My first XS11? Advice please!

[newtoXS11]

http://s806.photobucket.com/albums/yy343/newtoxs11cs/

That's the link to my album with all kinds of pictures and videos with the engine noise. Sorry about not hotlinking the individual pics but I didn't resize them and didn't want to cause excessive scrolling against anyone's will.

I've got the clymer book and nothing really looks to be beyond my amateur mechanical capabilities. I much prefer to be working on an inline as opposed to another V engine.

I've got the bike being held for me while I try to get rid of the Virago. BTW the seat on this thing is almost punishment from god... I keep sliding forward and chaffing my inner thighs and ass. Can anyone recommend a seat that offers a little more relaxed position and maybe isn't like sitting sideways on a stadium bench?

[BigRed]

Ok... granted it's hard to really get a good listen with cell phone video, but to me it sounded like you've got some extra rattling going on in there. If you're lucky, adjusting your cam chain will get rid of that. After you adjust your cam chain, I'd put a strong magnet on your oil drain plug, go for a ride, then change your ail and filter to make sure you don't have an oil pan full of shavings (I'm not trying to scare you; I don't think that's likely... it's just easy to check, and something I do with new bikes).

The way it sounded in the video, I wouldn't ride it without at least adjusting the cam chain. It's real quick and easy.

Looks like a great bike... the paint job on the tank certainly looks interesting... you probably couldn't get it to do that if you were trying

[newtoXS11]

Ok... granted it's hard to really get a good listen with cell phone video, but to me it sounded like you've got some extra rattling going on in there. If you're lucky, adjusting your cam chain will get rid of that. After you adjust your cam chain, I'd put a strong magnet on your oil drain plug, go for a ride, then change your ail and filter to make sure you don't have an oil pan full of shavings (I'm not trying to scare you; I don't think that's likely... it's just easy to check, and something I do with new bikes).

The way it sounded in the video, I wouldn't ride it without at least adjusting the cam chain. It's real quick and easy.

Looks like a great bike... the paint job on the tank certainly looks interesting... you probably couldn't get it to do that if you were trying

Sadly, that's not the cellphone video. That's from my Canon Powershot A40 that I got for $300 back in '00. Helluva deal at the time with TWO WHOLE MEGAPIXEL resolution.

Also, that's not a paint "job" so much as a paint "disaster." It turns flat black when a little bit of sun hits the tank and warms it up, otherwise it looks like absolute ****.

[newtoXS11]

T-minus 4 hours

So I've got mere hours before I hand over the rest of the money and get the title. I hate to bump a thread myself but I'd really like more verdicts on if this is normal for a loose cam chain. Also, there's a "slapping" sound in the engine that gets louder the warmer the bike is. Assuming the worst - that this thing is spitting metal like sunflower seeds - am I looking at more trouble than it's worth?

I'm thinking of offering the rest of the money in cash up to $700 total - after all, it needs engine work, a paint job, and a new rear tire. Opinions? Am I already getting a great deal and would I come across as a dick?

[fredintoon]

I'm thinking of offering the rest of the money in cash up to $700 total - after all, it needs engine work, a paint job, and a new rear tire. Opinions? Am I already getting a great deal and would I come across as a dick?

Hi newto,
OK, you saw the bald tire and the unique tank paint and you heard the motor run before you made the deal, right?
I'd say either pay the agreed price and be happy with your bargain or back out of the deal and hope the seller will give you at least some of the down-payment back.
Whinin' for a discount because your new e-friends say the engine sounds rattly would indeed make you come across as a dick.

[DGXSER]

That is definitely an XJ. Now it will make parts a little harder to come by as it was only made one year here in the USA.

Are you getting a great deal, well, I do not recall your stating the agreed to price, if it was agreed to. Besides, one price can be a steal for you or feel like your getting held up depending on each persons outlook at the same exact thing.

If you already agreed on the deal, then either walk away completely or man up to the price you agreed to in my opinion. The question to ask is, what changed about the bike or his offer since you made the agreement. If nothing is the answer then nothing is the change to be made.

If the engine is shot, well, another engine can be had for under $200 anyway, maybe $100. Most of the engine parts, or even the entire engine are interchangable form year to year and model to model for all XS and XJ 1100 models. ITs once you get past the head on the exhaust side, or the carbs on the intake side that everything changes on the XJ.

Listening to the video, at least as far as what it captured, I do not hear anything out of the ordinary.

[jwhughes3]

I thought it sounded kinda normal...

neither of my XS's purrs like a sewing machine Honda - but they still run like a banshee.

I agree the paint could use some of that As Seen on TV polish where they take a junker and make it look new again

John

[klrconcours]

Just listened to your video. Sounds just like mine. I think it's absolutely fine.

[newtoXS11]

About 15 minutes after I sold my Virago 750 I called the seller for the XS1100. He decided not to sell it after I'd put money down - some story about owing his brother and he'd only end up with $400 from the sale and bla bla bla. This was on Saturday, about 3 hours before I had to go to the Road Rebels' party.

So yay, biker party with no bike... not saying a 750 Virago is the be-all-end-all of machinery, but it's better than nothing.

Today I picked up a Virago 920 with every accessory except the bags and trunk. It only cost me what I sold the 750 for but it's in a bit rougher shape (battery, pipes, and rear tire need replacing). I think I can clean it up a bit and turn it for a profit, but if nothing else I'd just want enough to afford a different bike. There's a few I'm looking at already so hopefully this stopgap bike won't be around long enough for me to monkey with it too much.

[CatatonicBug]

Man, that sucks!! That dude deserves a kick in the groin! Hopefully, you'll be able to flip that new Virago soon, and get into a different XS11!

[crazy steve]

Another vote on staying away from the 'stealership'; I bought mine new, and they didn't know how to work on these then. You might find a indy that knows about these, but it's not very likely.

Welcome to the site!

'78E original owner

[newtoXS11]

I know how to work on Viragos; my dad had a 920 when I was a kid... his was a terrible mechanical nightmare that I helped him with thanks to having tiny hands and we turned it into something beautiful. He ended up putting a full dresser on it and traded it for a fully dressed Goldwing in mint condition.

All of my favorite cars have been I4's so as long as I'm getting an XS without gear issues (as I understand to involve engine splitting) I think I can handle things, especially since I'll probably only put 2000 miles on it over the next 5 years.

I may have found another XS1100 though. Half as many miles and much better condition (and paint) and he's asking $900 (which I think I can get for the Virago after I get it back to glory). It's an '81 and I believe it to be the Special... This is based off of pics found on bikez.com of both the '81 xs1100 and the '81 xs1100 S. If anyone can provide any new insights that'd be great.

I have an old beater car that he might be interested in trading for!

HA HA! Hittin' you with the pics right off the BAT!

EDIT: I am going to rent a storage unit... I have a lot of stuff anyway and for some reason I always end up with a surplus of motorized things when it's warm. I'm like a friggin' 80's yamaha garage this summer, and I still have a drag car and a retired pizza hauler to get rid of!

[DGXSER]

Looks pretty nice. It has a few mods or "upgrades" to it. Those wheels look either like XJ or 81 MNS wheels, the swirly pattern thing. I've never owned or seen in person a MNS, but those gages do not look like any XS11 gages I have ever seen. The tank in that light at those angles seems a little more tear dropped like an XJ tank.

Over all, nice looking bike, if you like the swirly wheels.

[CatatonicBug]

Interesting configuration there... Definitely a Special, but there are a few things that have been changed. Is it just me, or is there no rear brake caliper?? The tank looks like a Special to me though. The wheels, however, are definitely from an XJ.

To do the tranny fix (AKA, 2nd gear fix), you don't need to split the cases. It's an easy way to get an XS cheap, and take it home and fix it.

[crazy steve]

...Is it just me, or is there no rear brake caliper??

Hard to tell, but it looks like the rear caliper is hanging down. Must have been fun to bleed. The gauges look to be units off a late 70s/early 80s XJ 650.

'78E original owner