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Power Quandry
Hello all,
I've been coming to this board over the years and have used most of the information available and found it to be excellent.
I have owned 2 XS11s in the last 6 years. My First was a 79 Special that Used to reside in a cow pasture. I traded it for a beater of a car. After a few months spent cleaning and tweaking it I put it on the road and instantly found the meaning of life. I road that XS for 2 years and never had a problem with it.
My wife and I had another child and I had to trade it for an extended cab truck to fit us all. During this time I also bought a Goldwing from the Junkyard for $300 and rebuilt it. That 81 GL1100 is still running strong ond is only 65000 miles young.
With the goldwing I was still missing the feeling of the ride I got on the XS. So last year I talked my wife into letting me get another bike. So, the hunt was on for an XS. Within the first week I meet this guy who said he had a friend with one in his garage. He said it had been there for as long as he could remember. I went over to his house and Caught a glimpse of it under some burlap sacks.
It wasn't a 79 Special but an 80 standard with Fairing. Got a closer look and to my amasement only 15000 miles on it. The paint was emaculate and the seat was still all in one piece.
I asked this guy what he wanted for it and he told me that it hadn't been driven for at least 15 years and hadn't been registered Since 1982. He siad that it would probably not be worth much and said I could take it for $150 Cash. SOLD!!! I exclamed, pulled out the cash and loaded the bike into the back of my truck.
I got the bike home and opened the tank it was totally empty of gas but had an oily film in it. It had no rust, no goo, and the oily film was easy to wipe out.
Drained the oil wich was still a golden color and fild it back up after changing the filter. Filled the tank and watched for a minute or two for leaks. No Leaks
Replaced the battery, Set the Choke, Put in the key and turned it on, pressed the starter button and it came to life. Little sputtery, and didn't have the throttle response it should but I decided it was running good enough to take it for a spin anyway. took it for a 5 mile around the block drive and it drove and handled great. I could tell right away though that the carbs needed cleaned because it was hesitant at some points and it didn't have that snap your neck acceleration I was used to on the 79 Special.
I have thoroughly cleaned the carbs out 3 times. But it still seems to be lacking power. first through third has good power but in any gear if I wrench on the throttle it doesnt jump and accelerate like it should. Don't get me wrong it still goes faster but not like I think it should. 5th gear however has almost no acceleration at all. I remember being able to wrench on the gas in fifth and it wiould feel like I dropped a gear and instantly overtook anyone on the 79.
Whats the deal with this one? am I hoping for too much? Any help would be appreciated.
Sorry for the long post.
On a more postive note. My old 79 XS is in good hands, My brother bought it from the guy I gave it to for my truck. So, its back in the family.
Thanks in advance.
I've been coming to this board over the years and have used most of the information available and found it to be excellent.
I have owned 2 XS11s in the last 6 years. My First was a 79 Special that Used to reside in a cow pasture. I traded it for a beater of a car. After a few months spent cleaning and tweaking it I put it on the road and instantly found the meaning of life. I road that XS for 2 years and never had a problem with it.
My wife and I had another child and I had to trade it for an extended cab truck to fit us all. During this time I also bought a Goldwing from the Junkyard for $300 and rebuilt it. That 81 GL1100 is still running strong ond is only 65000 miles young.
With the goldwing I was still missing the feeling of the ride I got on the XS. So last year I talked my wife into letting me get another bike. So, the hunt was on for an XS. Within the first week I meet this guy who said he had a friend with one in his garage. He said it had been there for as long as he could remember. I went over to his house and Caught a glimpse of it under some burlap sacks.
It wasn't a 79 Special but an 80 standard with Fairing. Got a closer look and to my amasement only 15000 miles on it. The paint was emaculate and the seat was still all in one piece.
I asked this guy what he wanted for it and he told me that it hadn't been driven for at least 15 years and hadn't been registered Since 1982. He siad that it would probably not be worth much and said I could take it for $150 Cash. SOLD!!! I exclamed, pulled out the cash and loaded the bike into the back of my truck.
I got the bike home and opened the tank it was totally empty of gas but had an oily film in it. It had no rust, no goo, and the oily film was easy to wipe out.
Drained the oil wich was still a golden color and fild it back up after changing the filter. Filled the tank and watched for a minute or two for leaks. No Leaks
Replaced the battery, Set the Choke, Put in the key and turned it on, pressed the starter button and it came to life. Little sputtery, and didn't have the throttle response it should but I decided it was running good enough to take it for a spin anyway. took it for a 5 mile around the block drive and it drove and handled great. I could tell right away though that the carbs needed cleaned because it was hesitant at some points and it didn't have that snap your neck acceleration I was used to on the 79 Special.
I have thoroughly cleaned the carbs out 3 times. But it still seems to be lacking power. first through third has good power but in any gear if I wrench on the throttle it doesnt jump and accelerate like it should. Don't get me wrong it still goes faster but not like I think it should. 5th gear however has almost no acceleration at all. I remember being able to wrench on the gas in fifth and it wiould feel like I dropped a gear and instantly overtook anyone on the 79.
Whats the deal with this one? am I hoping for too much? Any help would be appreciated.
Sorry for the long post.
On a more postive note. My old 79 XS is in good hands, My brother bought it from the guy I gave it to for my truck. So, its back in the family.
Thanks in advance.
Then again, you might also want to check your rotors next time you have it out for a spin. Run it up to speed for a while, then try to more or less coast to a stop, with a minimal amount of brake application. If things are working properly, the rotors should be cold to the touch. If they are at all warm, and especially if they are hot to the touch, they are dragging too much. That may be where some of your power is going.
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