New here , just snagged a 1980 xs1100

[TDodge7]

hey , I'm Tim . and this is what I just picked up for $100 , not too shabby huh ? can't wait to get it going . anyone know which model it is for when I order parts ? I can't tell if it's an LG or a SG . I know it's not a midnight special because the engine isn't black , and the PO repainted the bike black (did a pretty good job too)

[DiverRay]

It's an SG. The LG IS the Midnight Special, The SG is the Special, And the G is the Standard. 1978 was E, '79 is F, and '80 G. Parts should NOT be too hard to fins, other than side covers! As you have them, no problems! Welcome to the madness that is XSessive!! If you look in the FAQ you should be able to find the link on "what to look for in a neglected bike". This, AFTER you go through the carbs, should be all you need.

[TDodge7]

cool , thanks . any idea if I can add a kick starter to this bike? I see where it would have been . is it as simple as buying all the kick starter parts from an older bike or did yamaha actually change the engine case when they got rid of the kicker ?

[petejw]

Hi Tim,
Nice bike and welcome to the forum.
The kick starter can be installed but cant remember
if the cases have to be split to put it in.

[b.walker5]

cool , thanks . any idea if I can add a kick starter to this bike? I see where it would have been . is it as simple as buying all the kick starter parts from an older bike or did yamaha actually change the engine case when they got rid of the kicker ?

Nice find for 100 bucks. As Ray has said, it's a 1980 SG. The cases are the same but Yamaha deleted the kickstarter on these models as they generally weren't required, mine has never failed to start on the electric start in 10 years of ownership, unless something was wrong, and then the kicker wouldnt start it anway. Previous models had a kick start shaft but the lever was in the tool kit for emergencies and had to be fitted when required. Most never got used. If your battery is kept in good nick and the electrics well maintained you should never need the kicker and the work required to fit it wouldn't be worth it, unless you need to split the cases for some other reason.

[TDodge7]

oh , yeah i'm just used to kickers , guess i'll get used to not having one . today i'm going to see if i can get it going . i generally wouldn't buy a bike that has 30k on it , but i usually buy smaller bikes and i guess the big bikes last a little longer . i heard of someone with an xs1100 with 260k miles on his . anyone here have a ton of miles on theirs ?

[randy]

$100 bucks? There oughtta be a law... You stole it!

Yeah, we all have lots of miles and do lots of miles on 'em. Got mine in '04 with 28K on it, got 41K now. Had an 81 special, got it with 19K, sold it with 38K. They go a long time if you care for' em. Welcome to the show.

[Bigleo]

100 bucks

Looks like you got a great bike for a $100. I took off the cylinders on mine at 30k to install a big bore kit. The factory crosshatch on the cylinder walls was still visible, the intake valves were still totally tight in the guides. The exhaust valves had developed a tiny bit of slop, but probably easily would run another 30K. So I'm guesing you have absolutely nothing to worry about, mileagewise.
Leo

[drooker56]

Awsome bike! It looks great. I have a kick start on my 79 f and even warm and at 230 lbs last summer I could barely get it to turn, maybe your better at it than me but kickin a 4 with high compression is pretty tough I nearly knocked it over trying.

[TDodge7]

well i got it to start . the carbs wern't very dirty , the gas was old but still liquid . the pilot jets were the only ones clogged up so i cleaned them . got some gas , hooked up the jumpers and she fired up . but i had the airbox off and it didn't like to rev , so i'm thinking it wanted the restriction of the air box . luckily for me yamaha created the most useless airbox design i've ever had the pleasure of kicking and screaming at . i finally have the top half in , but the bottom half refuses to go on , and the filter seems too tall for it to even be able to close on . so i guess i'll keep messing with that . on the up side it seems to run pretty well , didn't see any smoke . it doesn't seem to want to idle with the choke off tho . now i remember why i don't like working on stuff . is there any tricks to that air box ? on the bottom of the air box there is a plastic ridge the same shape as the air filter , but the air filter isn't big enough to fit around the plastic ridge , almost , but not quite . if it would fit around that i think i would be able to get the bottom of the airbox on .

[DGXSER]

From what you hace described, don't get in to big of a hurry about that airbox. Sounds like you need to pull the carbs and, don't take this to personally but, actually clean them this time. OHhh...and the carbs will come off without removing the air box, but you do need to remove the bolts on the sides and the top bracket to let it slide back. Then pull it ot with the carbs out, much easier. Assmeble it our of the bike a couple times and it will be much easier to do in the bike.

There are ALOT of small passages that all play a part in the choke and the pilot system. Needing the choke to idle after it warms up shows it is running very lean and the pilot circuit is not letting enough gas through. I've only been here about 6 months and still I can not ocunt he numbe rof folks who give the same symtoms and in the end it is a good ole cleaning of the carbs that is needed. Search for the term "triple clean" you will find oodles of threads on it and why it is used.

[John]

Just cram the filter down a little harder. Like the old saying goes 'if it don't fit, force it.' The airbox is intended to come out when the carbs are off, and you have already removed the lower section.

[TDodge7]

they're clean , it wasn't warmed up , it was only running a minute at most . but the po took the airbox completely apart so i had to put that thing back together . but the bottom of the air box refuses to go on ....unless i smash the airfilter , then it'll probably fit , doesn't seem right tho.

[TDodge7]

now that i think about it this filter doesn't look oem . it looks more like those cheap pod filters with the woven metal mesh . anyone have a filter out of their bike that they'd like to measure it's height for me ?

[bikerphil]

Height of K+N stock replacement air filter..... 2 1/2".