New Here XJ 1100 Maxim- Good ?

[alhntr]

I will be looking at a XJ 1100 Maxim with 40,00 miles. Super clean well taken care of. Can get this for 1350. Are these great bikes and is this a good deal. If I like it I might buy it.

[rombat]

I have had my 1100 Maxim for 15 years, very reliable bike. Make sure to check for 2nd gear trouble. Mine was stripped before I bought it, have lived without 2nd all these years.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Al,

The XJ Maxim was the last of the series started in 1978..the XS11 "E", every year it advances a letter, 79f, 80G, 81H, but they skipped "I" so the 82 is XJ1100J. The bikes were the fastest/strongest in 78, and then slowly detuned every year due to the EPA and other crap around that time period.

The XJ is more complicated with a fancier electronic system, the ignition system has both centrifugal and vacuum advance curves built/programmed into it, no moving parts aside from the reluctor on the side of the engine. But the TCI can fail, and because they were only made for 1 production year, they are more rare and more $$$.

It has the linked brake system...left front caliper and right rear are actuated with the foot brake, the front lever only actuates the right front caliper.

The styling is a bit more cruiser that tourer. The gears have a known weakness because they are square cut dogs/slots and can round off causing them to pop out of engagement. 2nd gear was the more common one in the earlier years, but the later models seemed to experience 1st gear skipping first, but they are both more probably because of the stress and more frequent use vs. the higher gears. The fix can be done without splitting the cases, but does involve a decent level of mechanical ability and tools!

That price is decent if it truly is in turnkey condition. Check the born on date on the tires....oval stamp with 4 numbers on the sidewall, first 2 are the week, 2nd 2 are the year of production. If they are close to 6 years old, you'll be needing to get new ones anyways no matter how deep the current tread is because the old tires harden and get slippery with age!!

T.C.

PS, Rombat.....have you seen the Dremel Fix tech tip....you can repair the skip without splitting the cases, if 2nd is gone, there's a good chance you'll eventually loose 1st and possibly even 3rd.

[rombat]

Yes I have thought about tackling the dremel fix. By not fixing second am I increasing the chance of 1st or 3rd trouble ? I use the bike as a road cruiser and just engage 2nd but do not bump the throttle, just move on to 3rd.

[Prothec]

Depending on your level of experience with buying a motorcycle, it would be a good idea to read through this, in the Tech Tips / Miscellaneous section:

http://www.xs11.com/xs11-info/tech-t...otorcycle.html

[DGXSER]

Buying a used bike

The XJ is one I have not owned myself. A very good friend owned an XJ750 for years. It was his brother in laws before he got it. Nothing I have seen on this forum would indicate the XJ is any less desirable than the XS.

HERE is a guide I found quite useful when looking at used bikes.

[jjz28]

there is a very nice one here in wv for $1200 and I was thinking about getting it. You tube has some good vids of them. Just like the xs1100, they are very strong, fast bikes in my opinion.

[Yahman]

I love my XJ1100. It's one of the best bikes I've owned.



Ride safe,
Larry

[Axel]

XJ1100K - yup

almost 80,000 kms and counting