Blowing out the cobwebs

[Bonz]

I posted not too long ago with a 1980 SG that was bogging down in cruise mode. I'd be going along at 75-80 mph on the interstate and realize I was dialing in more throttle to keep up speed and it was running "flat" and not pulling.

2 years ago, I bought a 97 Bandit 1200s as my "get back into riding bike" and when I had it dyno'd to check A/F ratio and power, the dyno guy said "Man, that 3rd pull really cleared out the cobwebs". So, I decided what's good for the Bandit couldn't hurt the XS.

Took the XS for a ride a week ago, and wound her out like I had never done before while accelerating on the on ramp, about 7500-8000 rpm in 2nd and 3rd so not abusive in the grand scheme, but I felt real guilty! (BTW, the XS has a great bonus, the extra neutrals I seem to find as I shift in haste...)

Got to the off ramp, stopped at the light, and as I rode the 4 miles home at 45-50 mph on the highway, I swear it was purring along much smoother and just felt better.

I'll know as I get more miles on it, but it may have been the cure!

[olebiker]

The last bike I bought runs much better now that I have had it for a month than when I first got it. I have not touched it except to drive the snot out of it. The last owner didn't use it only coffee shop to coffee shop. It also gets much better mileage. I do that with all my bikes if they are gonna blow up let em do it right away.

[thewiz]

Hmmmm ... good idea

I've got one that might could use this treatment .....

[dbeardslee]

hbonser - couple of things. What kind of read are you getting on your spark plugs? Sometimes plugs can get fouled at low speeds and then seem to 'unfoul' themselves when run at high speeds. 75-80 mph should have been enough to solve this problem, however.

The other, and I think more likely thing, is fuel. Had the bike been sitting for a while before you noticed the problem? If so it could be a fuel issue - deteriorating fuel, water in the gas, etc. I run seafoam through mine periodically just to make sure the fuel system is clean and the gas is dry. Even if it has been run, it's possible to get a bad tank of gas every now and then - especially if you gas up when there's a tanker filling the stations tanks while you're fueling. It stirs up the dregs from the bottom of their tanks and you wind-up pumping it into your tank.

[Bonz]

dbeardslee- I have run many tanks through the bike at a 36 mpg pace since I got the bike in April this year. Tank is clean as a whistle, the previous owner took real good care of it. Put new plugs in asap when I got it, they are running clean as can be. In fact, I would like to see a bit more tan color on the center insulator after 650 miles, but basically are white in color with the electrodes being a nice clean black color. Header pipes are perfect chorome, no discoloration that would indicate XSive heat, etc.

I really think the carbs needed a good hard run. With the outside air temp being in the 80's finally in Colorado, the engine got plenty warm on that run as well. When I parked it, it made that nice "tinkle" sound as it cooled down in the garage.

thewiz- Give it a try, olebiker shares my sentiment that I finally gave in to... May as well uncover any weakness and blow it up now! I sure don't run it hard and hang it up wet, not my style, but the engine on a bike (IMO) isn't meant to troll around all day in the lower half of the rev range otherwise the top end circuit in the carb never gets "used" and maybe gunks up a jet or gets a bit of junk in there that compromises performance.

Definitely, blow the cobwebs out now and then for best results!

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Bonser,

You've discovered what I've tried to tell folks about the XS11. IT's a performance machine, and likes to run in the higher rpms. I OFTEN rap it up to 7.5-8.5k rpm, and run it in 4th at 60mph at times more than 5th.

There could also have been a fair amount of carbon buildup from the PO running it in the lower 1/2 of the rpms most of the time, along with like you said, local short trips where it didn't get a chance to reach full operating temps to BURN OFF the carbon, etc.! Congrats on getting it to behave, and enjoy the POWER!
T.C.

[planedick]

No cobwebs

I don't think I have any cobwebs in mine. Hammer it hard all the time. Most bikes and all I have owned before would be garbage by now. These things can really take it and just to seem to love it.

[Bonz]

Yeah, 10-4 on using it to make power!

[Bonz]

Oh, BTW, when the tach swings past 6k the tach needle begins to "float" and then steadied out from 7k-8k. I am not worried about it since I don't spend much time there, but what's the consensus on that?

[Poprock]

running better

Two things will help clean up a fuel system: 1) Sea Foam in the gas. 2 oz. per gallon. I use it all the time. 2) Lucas Fuel Treatment. Both help a bike run cleaner and stronger. Boost's mileage too.

[Bonz]

I've done all the seafoam, lucas gas treatment, etc. I've run some or both of the above in each tank since I got the bike . Not sure how much more of it would be needed to make a further difference.

I feel pretty good that running it hard up through the rev range helped clean it out. The fuel system cleaners, etc may well have helped loosen things up so they could be blown out.

Thanks guys, appreciate the ideas.

[snowdog51]

pump it up

i ride my bike like i stoled it and it runs like
a thief in the nite.

as ever bill

[dbeardslee]

Prometheus pointed out in a previous thread that the carbs are made out of some pretty cheap metal. It oxidizes. When you start running 'em again some of that stuff comes off and goes floating through the carbs. I cleaned my carbs four times and ran many tanks of seafoam before I finally got all that crap out of the carbs. Just an FYI.

[cloerts]

stutter

I ran the snot out of frank last night on the way home from work, seems to have cleared up that low end stutter for the time being, I guess I need to hit 8k in 2nd gear more often.

[81xsproject]

You're abusing your 11 by NOT taking it to 8k often. My bike may have had some cob webs when I got it, but none since My buddy who is into old porsches calls it the Italian Tune-up (I am italian ). He says take a car to red line in as many gears as you can. If it's been a while since the vehicle was ran that way, it runs better afterward every time.