XJ1100J Handling

[opajim]

Hi All,
I have had the bike a few days and have
the carbs off for cleaning. Hope to try to
start it and go around the block for a test
ride soon.
From what I read on the net about the
bike is that the low speed handling can be
a little challenging! From your experience
what can I expect?
Thanks,
Jim
XJ1100J

[frogdink]

xj feel

i have had the bike for 5 years now and i think it handles really well. the only time that it is a little tricky is when you are going less then like 3-4 miles per hour. but i assume it is the same for every bike, wouldnt know though, since this is the only bike i have owned. bike handles its best in my opinion around 35-45mph. i love it and cant wait to ride everyday! any questions feel free to ask! -Joe

[cajun31]

How many?

How many bikes have you owned? Just asking for comparison reasons. Most bikes below 5 MPH are a little hard to handle.

[wingnut]

If the XJ100 handles anything like the XJ650 what you are in store for is great riding. My XS1100 took some getting use to and has some special quirks. The XJ 650 is 100 lbs lighter but it is one of the most honest handling machines I've ever ridden. It does what you ask it to with no suprises. Would think its big brother would be pretty much the same. Also, I've gotten to the point on either the 1100 or the 650 that I can keep them up under 3 mph almost to a dead stop but I have to work at it. Than agin, I don't spend much time riding at those speeds

[trbig]

Even though these bikes are somewhat heavy, the amount of power they produce makes it feel like a much smaller bike to me. I was surprised of the angle you can lean before scraping anything compared to other "Cruisers" I had ridden. It isn't bad at all, just don't let it get to falling.. catch it early or you probably won't catch it at all. The nice shiny pieces will go "Crunch" and you may have to add to your embarrassment and have to ask help to pick it back up... If it starts falling... turn the wheel to the side it's falling to and gun it. Like I was always told when starting to ride.... "When in doubt... burn out!" lol.


Tod

[jimboreeno]

My XJ handles great. At stop signs I never put the feet down unless I have to wait for a car. I can come to an allllllmost complete stop and then go. No probs. I practiced my slow upright circles with booth feet on the pegs and I can pretty much turn at the steering stop without slamming a foot down.

[mro]

low speed handling

Parking lot pratice time.
Body straight, head up, slow speed figure 8's.
Once you get used to it can just about keep bars locked and turn in either direction. Don't rush it, take your time. As you get better tighter turn and slower speed. Learn to use clutch, brake and throttle at same time and you will be able to just inch along just above stopping.


mro

[mro]

At stop signs I never put the feet down unless I have to wait for a car

That will get you a $275.00 ticket here in CA CA land.



mro

[opajim]

XJ100J Handling

Right now I have three other XJ bikes but this one is biggest and most powerful.
I have owned other bikes at various times since my twenties. I am 65 now and
try to ride within my physical abilities.
I have read that the forks may twist under certain conditions and that the addition
of a fork brace could add more stability. Comments about anything particular to this
bike will make my riding safer and more enjoyable.
Thanks,
Jim
XJ1100J Maxim
XJ750 Seca
XJ650 Seca
XJ650 Midnight Maxim

[mro]

physical abilities.

Have a buddy who is just over your age and rides a full dresser electro glide. Must weight at least 300 pounds more than my XS. (all that extra chrome crap can get heavy) Can putt putt with the best....Not strength that allows handling a bike.. but practice.

Have read where the XJ is supposed to have a fork brace under the fender???...don't know for sure as there's not been one in my shop yet.

Can say that there is a noticeable difference between how my 80G with the "tube" type fork brace handles (at speed on rough roads) and my hot rod XS which has both the TKAT and tube type braces. Hot rod is rock stable.. it does have other suspension mods so not really comparing apples to apples tho..



mro

[MAXIMAN]

MRO

The XJ stock fender has a brace built in. But it is nothing like the TKAT.

I've done quite a lot to my front end for handling and ride and it help MUCHO. COnsidering the weight of my Maxim full dresser is was required. I cna only imagine how well it would handle naked with these mods. But here's what I've done.

- New inner tubes from Franks - $230
- Progressive Springs - $100
- 15w Fork Oil - $5
- gsxr1000 steering stabilizer - $30 off Ebay
- 30w hydraulic oil in stabilizer
- TKAT Fork Brace - $150


These mods made a HUGE improvement on the stability of my bike. I plan on lowering the front end about 10 -15 mm by sliding the fork tubes up into the triple tree. This trick has been used by racers for years. I'm gonna try it in a couple weeks to see if it helps.

[Jerry]

XJ handling

The trick with the XJ (stock suspension, I assume) is to experiment with the front and rear air pressure settings and damping rates until you get the combination you like best. I don't have my manual handy, there is a chart with suggested settings. I run "2" damping on both front and rear, about 32 psi rear air pressure, went to Progressive front springs and don't run any extra air in the front forks any more, but start with 5 - 7 psi. Fronts take less pressure than the rear. The XJ has a built-in fork brace under the front fender, stock handling is a bit better than the XS, but the XJ can still benefit from a tkat fork brace. Another item to look at is your steering head bearings, make sure there is no 'notch' or flat spot, ususally found in the straight-ahead position.

I think the XJ handles well at low speeds, given the weight of the bike and the high center of gravity. I have to wheel though city traffic plus in and out of parking lots on my commute to/from work, so have plenty of opportunity for low-speed manuvering. Its not like my old 400, of course, but not bad once you get the hang of it.

[underdog57]

talking about the 79xs special ..
What kind of a turn and speed does the fork brace make a differance??

I havent ridden a road bike ever and was 20 plus years since I rode a kawi 175 F7 , top heavy . never ran good ...started at 12 .

I ride the 79 SH and have not had it feel odd at any conditions yet . 30 mph hair pin corners ... And lean it to go from one side of the road to the other ...feels fine at a power run . 7K in fifth so far ..Takes no time to get there . What a rush ...
60 mph gradual turns feel fine too ...
A few turn I went wider than I wanted , but no shakes or such...
So where does the brace come in to play the best ..

Found a nice rec park empty to practice figure 8's and tight circles.
Getting used to it .
It was easier at rider safty class on the puny Honda 250's LOL


Thanks

[MAXIMAN]

On these old dogs...just about any turn and speed because the forks are so skinny the flex very easily. But in high speed situations especially.

Where you really notice the difference is ride a modern bike with much stiffer suspension then ride a stock Eleven. The difference is very significant.

My mods have radically improved my Eleven's handling but it is still nowhere near what my 2005 ZRX is. In order to get an Eleven to that level one would have to completely replace the front end.

But then it really would NOT be an ELeven after that...now would it?

[MAXIMAN]

"But then it really would be an ELeven after that...now would it?"

That's would NOT be an Eleven. I hate the fact we can't edit these post!
Maximan, Some of us CAN edit. Fixed it for you. Ray