XJ Noob questions

I'll post this here cuz if I post it in the technical forum you all might drown me with words I've never heard of

I've noticed that if I'm sitting at a light in neutral with my signal on, the neutral light pulses with the signal light. Is this a battery issue (new this year) or charging issue? I haven't had any trouble starting the bike this year so the charging seems to be fine. Is there just not enough voltage being generated by the charging system? Is this a warning sign?

I've met a lot of people who come over and tell me about the maxim they had when they were younger. Last week, someone told me that they had over 70k kilometres on the bike before they moved on to a new one. Their advice to me was to take it easy on second gear as there is a reputation for them failing. Is that true? What does failing mean? And what does it mean take it easy? Can I still accelerate up to 7k or just do it slowly?

Finally, a new issue that popped up two weeks ago. My left muffler broke
just in front of the bracket. I can't tape it because the bracket is in the way. It sounds horrible when I'm around 3-4k (most of the time). It's all rattley sounding. Anyway, I've called a couple shops who never call back, I've called a couple salvage yards and I've even checked with Chacal. I'm having a tough time finding a replacement. I've looked online and found a MAC muffler replacement (4 into 1) which I'm probably going to order. I was wondering what everyone else does? Is there a 4 into 2 replacement for a 1983 750? What about other aftermarket options?

 

I don't know what your outlet cut looks like on your left muffler, but I have a left side muffler from my 1983 750. It's a little used but not broken. You'll have to get a gasket for it, but it's still good.

 

Beanz,

When you're idling, the electrical system is running off the battery, because the alternator is useless under about 2-2.5K RPM. What you're seeing is not uncommon... However, it would be good to check your alternator brushes to make sure they're not worn down too far. Search for alternator brushes in XJ chat. Chacal has replacements, if needed.

The transmission issues are different for various XJ models. The XJ1100, for example, borrows its design from the XS1100, which is clunky by nature, and prone to various gearbox problems like worn gear dogs or bent shift forks. Gearbox problems with smaller XJs are a lot less common. What IS common, is damage caused by missing shifts and severe lead-footing. I can't think of any bike that would be immune to that, though... My 750 has almost 78K km on the clock, and zero shifting problems.

Also, there's a chain guide inside the engine that has plastic/rubber-ish teeth which can fall off, and the pieces might get jammed in the shift drum or elsewhere in the tranny. Search for "emergency guidectomy" for more details.

 

as a rule, don't sit at red lights in neutral some day you might have to get out of the way in a hurry
stop off to the side of the lane and leave enough room to get out of there should you hear tires howl behind you

 

+1 at sittin at lights Polock.
Always sit in first gear. So what if your hand gets tired holdin the clutch, jsut means you gotta do it more
Wow, you guys push your bikes hard! Revvin to 7k before you shift from second?? Geez I shift around 3.7k out of 2nd gear.

 

Your kidding right? That's lugging these bikes. Might be harder on it than reving it to 7k. 9.5K is readline. This isn't a car with a 4 or 5k redline. Its a bike and you aren't even getting it into its power zones if you shift out a 3.7K. Your kidding right?

 

Gotta keep it higher than 5k between shifts to keep the plugs from loading up too much. I learned that from my 1980 CB750 Super Sport. I shifted conservatively and fouled a set. These in-line 4's LOVE to be tached up.

 

i actually lifted the front wheel up the other day shifting from 1st to 2nd at 9.5k the other day, kinda surprised me hahah seing as i'm 300 pounds and it's only a 400cc

 

Common SLkid, you were kidding right?

 

Good advice and I don't until I know the car behind me is stopped or under control. I guess there's always the chance that I need to move out of the way of people coming from other directions too...

 

I was like SLKid until about two months ago when I started winding it up more and more. It sounds so great and really smooth. Now I keep it up just so I don't have to hear that rattling sound!

 

It's a megaphone type with a baffle on the end. If you were to lie the muffler flat on the ground it would be longer at the top than the bottom (slash cut?). It's a standard pipe though, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about (can't figure out how to add a picture). I'm not desperate enough to ride to Missouri (not yet) but I will be by the end of the week! Thanks for the offer.

 

Hey don't knock SLKid, ;-)

this is the first bike I've been on in over 10 years. I shift when I hit about 4k RPM too ;-P Just a old habit on my part that I am trying to break. Didn't know I should push it to about 7k though. I was figuring 5-6 was more the range.

 

Beanz, look in my gallery at the photos of my bike with the chrome system. There's a good shot of the left side muffler. I'll try and get some better photos of it to you later.

 

5-6K rpm is normal everyday riding.
Getting on it is in the red.

 

The photo called "Another Angle" is about the best I could see. It looks similar but I'd need to see it closer.

Called the junk yard back today. Supposedly they just sold one last Tuesday . I'm gonna pretend they're just trying to make me feel bad. They offered to order in the MAC system for me for $400!! That's a $1.33 exchange rate! Meanwhile, the current rate is somewhere around $1.15

Wrote an email to Yamaha. It'll be interesting to hear what they write back.

 

If you don't get a muffler from one of the members here, consider switching over to a set of take offs from a Harley Sportser. A local muffler shop can put them on for you cheap and muffler take offs from Harleys are plentiful and cheap. I paid $50 for mine and compared to other members here that have done the swap, I *overpaid* for the set I picked up.

 

Thanks for the tip coach. Is this a "slip-on" alternative? (I have to admit I don't have a good understanding what that means)

So basically, get a Sportster muffler, the gaskets (2) and get a muffler shop to put it together? What about the support bracket that goes to the frame? Will they just fabricate one? Any particular year sportster?

PS: No response from Yamaha