cold blooded xs mns. 3 more questions

[s head]

My bike takes a long time to warm up.It runs perfectly once it up to temp but seems to like 10 to 15 minutes to get there and runs erratically while cold?
It has the standard MNS mufflers but they seem very loud.they have no external rust but may have lost some internal baffling.where are the normal place for these mufflers to rust out?
My last question is about HP and torque figures.
I have 3 1100s a gsx1100,a kz1100 and the XS all make similar horse power and torque on paper
and gearing is close as well and they all have good compression.the XS just feels so much more responsive everywhere in the rev range and feels like it has more power everywhere.I can't work this out?


http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/P7020002.jpg

[Dragon Tamer]

Most four cylinder bike engines are cold blooded to begin with, sounds like yours is extremely so. Your idle mixture settings may be on the lean side and/or your carbs may need to be sync'ed. I am not sure on the mufflers but it should not be hard to pull the baffles and check them out.
As for the HP and torque, what you see on paper does not mean anything to an XS as they cannot read well. Had mine dyno'ed once just for the hell of it and it came out well over the numbers. Most XS's will out do almost any comparable bike and even some not so comparable bikes! It may be that it has to do with the design of the combustion chamber or the fact that the engine does not have a flywheel and therefore less moving mass. Personally I think they run on the dark side of the force.
Incidentally, THAT IS ONE HELL OF A NICE LOOKING BIKE!! Ride 'er with pride.

[mro]

10 to 15 minutes to get there and runs erratically while cold?

Sounds like your enricher circut may need cleaning.
All of my XSes...Start with "choke" pulled out.
Runs there for half to one minute.
Push in half way and ride. 1/4, 1/2 mile push in rest of way.

Upon starting would see if all headers are getting hot, if not it will point you to which carbs enricher circut may need a little attension.

normal place for these mufflers to rust out?

My MNS exhaust rusted out at the weld/muffler connection. Rest of exhaust is in pretty good shape. Not sure what you mean by "seem very loud"....Hardley loud??? Does sound like a baffeling condiction

gsx1100,a kz1100
Are they not chain drive and 100 or so pounds lighter?


mro

[s head]

I have just balanced the carbs and they are spot on,it does backfire and pop when I shut the throttle even when warm so it may be leaking at the connecters in the exhaust,the plug are a nice tan colour so don't think its lean.But I did leave the pilot air mixture screws at 1 and half turns out and did not adjust them further so maybe they need looking at.It makes a fairly loud growl but not by harley standards.
It is difficult to know whats normal when you have other bikes which run like sewing machines at idle,the XS just feels raw down low like it has lumpy cams but as soon as it is running past 2500 rpm it is smooth as silk and just stomps even the gsx which I used to think was a grunty bike.I originally bought the XS to sell once I got it running but will sell the KZ1100 instead.one thing is for sure either my XS has a worked motor or these bikes a way underrated.I am still getting to grips with the mid range performance of this retro blaster.I agree Dragon tamer it is a slightly possessed motor with a manic/angry quality.
I own a modern bike as well so its not like I am only comparing it to 80s bikes.

[s head]

Found the cause of the back fire and noise.A hole in the muffler inside the the mounting bracket by the rear foot peg.I think I need a new right muffler but will attempt a repair.