1980 XS1100SG Special in the Philippines + pics and vid

[hanger10]

Howdy all! Thank you so much for this forum. I live on the island of Cebu, in the Philippines, and, last year, got ahold of a very nice Special. Mechanical know how and help here are very hard to get done exactly right, and this forum has helped me greatly on a number of issues. Here is a new question. I did a search, and read all, but didnt find this question. My bike had 19,000 miles on it when I bought it. It runs great, but has made noise exactly like noisy valves. My mechanic here shimmed the vavles, and it still makes the noise. He says it is the timing chain, and I am very afraid to have anyone here mess with it. Does it sound to you like that may be it?? Also, here is a vid and some pics of my latest work on the bike. Take care, merry Christmas, and mabuhay from Liloan, Cebu!!!


Randy

vid- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu_lGnhbYP8

[fredintoon]

- - - My bike had 19,000 miles on it when I bought it. It runs great, but has made noise exactly like noisy valves. My mechanic here shimmed the valves, and it still makes the noise. He says it is the timing chain, and I am very afraid to have anyone here mess with it. Does it sound to you like that may be it?? Also, here is a vid and some pics of my latest work on the bike. Take care, merry Christmas, and mabuhay from Liloan, Cebu!!!
Randy

Hi Randy,
merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you.
At 19,000 miles your bike is just about run in. At that mileage I'm surprised the valves needed shimming and no way should it need a replacement timing chain.
The timing chain may need adjustment. The adjustment is all done from the outside and only takes a few minutes to do. Check this list's tech sections for the exact procedure.
BTW, my late father-in-law claimed he could drive his car another 5,000 miles before getting the engine rebuilt simply by turning his hearing aid off while he drove.

[Montreux_Blue]

This engine sounds normal to me, see how it compares to what yours sounds like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyUJTCeJaq4

[Larrym]

Noise Level is OK

hanger10,

Your bike sounds comparably to mine which has less than 15K on the odometer.
Like you, I was concerned about the "top-end" noise and then performed the Cam Chain Tensioner adjustment per the repair manual. (It is a "sequentially sensitive" procedure where you do this, that, then another this in a specific order per the manual...) Relatively no change in the noise afterwards though.

That's ok. I mean the "noise." It isn't like the motor is in a car where there's an engine compartment with sound deadening material every where and a firewall between your ears and the motor. Nor does the XS use hydraulic lifters to further quiet valve train noise. I'm impressed that it's as quiet as it is. I say it's supposed to sound like a well adjusted sewing machine and after a while you get accustomed to it. As a bonus, if it ever sounds a little "off", you can take a look at things/correct problems.

Don't forget that there are other parts of the site here: Ride reports! As long as you've got that video cam and a willing passenger/cameraman, a trip round the island to make a video of the beautiful place you live/ride your XS seems to make sense. Just tell your passenger to hold on tight and let them know beforehand if you're gonna blip the throttle: You're holding on with both hands and they're using just one!!

[fredintoon]

About the noise

Hi again Randy,
there's an urban legend about a 1930's correspondence between Ettoire Bugatti and a customer:-
Customer:- "I just bought a Bugatti and the engine sounds like a bucket full of ball bearings being poured onto a steel plate."
Bugatti:- "From what you describe, the engine is running perfectly."

[rover]

philippines

Hi, Randy, I think I wrote to you many months back. I also am married to a Philippine lady. She is there now, Luzon Island, Tarlac City, north of Manila. Her mom passed away Dec 18. Your bike really looks nice. I did one of mine up pretty a few years back, but they use so much salt and other chemicals on the roads here in the winter, and it takes a long time for the rain to wash the roads clean. Polishing would be a never ending process, so now I just do the maintenance, and ride them. I have been to Tarlac City 4 times now, and the roads are pathetic. When I am there, I ride my bro-in-law's Chinese bike. That is also pathetic. Paalam, Rover, AKA Jerry