The difference between XJBIKES and another bike forum

I recently purchased an '01 BMW K1200LT with Hannigan Astro sidecar and only 7800 miles on the odometer. It is obvious that I would spend time on the BMW forum and I have. After spending a fair amount of time on the other site one thing has become very obvious to me.

The main difference between the two sites are that the BMW dudes (not all of them of course but a fair number of them) do nothing but whine about how crappy their bikes are, how often they break, how badly the dealer screws them for parts and labor (there is some truth on this last one but hey, at least the dealer will still work on them!) and how much they love riding them. These are very complex fuel injected motorcycles that cost $24,950 new this year. One of the huge complaints for awhile was the amount of twist it took to roll on throttle. Holy crap! It ain't nothing like the pull on the four mechanical carbs on an XJ! And besides, there is a repair kit available that fixes the problem. The dealer sells the kit for around US $300 which includes the push/pull throttle cables and a new twist grip for the throttle. I think mine is just fine thank you!

The XJ site, by comparison, seems to be a group of guys DEDICATED to resurrecting, tuning, maintaining and riding classic motorcycles that dealers quit working on over a decade ago. Only an occaisional whine when the carbs have to come off for the 5th time to get those last little tiny crevices clean, or the TCI is bad or whatever. But it seems that almost every time the owner rolls up his/her sleeves, digs in, and makes the necessary repairs.

Bravo XJ owners! :!:

Loren

 

I agree whole heartedly with you!! All the folks here are the most helpful of any website I've ever gone to. If you have a problem with your XJ, there'll be someone here who has a solution or at least will support you. This is by far, the best site on the web for helpfulness and outstanding advice...kudos to all.

 

Its all about shareing our experiences with these bikes. There is nothing worse than not being able to talk to someone about a problem that your having. I think if it was not for this forum alot of the bikes would just end up in the scrap heep and shipped back over seas to be melted down and made into God knows What.

I think a special thanks is due to all the XJ Wizards and Rick our Tech Writer for all their efforts to help us. Also Thanks to Sno Sheriff for this forum.

MN

 

I agree completely. And, I think existing members set a good example for the newcomers, so it is self-perpetuating. Another observation is that there are probably more 'givers' than 'takers'.

Another big difference is that we have a parts guru trolling the boards as well to help out. Chacal doesn't spend his time 'selling' his parts, but helping others. So, Chacal gets sales upon sales from his outstanding service.

The last point is that when one of us gets on the ledge, others jump in to talk them down. We all get frustrated at some point, so when someone gets on the ledge and vents, everyone jumps in to talk them down.

 

PLUS 1

hey, my maxim didnt run and i got the carbs cleaned thru this site and when it wouldnt start with clean carbs i got it fixed thru this site and when i wanted to get a 2nd 750R with bad gears i ended up with a 900R thru this site...

you guys are the greatest...

 

Your insight is interesting.
I have personally found this site invaluable for restoring my basket case XJ back to prime condition. From advice to technical knowledge to hard to find parts this forum has it all. The resources here give me confidence to tackle repairs I would not have attempted on my own.

 

I'll have to echo the comments. This is a fantastic site full of great people with great advice. 90% of what I know about these bikes comes from this site - the rest from the manuals and past/present experience.

For me the XJ Wizard title is a bit embarrassing - it only means I post a lot. I try to help where I can and have been successful helping a few folks. I enjoy giving back. Everyday I learn something new from this site.

For newbies I would suggest searching and reading past posts I learned a ton. Then post up your questions.

 

I'm amazed that they whine on how unreliable they are. From everything I have heard their bikes are damn near bulletproof. BUT, I have never owned one so I can't say I guess.

 

Whew. For a second there I was afraid I was gonna get blamed... at least you're still happy about it!

 

+1 on that.I brought my bike back from the dead just by searching and reading posts.Thanks to all the guys that had my problems before I did!

 

I was thinking about this on the ride home...

"how the dealer screws them on parts and labor..."

The BIGGEST difference between 99% of us and the guys on the Beemer site (and most Harley riders these days) is:

We actually WORK ON OUR OWN motorcycles.

Why? Because we can. (And we love it.)

 

There are other bike forums? :lol:

I spent DAYS reading and searching on the forums. When it was something I didn't understand everyone was there for me. When it was something I felt was over my head I printed the thread and called up my uncle.

Bill we love your wonderful insight. Doesn't hurt you like to talk a lot

 

Plus Bill is the only guy here who knows how to change the final drive oil in a 550.

 

The first XJ i bought was because it was cheap and I knew nothing about it. All i knew is it looked like a good bike to fix up and try to get running - especially since I've been off a bike for over 10 years and miss it every spring ;-). That bike is now my parts bike.

I actively searched for and found a better running XJ in large part because of the community behind the bike. It's not something you see a lot. I've searched the Internet high and low for motorcycle information for my original XJ and have been on many forums - this is by far the best, with people that are knowledgeable and actually willing (and wanting) to help you get your bike on the road and get it safe for no other reason then to get you on the road.

The ability to connect w/ people that can literally help you build this bike from a few baskets of parts into a lean mean riding machine is amazing.

my .02 cents ;-)

 

I've got to agree with that point as well; finding this forum ended the struggles I was having with my '81; and inspired me to go ahead and find another lower-mileage bike to restify.

 

My friend is restoring a '79 Honda CB650. He has it on my lift now and we are going thru his carbs. We were having an issue on how to break his carb rack apart to change the leaky fuel rail seals. I asked him why don't we just check his forum for a how-to and he just laughed. He said there were maybe a couple of dozen total posts for 2009 so far (and the Honda Fours are classics in their own right). I showed him this forum and the cross-reference guide on the XJCD's. He was completely amazed by the amount of data and support I have available at a click of a mouse.

Of all the different makes and models of bikes there are, I count me finding an XJ and this forum by total chance one of my most lucky events. I only regret not having bought a lottery ticket that same day.

 

I'm glad every day that the po of my max didn't find this site and never got it running cause you all helped me bring it back from the dead, he only sold it to me because he bought a 82 midnight max 650 that ran great all ready! I tried to tell him about the site but he won't return my calls. he probably thinks I'm mad about the bike not running since he couldn't figure it out!! so thanks again to every one here
Shaun

 

Many good points have been made, but, one has to find a forum/users group that offers what they need. Snosherrif, Mycarl, Ricko, Chacal, etc, etc do a great job at putting good info out there in a very family like environment. That aspect of respect and helping others out is a real treat.

As a fellow BMW owner, I have to say that there are those sites out there where owner moan about their bikes weather it be BMW, Harley, Honda or what ever. You'l rarely here that however at ADVrider, the site I spend most time on for my BMW needs. That site does however lack the decorum you find here.

Keep up the good work guys.

The Buff

 

"restify"
Is that a technical term fitz? Lol! j/k

 

If you've seen pictures of his bikes, you'll probably agree with me that it must mean "make BETTER than new"!

But seriously, this forum is awsome. I've still got LOTS to do to my maxim but this site has given me the know how to do it. BIG thanks to Snosheriff, Chacal, Ricomatic, Fitz and the many other folks who make this forum the place it is.

I'm just glad I was lucky enough to get an xj when I was looking for a bike.

mikeg

 

I missed some posts since I got hurt and had a good laugh (painful laugh but good) :lol:

Belle I do like to talk - I get accused of going on too much all the time but I'm too old to change :roll:

 

RESTIFY=restore + modify. Hot rodders do it all the time, build modernized old cars with new technology brakes, suspension, etc.

I've kept the '81 pretty much stock; I wanted to "build" another one without losing the stock overall appearance, but modernize it. I think it's coming out well.

 

I had to open this thread, because it says exactly what I thought it would. I am on a few other boards for my magna, why a few? because noone posts anything! One board you can't even be a member if you live outside the geographic area! This board is awesome, I've been on here for years now and it never ceases to amaze me at the help that is given out. The knowledge base, even for non experts such as myself is just awesome. I mean, how many people (one of the mods) would give out their home number and talk with him for some time on an issue with my maxim x (turned out to be a ground I didn't connect ). I'm in the process of getting parts form Designer_Mike in PA...awesome site, period, thanks to all!