Possible Starter motor issue?

[kristo.thaler@gmail.com]

My bike has been having issues in first gear. It doesn't get sustained power (I believe) as it will cough and catch and is by no means smooth. As soon as I hit second gear, she roars. Also, Can anyone tell me what the top speed on an xj1100 should be? Mine doesn't go above 95 and I feel like it should go much faster than that!

[tcoop]

I have had my XJ1100 over 110 mph. Exact speed is not known. I believe in theory the top speed is 133 mph.

[CatatonicBug]

Yeah, if tuned properly, you should have no issues getting over 100mph. Might feel a bit of vibration as you get faster than that, but 95 is definitely NOT the top end.

Coughing is usually related to fuel, air or spark problems. If it goes fine in 2nd, it may be that your reg/rect is not sending enough juice to the plugs at lower RPMs, or there are some ports in your carbs that need additional cleaning. Be sure your reg/rect is properly grounded to the frame (I put a dab of anti-sieze in the screw holes) and the connectors are free of corrosion. Does your tach look smooth as you accelerate at lower RPMs?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Kristo,

You're saying coughing, but I'm thinking you mean hesitating or even jerking, sorta like skipping! I've seen several XJ11's that developed the 1st gear skipping before the 2nd gear, along with my 81SH. Don't know why, it may be anecdotal but the later model bikes trannies seem to loose 1st gear first, and then 2nd shortly thereafter, that's how mine presented. One XJ11 I worked on was skipping so badly that anything above idle would cause it to skip out of gear like a machine gun.

TRY rolling on the throttle slowly and easily in 1st slowly trying to increase the rpms and see if it stays smooth up to 6k or so, then you can slow down and try it again with more throttle and see if you THEN experience the skipping. IF it doesn't seem to skip with gentle throttle input, but then does under heavy throttle input, then it's your gears!
Also, you can shift quickly into 2nd gear just after getting rolling so that your rpms are very low ie. 2k or so, and then also do a strong throttle rollon, and if it responds normally and doesn't skip getting up to 6 k rpm, then it's not your carbs or ignition because they would act up the same way in either gear at the same rpms whether in 1st or 2nd.

My bet is that the 1st/2nd gear dremmel fix is in your future.

T.C.

[trbig]

Top speed for my XJ is 85 mph.. Cause the speedo says so!

[motoman]

Top speed for my XJ is 85 mph.. Cause the speedo says so!

My Venturer registers the same thing Tod.....so must be correct.

[mlew]

I have had mine at 9500 rpm in 5th gear , that works to a little over 140. If I had another gear it would have gone faster. You should have no problem getting 100.