loss of top end power?

[tbcfreerider]

so i just did a 150 mile round trip on the highway with no problems what so ever, bike rode GREAT. i got home sat around for a few hours then head out to a friends house. got on ther freeway and right at 5k rpm in 5th gear it reved out and no power, only if i was more that 1/4 on throttle. it also does that in 3rd gear too, that happens all the time. but the 5th gear top end, is a hit or miss, any thoughts?

[DGXSER]

If your saying at high RPMS in the upper gears it will just rev up with no power to the wheel, this is classic clutch slippage.

I suggest you lean the bike over on the side stand, remove the clutch cover, pull the clutch springs out, by removing the star plate. And measure the clutch springs for length. I am betting you find them under length. If so, new springs are less than $20 almost anywhere.

[Ivan]

Be careful putting the star plate back in. It breaks easily. Very easily.

[TopCatGr58]

But first read the tech tips on how to do a proper clutch cable adjustment at the ENGINE, not just the handlebars. You may find that you have it set too tight which prevents it from making full contact/grab and can therefore slip under higher rpms and LOAD in higher gears!

If after doing the adjustment, it still slips, then what the others have said, new springs at least depending on what you find when you pull the clutch cover off, may also need new frictions. See tech tips for photos and how to in the Mods section, adding an extra steel plate. You don't have to add a steel, just follow the instructions otherwise, nice pictures!
T.C.

[tbcfreerider]

thanks, is there fluid in the clutch area? sry for the dumb questions, im a great bicycle mechanic, been doing it for 8 yrs, hell worked on bikes that cost more than most of our xs/xj bikes. but when it comes to motorcycles im a noob. can you send me a link to the tech tip with pics?

[DGXSER]

The XS11 uses a "wet" clutch meaning it is soaked in the same oil that goes through the engine and the transmission. If you lean the bike on the side stand (away form the clutch side) the oil level drops below the bottom edge of the clutch pan and you can pull that cover without spilling any (unless you are way over filled).

For tech tips, go to the top of the page, ALL the way up above the pictures of all the XS/XJ bikes, you see the XS11 Info, put your curser over it and look in th edrop down for tech tips. From there it is probably in the Modifications area, but look through all the tech tips so you know what is in there. ALOT of good info in there.