

I just recently found an 82 XJ1100 in a garage and grabbed it from the guy for next to nothing. It doesn't run, but it's a good parts bike. I also recently bought 2 other, running XJ's, one from Idaho and one from a fellow list member in Indiana (macnut).

So, altogether, I have 4 1982 XJ1100 frames sitting in the garage! I'm almost sure I can get 3 of them running (heck 2 already are!) and I may sell the third bike to recoup some of my expenses... then again... who knows!

Bill