I am about to buy,59,000 miles?

[Yamie's Rule]

I am going tomorrow to look at and hopefully buy a 1979 XS 1100, it has 59,000 miles on it. The guy claims it is all prety much original but he say the valves need adjusting and the bikes has not been started for 2 or 3 months and he was having problems getting it going. He only want's 700$ for it and I want a old cruiser jap style to add to my collection.

I am concerned about the valves and high mileage. What do you all think? What else should I look for for problem arears? Thanks alot!

Glad to be here.

I was amazed I found a site for this bike and I have alway's kinda wanted one since i was a kid.

[81xsproject]

You'll love it. The mileage is getting to be on the high side. But hell, that is just less waiting before you have a really good excuse to drop in a big bore. Although some folks have reported on getting 100k w/o a rebuild. Go for it! Oh yeah, and welcome aboard. This site can be as addicting as the bike

[DiverRay]

I have 95K on mine now, and if it wasn't for an oil leak, I wouldn't be thinking rebuild. These engines WILL run over 125K with little fuss. Go to the MAIN page, xs11.com, scroll down to the "Tech Tips", and you can find what to look for in a used XS. You will probably have to do a transmission fix, but it IS a fairly easy task. I replaced both first and second gear in mine over a weekend. You can do that WITHOUT removing the engine or splitting cases!
If the bike won't start, I would only offer $500.00 for it. I bought mine three years ago for $600.00, running but needing work. It DID come with a Vetter fairing and box, though.
Welcome to the site, and don't forget to post you location. You may find help is just over a hill, or a town away.

[Yamie's Rule]

Thanks you all,I have been becoming a road bike junkie lately.

It started out with a 2003 VTX 1300 which is a girls bike, the women love the way it looks but I think it is a fem bike and thinking of dumping it. Then I bought a A 1999 Valkyrie WILL NOT SELL!!!!!! keeper but gas mileage is rough. Then a 1980 Shovel head harley nice bike but to much upkeep.

I want an old Jap cruiser hopefully this is it!

The Harley is to unreliable so I need a reliable old bike.

I liked the old GS 1100 or 1150 to?

[trbig]

Just know that HD's and their owners will take a bit of a ribbing on here... but it's all in fun. I figure they brought it on themselves anyway.. lol.

As far as this...

I think it is a fem bike and thinking of dumping it.

Wear your leathers and keep it under 65 when you do.


Tod

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Yamie's Rule,

If you'll check out this thread you'll find the info you need to check out the bike properly, and what to ask about before you buy it. The valve clearances actually stay pretty consistent because it uses the bucket/shim design. The clearances often get a little closer due to the seat receeding into the head, so a compression check would be helpful and moderately telling about the ring condition as well.

Having worked on several bikes, including the HD, then you should be able to handle the XS11 just fine. Once you get it tuned up, it doesn't take much to keep it running right, folks here call it bullet proof!

You are calling it a Jap Cruiser, do you mean it's the SPECIAL model? You'll want to include the specific model style because tech suggestions LATER can vary dependent on model style as well as year! In that same MISC Forum that the Neglected thread is in, you'll find another about verifying which year model you have by the serial/engine/frame #.

One of our earlier members switched to a VALK, and loves it, and it will have more power than the XS11, but with realistic Xpectations, the XS11 should meet and Xceed them. The mileage though is usually around 30+ mpg....remember, it WAS THE SPORT BIKE/Hayabusa of it's era!
T.C.

[Dragon Tamer]

Hi Yamie

I would not be TOO concerned about the mileage on the bike, it does not seem to be the miles that counts on these machines but the way the thing was treated.
The Fire Dragon has almost 60K on her and is showing NO signs of weakening, if anything she is just breaking in!! She uses less than a pint of oil between changes (3500 miles),only smokes a little and that only if I twist her tail very hard. No leaks, no tranny problems, and had only one clutch problem (that caused by using Amszoil for a period).
However, this bike was WELL maintained all of its life and has been for the last many years a daily ride, weather permitting. I am firmly of the belief that she will go well over 100K without any major problems. She has had the valves adjusted only once, that at about 12K.
[IMG][/IMG]

At her age she will still run rings around ALMOST anything else on the road. Although I occasionally do test ride newer and different bikes I still just climb back on her and ride happy! We have become very good friends over the years and I have NO intention of getting rid of her.

[Yamie's Rule]

tHANKS YOU GUY'S i WANT A OLD 1100 but the guy who has it for sale did not call me back today to come see it tomorrow so I have just about given up.

I want an old cruiser because my old Harley is about as exciting as watching a dog take a crap.

As a matter of fact before I bought my 3 current bikes I went and looked at the new Harley's and decided the bikes are about as exciting as you know, a #2 by a K9.

So I bought a old shovel head so I can say I own a Harley so shutup but the wrench factor is a bit much.

If you are going to wrench it it may as well be FAST!

[Yamie's Rule]

The guy just called me and I am going to probably pick it up tomorrow. I heard it run over the phone ,he claims it has some clatter in the valves is that normal and can it usually be adjusted out. I have no time to work on bikes much so I want one that has little issues. Besides I already own a Harley and that is as much wrenching as a handful of Jap bikes.

I love jabbing the Harley guy's.`


iS 700$ a good buy I think so,I could not believe you can buy a bike this nice for a 1000$ and under. I looked at what these things are going for and they have no resale but they are great bikes.

[Dragon Tamer]

Yamie,
Price sounds good if it runs, which it apparently does. Clatter may not be valves, possible but much more likely that the cam chain just needs to be adjusted/tightened. They can get very noisy if that is not done at the proper intervals. Don't drive it much or far until you have checked that out. There are several good threads here explaining how to do it correctly and it is not hard to do.

[Sandy H]

59000 miles

i bought a 1982 xj1100j for 1.00$ it was sitting in a garage for 7 yrs. I have spent a lot of time in the garage ,but you know what .After some real work and some elbow greese she puuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrssssss like a corvette needs some more polishing.
that is the least of my worries I need to give it a good over haul for the spring.