Inherited a non-running XS1100

[xs1100noob]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some help getting my 1980 XS1100 Special back on the road. This bike was my grandfather's, and it's been sitting in my garage for about a decade since he passed.

It doesn't run, but it seems to be in good overall condition. I've called a few local shops, and unfortunately, none of them will work on a bike this old.

I have zero motorcycle mechanic skills, but I'm really willing to learn. My main question is: Do these older bikes require a high degree of skill to work on? Would taking on this project be foolish?

Any advice or recommendations on where to start would be greatly appreciated!

[bikerphil]

If you can repair things around your home, you should be able to tackle this. You really don't have much choice anyway, that's what this forum is for. Not super difficult. There is a wealth of information on here for whatever you need to do.

[Radioguylogs]

XS11's are simple, bulletproof, reliable, and easy to work on.

With the help on this forum, you should have no problem.

[DEEBS11]

Blow compressed air over the spark plugs (to get rid of grit) and remove them. Put about a shot glass of Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder and re-install the plugs. Let the bike sit for about a week before you try turning over the engine. This will free up the rings from sitting for so long.

Your main areas of repair are most likely carbs and hydraulics. Carbs first to get the engine running (check your airbox for mouse nest material). Hydraulics after so you can have brakes in order to ride.

You can clean the tank with apple cider vinegar. It does a great job.

[gtem]

The two big questions are: are you patient, and are you willing to learn? The resources are all there, it just takes a certain kind of person that is willing to take the time to look at directions, and wrap their mind around how things like carburetors, ignition systems, etc work. The most common butchery I see happen to bikes is when someone who isn't patient enough to step back, take a breath, and sometimes research something they've never done before. Like how to extract a fragile brass pilot jet out of an aluminum carb body, when it's been gummed up with ancient fuel. Buying a few specific tools (JIS screwdriver bits), high quality parts (not generic chinese crap off of amazon).

[DiverRay]

If you do not have the service manual for the bike, send me a pm. I have pdf's of the manuals on my computer, free to anyone who needs it. The manual is the first thing you will need, so you have the correct order of doing things when you dig into some of small projects that together will give you a great running bike.
You should also list your location, as we are scattered across the U.S. and the world. There may be someone "local" who can drop in and show you a few things if you need the help. Your grandfather had great taste in motorcycles!

[cajun31]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for some help getting my 1980 XS1100 Special back on the road. This bike was my grandfather's, and it's been sitting in my garage for about a decade since he passed.

It doesn't run, but it seems to be in good overall condition. I've called a few local shops, and unfortunately, none of them will work on a bike this old.

I have zero motorcycle mechanic skills, but I'm really willing to learn. My main question is: Do these older bikes require a high degree of skill to work on? Would taking on this project be foolish?

Any advice or recommendations on where to start would be greatly appreciated!

Completely fill out your profile. That will give us more information about you and your location. As all have already stated these bikes are much easier to work on versus a new bike. You have to decide up front how much you are willing to invest in the project. As has been mentioned you will need to invest in the proper tools and we always recommend as close to oem parts as possible. Over the years we have seen and or experienced the problems that inferior parts cause. The parts from China are the parts you absolutely want to stay away from. A good quality set of JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) screwdrivers and a good impact wrench with JIS bits is a must. All the screws are JIS and if you use American standard screwdrivers and bits you will more than likely round the screwheads off.
Don't take a bull in the china shop approach with the bike. It can be frustrating and like was mentioned the best approach is to take a step back and ask the right questions. We have been through everything and can give you good sound advice on how to proceed. Take up Diver Ray's offer to get a manual.

You stated the bike has sat up for a decade. How was it stored? What I am asking, was the bike properly prepped before sitting up? If the bike sat up with gas in the tank and the carbs then what you are facing is going to be more work than if it was properly stored. Gas drained with and the tank properly fogged with an oil based fogger and carbs drained is the way to store for long periods. The type of gas that was used before storing is also going to be a factor in how much cleanup you are facing. Ethanol does strange things when left sitting. Ethanol free does far less damage. Based on how long the bike has been sitting, either would have turned into a chemistry experiment at this point. I am not saying in the least that the bike is in a state that it can not be brought back to life. It can and this forum and the knowledge of the folks here can get you up and running. You just have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and be patient in your approach. Don't be bashful about telling someone that you don't understand and need further instructions.

Start with giving us a bit more on the history of the bike. When did your grandfather acquire the bike and what all did he do to it during the time he owned it? What were his skills concerning the maintenance and upkeep of the bike? Did he work on it? Did he modify anything or upgrade anything? Are the exhaust pipes original or aftermarket and what condition are they in? What does the inside of the gas tank look like?

You are feeling overwhelmed but believe me when I say many have been in the same spot and been successful with the help of this forum.

[xs1100noob]

Thanks for all the insights, everyone! I've been giving more thought to the motorcycle, and it's clear it's been in storage for over a decade. My grandfather rode it quite a bit in the 80s and 90s (it has 11k miles), but stopped when he became ill with cancer. After he passed in 2005, my uncle took possession of the bike and rode it for a while. However, when it needed servicing, he put it in his garage, where it sat until his passing in 2012. That's when I inherited it, and it's been in my garage ever since.

I wouldn't say it was properly stored at any point. Even during its prime, I don't believe it was well-serviced. Neither my grandfather nor my uncle were strong mechanics; they took it to shops when needed.

Last year, I drained the old gas, did my best to clear out the gunk and rust from the tank, and then filled it with fresh fuel. I installed a new battery. The engine turns over, but it just won't start.

I'll expand my profile, but I am in Southern California.

[DiverRay]

What I would do first is pull all 4 plugs and put about two or three ounces of Automatic trans fluid in each hole. Put the plugs back in just about two turns to keep everything out, and let it set overnight. This will loosen the rings and fight any rust that may have formed in the bores.
While the ATF is working you could check the valve clearance, as that is something that MUST be done every 10 to 12K. The valves on this machine will close up as they wear, not get larger. If not checked, you can burn a valve.
The carbs will probably need to be pulled and cleaned, but do NOT replace any jets! To start with the carbs still on, buy a spray can of Berryman's B12 carb cleaner, squirt a little into each carb, ad try to start. If it fires, you should be able to keep it running for a minute buy moving the cleaner across the intakes of all 4 carbs.
Mike lives part time in San Diego, and part time in Philly. Not sure if he's on the West coast at the moment. He is good with these bikes, as he's had his for years.

[cajun31]

With only 11 thousand miles that bike is well worth saving. As I stated in my first post you have to decide how much money you are willing to budget up front to get the bike running. How bad was the tank? A lot of the gunk is from the fuel left in it for years, however some may be rust. Hopefully just surface rust. You can search this forum concerning what Deebs mentioned about apple cider vinegar. It really works wonders on cleaning the surface rust off inside the tank. It is mild enough to clean and if you spill it on the outside of the tank it does not hurt the paint. Any debris from the tank that gets in the carbs is not good. I would presume that you still have the original gas filters installed. They are on the inside of the tank basically standing up on each petcock. They are still available to purchase for your bike. Partzilla is a good source to get parts. OEM Yamaha Motorcycle Parts | Partzilla.com. Ray mentioned adjusting the valves. If has never been done with 11k on the bike it is probably a good idea to check this. You will absolutely need a manual and a special tool to do that. You will also need replacement valve bucket shims in case you need them. You are probably already feeling like I am going to be spending money. Yes you will and is the reason I ask how much you are willing to spend. All the things you need will be needed in the future if you plan on keeping the bike. Once you get it running you will see what a thrill they are to ride. First thing you need to do is get the bike to run. Barring that nothing else is worth the money or the effort. Getting the tank clean will help but there are ways to bypass the tank with a temporary tank. Again, buying something that you might or might not need in the future. You have to make sure that if you clean the carbs they are not getting crap back in them from the tank. You will need to remove and disassemble the carbs in order to inspect and clean them. What Ray is suggesting with the Berryman's is to simply get the bike running just to see if it will. Sounds to me like when your uncle had the bike it did run so I would presume it will again. You mentioned you bought a battery last year. What have you done since as far as keeping the battery charged and in good condition. If nothing you need to buy a trickle charger for it. I recommend a battery minder from Northern Tools. You have to have a good fully charged battery to get the bike to start properly. At full charge it will be at 13 to 13.2 volts. Down the road a bit you will also need to replace the tires. No matter what they look like, as old as they are they will need to be replaced. Not safe. Tires no matter how they look get hard over time and lose their elasticity meaning failure and not gripping the road properly.

[xs1100noob]

Got it - thanks again for the tips. I don't mind spending some cash on the bike, it's more of a family heirloom to me than something I'm hoping to be practical. This is something to point to and say "Grandpa loved that bike". I'll make it a project for me and my youngest son. I'll start scouring the internet for beginner tutorials since it sounds like bringing it back to life isn't a fool's errand. Is this Cylmer's manual worth picking up?

The battery is toast, I'll just get another one and not let it die. I'll get some JIS screwdrivers, any other specialized tools I should pick up?

[cajun31]

Some things you need to get going. Yamaha Xs1100 Valve Adjustment Tool for sale | eBay, Yamaha Xs1100 29mm Valve Shim Kit for sale | eBay, JIS Screwdriver Set for sale | eBay, JIS Impact Driver for sale | eBay. Of course there are other sources for these items but this will give you an idea of how much money is involved to get going. BatteryMINDer Plus Battery Charger/Trickle Charger/Desulfator, 12 Volt, 1 Amp, Model# 12117TC | Northern Tool, I noticed on their website there are no stores in California but you can order from them online. Clymer's has color pictures in it but there are some typos and mistakes in it. You can download a manual from here to get started Ringler.us | My Bike

[bikerphil]

The best mechanics for working on our bikes are us, the actual owners. These machines have idiosyncracies that we know all about and a pro bike mechanic probably wouldn't.

[DiverRay]

For the manual, send me a PM. I made a pdf of my original 1978 XS1100 Service manual, and have pdf's of the later manuals as well. It may take a few emails, as some of the info will not fit in a one or two meg file. The Clymers is also good to have, as the pictures are better. They were printed for the owners, the Yamaha shop manual was printed for the Yamaha mechanics first, customers second.