Announcement

**webbcraft2150** · 04-12-2006, 03:32 PM

First off, you do not have a '75, XS11. It was a gleam in some engineers eye in 75. 78 was the first year. Check the TECH TIP section for information on what to look out for when you buy a used XS11. Then buy it, fix it up and ride, ride ride. If ya run into a snag, someone here will help ya out.

**knewsom** · 04-12-2006, 03:36 PM

no 76??

wow, crap - I wonder why the heck the guy thought it was a 76 then. Hopefully I'll be able to determine what year it ACTUALLY is.

so my assumption is that there ARE parts for it? I'm not going to get stuck with a bike that's for all intents and purposes worthless? *starting to feel reassured*

**webbcraft2150** · 04-12-2006, 03:54 PM

There are alot of pieces and parts not made anymore. But, there are lots of pieces and parts still out there that can be found. If the bike is in one piece and turns over, you are off to a good start. There are bikes running that have been resurrected from boxes, true kit bikes. There is one that was pulled out of a swamp and is on the road. The year model should be on the "vin" sticker on the steering neck. Again check the tech tips, match what you are looking at to some of the pictures posted there. Virtually any XS11 is far from useless. With 21k on the clock, its still a baby.

You have the resources here, you can make it run, you hafta make it run, the legacy must go on!!!

**knewsom** · 04-12-2006, 03:56 PM

Well, I'm pretty sure it's gotta be a 78 then, since it's maroon, or according to Yamaha "Macho Maroon".

Anybody know a trustworthy shop I can take it to in Sacramento to test compression, clutch, tranny, driveshaft, etc?

Cheers,
Kris

**knewsom** · 04-12-2006, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by webbcraft2150
There are alot of pieces and parts not made anymore. But, there are lots of pieces and parts still out there that can be found. If the bike is in one piece and turns over, you are off to a good start. There are bikes running that have been resurrected from boxes, true kit bikes. There is one that was pulled out of a swamp and is on the road. The year model should be on the "vin" sticker on the steering neck. Again check the tech tips, match what you are looking at to some of the pictures posted there. Virtually any XS11 is far from useless. With 21k on the clock, its still a baby. You have the resources here, you can make it run, you hafta make it run, the legacy must go on!!!

lol - ok, awesome. I gotta buy this bike now.

THANKS DUDE, I'll be back with pics, and etc.

**knewsom** · 04-12-2006, 06:09 PM

Update.

OK, so for some reason, the old dude selling the bike doesn't seem like he wants to bring it into a shop at my expense so I can get the little tick tick sound and the compression checked.

I'm starting to feel a littttle nervous about this now. Mileage is actually at 24k, sorry for the incorrect number earlier.

The tick tick doesn't sound like a knock to me, but then again, according to another thread, this engine can knock and sound like a loose valve.

Any ideas on how I can convince the guy to let me bring it into a shop? or have him bring it in? Should I just say screw it and pay the 900 bux for the bike and then deal with the consequences?

**Ken Talbot** · 04-12-2006, 07:16 PM

If he's asking $900 but doesn't want to send it to a shop, offer him $500 "as is where is". Worst case scenario - you could get that much and more by parting it out on Ebay. Best case scenario - you work with us here at the forum to go through it from end to end and end up with a great ride at a reasonable cost. There's a good chance the 'tick tick' could be as simple as a five minute adjustment to the cam chain slack adjuster that you will be able to do yourself.

**knewsom** · 04-12-2006, 08:45 PM

MORE updates!

I got him to agree to take it in to a shop - I want them to run a compression check, and listen to that tap tap for me.

I also listened to it using one of those stethescope things, he had one kickin' around his shop - it was loudest on the right rear valve cover and barely audible anywhere else - course, there was the timing chain rustlting around in there, but I didn't hear anything that sounded like a "knock". Also, the ticking almost completely stopped when we pulled the wire to the spark plug.

I've gotten him down to $800, made a $40 deposit today. He's also giving me a free windshield and a pair of only 3 month old tires and a set of spare wheels. wooot! Another thing to note, there are almost NO fluid leaks of any kind, just a smidge of oil from the tension adjustment part. I think $800 is a fair price for a running bike with good tires, no? If the engine IS knocking, how much money and time would it take to rebuild it?

I mean, it's not like I dont' think I won't have to do anything to the bike - I'll need to flush every fluid, de-rust the gas tank (there's a little bit in there), bleed the brakes, install a fuel filter, replace the seals and the oil in the front forks, and of course, adjust the timing and valves, before I can even start tooling around on it. SOME of this I might have a mechanic do, depending on how much time I have and what tools are required - I have some, but not a complete shop at my disposal.

**stevo** · 04-12-2006, 09:12 PM

being a motorhead since a kid..my experience with "you pulled the plug wire and the noise went away" is it's a problem in either the rod bearing or wristpin on that cylinder...don't want to bum you but that's reality....stevo

**knewsom** · 04-12-2006, 09:20 PM

Originally posted by stevo
being a motorhead since a kid..my experience with "you pulled the plug wire and the noise went away" is it's a problem in either the rod bearing or wristpin on that cylinder...don't want to bum you but that's reality....stevo

noooooooooooooo.... but it didn't COMPLETELEY go away.... just MOSTLY. What adjustments should I try on it to see if it's just a valve or a chain issue?

Cheers,
Kris

**prometheus578** · 04-12-2006, 10:42 PM

"One man's tick is another man's knock"

Read the thread "Need help diagnosing noise"

Hard to say what is actually could be. Unless you "know" what a tick sounds like... you could be hearing a knock... or just hearing a tick and thinking its a knock. Bike has sat fer a long spell, and sonetimes it takes a while to loose up and quiet down again. Can't be diagnosed over a modem. Having a REAL mechanic check it out first is a good move.
It's rare, but I have had bikes make a hell of a racket using synthetic oil. (You mentioned that it just was changed)
If the engine checks out... I'd go for it.

don't want to bum you but that's reality

"Reality... I AM reality." (Staff Sergeant Barnes) True, Stevo, and I'm not one to second guess another man's opinion. PUV's knocking did fit the pattern pretty well, especially as he had an oil pump failure. This bike has relatively low miles, and unless it was massively abused... it's hard to say. Some engines are just noisy, and are perfectly happy to just sit there and tick away. Pulling a plug wire sometimes just quiets the whole engine's general ticking.
But I, like you, (Note the comma... it doesn't read "But I like you")
But I, like you, am hesitant to tell someone to buy a bike when there might be trouble a foot. (Don't want him to pass up a good bike, but don't want him to buy trouble, either)
Some times a carb synch can smooth out and quiet a bike, if one cylinder's lagging behind the others.
Who's paying the mechanic? Had a guy last summer want me to check out his bike and write a good review as he was trying to sell it. He wasn't pleased when he paid his bill, and then saw that I had written that the water pump is shot and his tranny's on it's way out. (Tough sh*t that he was a friend of the boss... he was no friend of mine, and his offer of "extra money" just made me show him the door a little quicker) He probably got his "Good Report" somewhere else.
Find out what shop he's taking it too, and talk with the mechanic yourself.

**pathfinder** · 04-12-2006, 11:37 PM

Go for it

Put about 10cc of marvel mystery oil in all cylinders, let sit for about an hour. Now use the kick starter to roll it over a few times. Now start it, remember this bike has been sitting for 5 or 6 years getting stove up. Adjust the cam chain, and run the valves. PROBABLY NEVER BEEN DONE. You will probably need a shim or two, new about $10.00, used (thats all I've ever used) $2 -$3.

I got my 78E (2H7) after sitting up for 6 years in a garage and it took about 100 miles to git it to loosen up and sound right. My biggest problem was the brakes (see spooge hole). Your lucky you found this site as early as you did. The internet did not exist for me till 10 years after I got mine in shape.

I say go for it, the XS11 is almost idiot proof (see my picture in the dictionary). I gave $500.00 for mine and it would not roll, turn over, even with the kick starter or have any turn sigs working along with carb problems. Took me 30 days from start to ride without a book, internet or ever having worked on any bike or ridden a large bike before. That 30 days was mostly 1-2 hours every couple of days and 10 -12 on the weekends.

**knewsom** · 04-12-2006, 11:40 PM

good advice, thankee.

I'm definitely going to have a real mechanic take a look and listen, someone more experienced with the noises, etc. That'll probably be on Monday. The guy himself is a 78 year old man who has been riding motorcycles nearly all his life, and working on them about as long as well. He seems like an honest fellow, and is selling this bike for his nephew, whose wife made him clear out some of his project bikes. Granted, Jim has a semi-vested interest in me BUYING the bike (this is why I want to take it to a shop), but I dont' think the guy would flat out lie to me.

I'll talk to him a bit more about it, maybe try to get him down to $500 "as is".

Anyone know of anyone in the Sacramento Area who would be a good choice to check out this bike?

Thanks again for all the great advice.

-Kris

**knewsom** · 04-12-2006, 11:53 PM

Re: Go for it

Originally posted by pathfinder
Put about 10cc of marvel mystery oil in all cylinders, let sit for about an hour. Now use the kick starter to roll it over a few times. Now start it, remember this bike has been sitting for 5 or 6 years getting stove up. Adjust the cam chain, and run the valves. PROBABLY NEVER BEEN DONE. You will probably need a shim or two, new about $10.00, used (thats all I've ever used) $2 -$3.

I got my 78E (2H7) after sitting up for 6 years in a garage and it took about 100 miles to git it to loosen up and sound right. My biggest problem was the brakes (see spooge hole). Your lucky you found this site as early as you did. The internet did not exist for me till 10 years after I got mine in shape.

I say go for it, the XS11 is almost idiot proof (see my picture in the dictionary). I gave $500.00 for mine and it would not roll, turn over, even with the kick starter or have any turn sigs working along with carb problems. Took me 30 days from start to ride without a book, internet or ever having worked on any bike or ridden a large bike before. That 30 days was mostly 1-2 hours every couple of days and 10 -12 on the weekends.

lol - wow man, THAT sure gave me some courage! I think I'm going to take the plunge, but I'll definitely try to talk him down a little bit more first - if he won't budge, then it's off to the mechanics. Hopefully, I won't end up having to take the whole damned thing apart, at least, not yet.

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76 XS11 - to buy or not to buy?

76 XS11 - to buy or not to buy?

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