New XJ 82 1100 maxim (basic general questions)

1st I would like to say that I have only had my bike for a little less than a week now, and have already learned a great deal from you guys so thanks for that.

I will list my questions in number form so it is easier for me to sort the replies. All questions apply to my bike which is a 1982 XJ1100J Maxim.

1). I really want to put some crash bars or engine guards or whatever they are called on my bike but am having a terrible tie trying to find them. From a couple of the threads I have read through it looks like some of the years and models are interchangeable for the guards, but I would like a little help with which bars will fit from other bikes if at all please?

2). The handling on my bike feels a little squirrely at times, and makes me extremely nervous while I am riding. I checked the air pressure in the front forks, and the air pressure in the tires (both are good), but it just doesn't feel right to me for some reason. This is the first time I am riding one of these bikes, so I am getting used to it, but maybe a little advice guys?

3). Every time I start the bike the red warning light comes on, I get the BATT, the OIL, and the FUEL lights. First I know the fuel gauge does not work (sucks and is one of the first things I want to fix on this bike lol), second I checked the oil level...... oh yeah thats another thing, 3a). How do you remove the damn cap from the rear final drive to measure the oil level in there. It is a wierd looking cap, and I can't figure out if you are supposed to unscrew it, or pry it out of there or what, so I left that alone until I get some help. so back to the first part of the question, OIL LIGHT checking all of the fluid levels it looks like they are good, cant figure out why the oil light is coming on, then finally the battery.. I just haven't tried to fill it with distilled water yet, but where is the sensor for this light located just in case I fill it, and is still shows. I havent noticed any loss of power or anything as far as the battery is concerned. Does the service manual give you the conditions the bike faults have to be n for the lights to come on?

4). Saddle bags, I saw one guy had his bike outfitted with saddle bags, and a taller sissy bar, and a rack behind it with a nice hard case on it...... Where the **** do you find this stuff, I have done a dozen searches at different sites and none of them show having parts for my bike. All very frustrating stuff, because I have fallen in love with this bike, and would like to get it back into shape with some nicer ammenities like a windshield, highway pegs, some saddle bags (hard or soft), and get these little gauge light issues fixed. I would really like to do the work myself as well, and learn how to work on these bikes, since it has 25000 miles on it, and from the looks of some other bikes out there I think this scooter has plenty of life left on her.

ANY HELP HERE WOULD BE OUTSTANDINGLY APPRECIATED! THANKS GUYS!

 

1. Can't help you there, my bikes a 650. All I know is that the 650/750 are interchangeable. I know those won't work on your bike.

2. Steering Head Bearings. Take off the top portion of the triple tree and check your bearings. They may just need to be tightened. Or the ball bearings may have some flat spots and need to be replaced. As many others would also suggest, look into upgrading to tapered-style bearings.

3. If the final drive "plug" you're referring to is the circular one on top of the final drive, then what you are looking at is actually a vent. The filler plug is actually about midway up on the final drive and the drain plug is on the bottom. Again this may be completely off, as my bike is a 650. I just know a lot of stuff on these XJ's is interchangeable or closely related.

4. Can't help you here either I'm afraid. My SECA is kinda sporty, so no saddle bags for me. Check Ebay, or the Sell/Trade Forum here.

Good luck with the repairs. I'm sure you'll find all the information you need here. Keep us posted with pictures.

 

Heres my input
1) Good luck.The XJ1100 is a one year bike. Finding bars that are new would be near impossible. Have you heard of "unobtanimun". The XS 1100 has a almost identical frome frame, they were made from 78 to 81. Finding bars for those is a little easier. The best place to start is EBAY, search for XS or XJ 1100 bars. I have been looking for some highway pegs for my XS and can't find any. I got fed up and made a set myself .
2) Steering head bearings , Remove and clean them. The XJ1100s came with tapered bearings, if they are not rusted and gouged you can clean and repack with grease. Check air pressure in rear shocks also. Put the bike on the center stand and see if there is any loosness in the rear swingarm bearings or wheel bearings, check the front whel breaings also.
3) That dang warning computer again. Get a service book and read through it. The oil level switch tends to stick and make the light come on. remove and clean it the next time you change the oil. The rear diff oil fill is a pain also. If the allen head is still there then great, put a wrench in and remove it. Most of the time the allen hole is rounded and that will require a chisel to remove it. Catch the edge of the fill plug with the chisel and tap it CCW to loosen it. Throw it away and go to the autoparts store and get a drain plug with the same thread and install that instead.
4) See #1. If you want bags you'll have to adapt whatever you can find to fit. The trunk on my XJ1100 is mounted on a custom rack, can't find one. Make it.