Maintenance for Motorcycle and XS1100 newbie

[unicorncomputer]

I just purchased my 79 XS1100 Special last summer. I am new to riding and to the XS1100 family.

I already have had the experience of rebuilding the carbs, fuel petcocks and vacuum syncing the carbs.

My bike has 22k miles on it. I am told that it was garage kept and maintained.

I just ordered the Pingel valve for it since the OCTY is missing.

Are there things that I should look for or do with a bike of this age and mileage?

I am no mechanic, but also am not too afraid of most things except maybe transmission and clutch, they just look scary to work on.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Can't wait for warmer weather(in Vermont) to get the bike started and on the road for spring.

Thank you,

Steve

[bikerphil]

If it has been sitting, check the age of the tires by the date code. They may look Ok but the rubber may have hardened with age. Also make sure the brakes aren't dragging, the fluid can crud up in the system if the bike has sat with no use. Congrats on your Pingel valve, I think you are only the 4th person to fist over the cash for one.

[CaptonZap]

I just purchased my 79 XS1100 Special last summer. I am new to riding and to the XS1100 family.


Are there things that I should look for or do with a bike of this age and mileage?

I am no mechanic, but also am not too afraid of most things except maybe transmission and clutch, they just look scary to work on.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Steve

Go here, http://www.xs11.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=51
and read everything that you think might help.
"Good stuff, Maynard"

CZ

[unicorncomputer]

The bike was rode regularly and I did get to ride it for about 800-1000 miles last summer/fall before I put it up.

When I put it up, I turned off fuel petcocks and let it run out on gas in carbs, I then added some blue stabilizer that local shop recommeded for storage, I also attached my battery tender to maintain battery over winter.

If it has been sitting, check the age of the tires by the date code. They may look Ok but the rubber may have hardened with age. Also make sure the brakes aren't dragging, the fluid can crud up in the system if the bike has sat with no use. Congrats on your Pingel valve, I think you are only the 4th person to fist over the cash for one.

[CatatonicBug]

+1 on the brakes. Remember that stopping is more important than going! IMO, if you did not personally see the brakes get rebuilt, its time to do it again. The rebuild kits are relatively inexpensive, and make for cheap insurance. You may not actually NEED to replace the seals in them, but if you're in there, you might as well. Brake fluid can really get cruddy after a few years, and these bikes are notorious for having under-performing braking systems.

Check the valve clearances, and replace shims as needed. Also, go over each and every electrical connection, especially the ground points. A shot of DeoxIt and some dielectric grease on each connection will save you tons of headaches down the road. You can use anti-seize on the large ground screws, and on the battery posts (and the spark plugs, of course) to keep them corrosion-free and improve conductivity. Take the handlebar switches apart and clean all the contacts inside them as well. You may find that you need to re-solder some of the contacts, especially in the left (headlight/turn signal) switch.

Don't be afraid of the clutch and transmission. They're just metal pieces inside other metal pieces. Only a few things to really watch out for when working on them, and they've all been documented on this site in easy, step-by-step tutorials.

[unicorncomputer]

Thank you. I was thinking to changing the brake pads anyway this spring, but I think I will take your advice and go through them completely. Do you have a link to a site for good inexpensive(i know that they don't always go together) rebuild kits?

Thanks again,

Steve

[fredintoon]

I just purchased my 79 XS1100 Special last summer. I am new to riding and to the XS1100 family. - - - Are there things that I should look for or do with a bike of this age and mileage? - - - Any advice would be appreciated. - - -

Hi Steve,
like they said, check how old the tires are.
If you didn't notice yet (took me 3 months) the engine turns backwards.
And the Special's front brake pads are supposed to be tapered so don't toss them and order new ones like I did.
BTW, the way an XS11 drinks gas it may help you to know that a Standard tank bolts right on and holds another gallon.

[unicorncomputer]

Gas left at the reserve point

Does anybody know how much gas is left if when light comes on, you switch to reserve setting? Just thought it would be good to know how long I have roughly. When I did check mileage prior to carb snyc I was getting about 35mpg.

Steve

[CatatonicBug]

Do you have a link to a site for good inexpensive(i know that they don't always go together) rebuild kits?

Georgefix is a respected seller on ebay, and carries most of these kinds of things at reasonable prices. Of course, there are many other places online to get them as well.

Does anybody know how much gas is left if when light comes on, you switch to reserve setting? Just thought it would be good to know how long I have roughly. When I did check mileage prior to carb snyc I was getting about 35mpg.

I allow about 15 miles of riding once the light comes on. Since the sender unit is a heat-activated thermistor, and only lights the warning light when it is no longer covered by fuel, it can give varied readings, based on current conditions. If you are carving mountain roads, the fuel will be sloshing around and you may not get the light to come on as soon as you would on the superslab.

[DGXSER]

IF you have a field service manual go through all of the maintenance items listed in it. I know the PO said it was ridden regularly, but reality is they are selling something and will generally tell you whatever they think makes it more attractive to you. So unless you know them personally, I would discourage taking their word for things.

Usually, the brake system just needs cleaned it is not very often it actually needs new components. JMHO.

[crazy steve]

Do you have a link to a site for good inexpensive (I know that they don't always go together) rebuild kits?

With only 22K miles and if the brakes are at least semi-working, chances are real good that you can re-use the existing brake seals. You're more likely to find rusty caliper pistons, which may or may not clean up. A great source of replacement pistons (and they have seals too) are these guys: http://www.hvccycle.com/

Make sure you get the correct pads... http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37206 ... and pay particular attention to the front calipers when assembling them onto the forks... http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37207 ... as the Special front brakes can be troublesome if not 'right'.

For the rest, take the offered advice, check things thoroughly, and you'll have a reliable, trouble-free bike..

[dpotter58]

Does anybody know how much gas is left if when light comes on, you switch to reserve setting? Just thought it would be good to know how long I have roughly. When I did check mileage prior to carb snyc I was getting about 35mpg.

Steve

not much...