1980 Yamaha XS1100 Midnight Special

[MisTakE]

For some reason, its rated to reach 120 mph in all of the information I can find about the bike, but the speedometer maxes at 80 and everything between 55-80 are in red. I don't need to go 120; hell, I don't even need to go 80. But the instant I am traveling faster than 55mph it starts to sound like an RC car, with a high pitched "wirrrrrr!!!!"

The freeways are set at 60 around here, and most people are traveling 60-70mph- I need to be able to travel these speeds without damaging my bike, as it was supposed to be my new commuter. Is there anybody here familiar with this bike or this problem? I have 1100cc of displacement- that should be more than enough to push the 500lb bike at 60mph without sounding like an over worked engine. Please tell me this is an easily diagnosed issue!

[DEEBS11]

An XS1100 in perfect tune can hit speeds upwards of 130 MPH. Your motorcycle's speedometer is a victim of late 1970's politics via the gas crisis believe it or not. The speedometer issue was created around the Reagan administration and the 55MPH highway speed limit in order to consume less fuel. 1980 was the year motorcycles got 80 MPH speedometers because of a stupid DOT rule. Reagan also imposed tariffs on imported motorcycles 750cc and larger to protect Harley Davidson so around 1985 the Japanese company's created the 700cc bike. The tariffs failed and the 700cc line was canceled. Reagan also counted ketchup as a vegetable in free school lunches for poor kids.

[DEEBS11]

The noise in your speedometer is a lubrication problem. First start with lubing the speedometer cable. If the noise persists, then the speedo needs to be removed from the bike and set it down with the cable input pointed up. Use a light (sewing machine oil not WD40) and add a few drops. Let it sit overnight to soak in. This was an issue with my 78 and it cured it.

[DEEBS11]

Here is another example with 1980 BMW speedometer with the 55/80 MPH markings.

[DEEBS11]

In 1996 I rode my KZ650 from Connecticut to Seattle and I remember they lifted the 55MPH limit in Montana. There was actually no specific speed limit. It was pretty cool. I did about 80MPH the whole time without issues and it was good.

[Schming]

Welcome MT, the shaft drive on these bikes does emit a sound that you are describing, which a chain driven bike does not have. Have you checked the Middle drive and the Final drive oil levels ? BTW you can use an older (pre '80 speedo) if your interested in knowing just how fast you are traveling or, to keep the bike original, a phone mount and GPS works too. I have done the 750 final drive swap on my full dressed '80G and it cruises fine at 80mph all day long. I also swapped speedo for an earlier 140mph max and the "Ton" + is easily reached.

[Ranger_xs1100]

Hi MisTakE,

You can swap out your 85mph speedometer with one from a 1979 xs11 special (160mph) speedometer. I have one listed here: rucksack.grunt on eBay. It’s a pretty straight forward swap, but I think it requires swapping the plug in connector also. Pretty easy though, just 2 or 3 wires to splice.

If you’re referring to the high engine rpm at highway speeds, there are two fixes for that. I’ve done both.

One is to swap your 16 inch rear wheel with a 17” wheel from a 1978 or 79 xs11 standard. That requires swapping the brake mounting hardware and spacer with it (not just the wheel.)

The second and probably more effective way to reduce rpm’s is to do the xs850/xs750 final drive modification: Final Drive Transplant _ Kudos 2 XSChop! - XS11.club Forums.

Hope that helps.
Bob

[cajun31]

For some reason, its rated to reach 120 mph in all of the information I can find about the bike, but the speedometer maxes at 80 and everything between 55-80 are in red. I don't need to go 120; hell, I don't even need to go 80. But the instant I am traveling faster than 55mph it starts to sound like an RC car, with a high pitched "wirrrrrr!!!!"

The freeways are set at 60 around here, and most people are traveling 60-70mph- I need to be able to travel these speeds without damaging my bike, as it was supposed to be my new commuter. Is there anybody here familiar with this bike or this problem? I have 1100cc of displacement- that should be more than enough to push the 500lb bike at 60mph without sounding like an over worked engine. Please tell me this is an easily diagnosed issue!

Where specifically is the source for that high pitched WIRRRRR? An assumption is being made from some of the comments as it being the speedometer. I think what you are hearing is basically normal for these bikes in stock configuration. That sound is generated by the shaft drive and as Bob pointed out there is a modification posted about lowering the rpms in the final drive. The question you had is are you damaging your bike as is and the answer, barring other things, is no.

[Ccitis]

Where specifically is the source for that high pitched WIRRRRR? An assumption is being made from some of the comments as it being the speedometer. I think what you are hearing is basically normal for these bikes in stock configuration. That sound is generated by the shaft drive and as Bob pointed out there is a modification posted about lowering the rpms in the final drive. The question you had is are you damaging your bike as is and the answer, barring other things, is no.

Thought the same. The transmission and final drive make a pretty distinct sound on this bike... something I like very much.

[DEEBS11]

I had the speedometer issue with my bike. It sounds like an RC car screech when the cable turns fast enough. It's actually the sound of a small galling bronze bearing in the speedometer. They do this when they sit for a long time. Had a 900 Honda do it also and it was repaired the same way.


Disconnect the speedometer cable from the back of the unit and take it for a ride. No noise? Speedometer. Still makes the noise? Keep looking.

[DEEBS11]

https://xs11.club/forum/idle-talk-forum/xs11-xj11-discussion/874002-speedometer-squeaking

[cajun31]

Not saying it can't be something else. I have actually had people ask me what that noise was when they either drive one of my bikes or ride next to me. Once you get past a certain MPH the sound can be quite distinctive. Deebs brings up a good point though. Just remove the top of the speedometer cable from the speedometer and take it out for a spin.

[LAB3]

I've rehabbed several old bikes over the years and have come across this same thing before, Deebs is sending you in the right direction.

[Radioguylogs]

One day I was on a long ride on my SG. The speedometer began making a noticeable ZZHHHHHTTT sound, proportional to my speed.

By the time I got home, the speedometer had failed. I did disconnect the cable, but it was too late.

I paid to have it fixed by a specialist so I could preserve the odometer reading.