Do I trade my xj750 for an 1100?

I have just been informed that my local shop has an 1100 for sale. I havent seen it yet, but I will go tomorrow to take a look. Im told it looks "just like" my xj750, but im not certain they guy knows the intriquette differences of my square companion (xj750). He says it has a square headlamp and a square instrument cluster. Im told it is a 1984 model, and its pipes dont flare out (like mine) and are straight back. Apparently not a 4 to 1. The chrome apparently is better than mine.

I dont know if its an XJ1100 or XS1100... or anything for that matter.
My question is, does anyone have any tips in identifying the prospective bikes model, year, or anything I should be wary of?
Ive barely been on my XJ750 for 6 months but Id like to entertain the idea of a bike with quicker get-up-and-go.
Ive looked at photos of xj and xs 1100s but I dont find any with a square headlamp.
Any suggestions or tips are welcome.

 

Might be a hybrid between the two. The XJ 1100 never came with a square headlight, the XS1100 did. There are two different modles of the XS1100. XS1100 Standard has square headlight and gagues, the XS1100 Special has round headlight and gagues. XS11 standard modles were made from 78 to 81, XS11 special was made from 79 to 81. The XJ1100 took over in 82 and was sold in the US and Canada till 84. XJ 1100's came with rear air shocks, XS11 did not. XJ1100 also has a digital gague cluster similar to your 750, XS1100 did not have it. The XJ11 has the swirll patern wheels, XS11 has a 7 spoke wheel.
It would be a good trade if the 1100 is in good condition. Post a pic so we can identify it.

 

square headlamp Sounds like about a 79 . They only made The maxim 1100 in 82-84 i believe Here is a pic of a 79 motor is painted black but i believe this is what you have. It will seem vary big and heavy compared to your 750 but its a great bike otherwise

 

Have the Seller write upon the Bill of Sale: "No Known Latent Defects"

1100 Yamaha's are 1,099 parts fun with 1 part misery. 2nd Gear.

Don't buy the bike for the full asking price without taking it for a test ride.
Not 150 feet to hear it run and feel it go.

Run it.
Take it up to 46 - 48 Hundred in first.
Take 2nd.
Put some POWER on the Tranny and see what happens in second.

If second gear holds the load, ... you're good to go.
If the bike pops-out of second, ...

Fixing it, ... is ... a-lot-of-work!!!

 

I fogot about the 2nd gear issue, Ricks right . Test ride and be hard on 1st and 2nd gear. If it pops in either one it has issues. It can easily run 3 to 5 hunderd to fix, thats just parts and gaskets doing the work yourself.

 

I have
XS 400 light, fun, great around town
XJ 650 (sons) good ride but needs another 100ccs
XS 750 classic ride
XJ 750 Best all-around ride, great at everything
XJ 1100 fast, powerful, but heavy
My 2 cents keep the XJ 750

 

I agree with you. I dont know if you were this way when you were younger i was. It didnt matter to me when i was 16-20 years old what it was as long as it was fast bigger the better . I would have probably bought one in the early 80s but i Didnt need the speed at the time. I was lucky about once a week or so. I got to drive the neighbors z1rtc while he was away. I felt so proud driving it most people thought it was mine. Of coarse i had a New maxim 750 at the time

 

at our old age. we need a bigger bike to keep up with our bigger bones.

i thought honda was the only second gear problem. v4 1100 motors that came out in 82 - 85. in 86 the gear was redesigned and the horsepower was reduced. (V65 magna/ V65 saber models)

they were the fastest motor at that time. but also the biggest design flop. production ceased in 86.

nevermind, found a bunch of stories. musta been a common problem with ANY 4 cylinder 1100 back in them days.

 

Snowy...not all 4 cylinders had 2nd gear issues but you're right on the money with the honda v65 and yammy11. The actual modification to the shift fork and undercutting the engagement dogs isn't so bad but as one poster noted, getting there is a bear.

Naw Redshirt, if you have a great running bike ONLY trade if the 11 is perfect, once it's HOT...a cold engine and a oil thickener will mask a partially scuttled gearset. I know that your bike is a bit weak and the XS (if that's what it is) is a pure beast but 6 months isn't hardly enough time to be bored with your bike. You also might get a trade-in offer of 500 bucks for your bike and a ripoff price on the "new" one....Ricks right, if the 11 rides fine AND they make it palatable, then you might consider it but otherwise, I'd keep old reliable instead. Just an opinion......

jeff

 

How much does the "dealer" want? Buy it and have 2 bikes or resell 750 on Craigslist for MORE than trade in!

 

A lot of them did have 2nd gear problems as well as cam oiling problems . But i have to say. I believe a lot of it is the way you ride. Granted i gave the gear box a major workout on occasion. i traded my v65 with 34k and never had 1 problem with it on a zx11. Boy did that make the old honda seem slow

 

Word through the grapevine, the dealer (selling for one of his mechanics...whom lost his license) wants $2k, but since I am friend of a friend of the dealer, Im told that number may come down "easily" to $1500.

Personally, I wouldn't mind keeping my xj750. I'm rather fond of it, honestly. First bike + sentimental sap = bike-hugger.
But Mrs. Redshirt, Chief Financial Officer of Redshirt LLC, advises trading. I just need to be promoted to CEO one day

 

almost bought a zx11 untill everyone on the forum steered me away.

doing google search finds the the piston rod bearing going out and piston rod breaking. 1100 motors. can't remember if it was #2 or #3.

i think the probable cause was wheelie related. but romping on the throttle wasn't much better. all that oil flowing to the back of motor. leaving nothing for the piston rods.

 

Welp. Turned out to be a 1984 Honda Magna.
Last time I listen to "that" guy.
Thanks for the tips everyone.
Much appreciated.

 

never had a problem. The main problem with the rod bearing was people dropped them they starve the brg for oil bad oil pan baffling. But i am sure if you run the heck out of it like anything else your asking for problems

Sorry to hear the bike was not what you were looking for. But a v65 is a great bike also as long as 2nd gear is good

 

Horsefeathers. It's about usage, riding style and personal preference; AGE hasn't anything to do with it.

 

I am exactly in the same position. Should I trade my 1982 xj750 seca RH for 1978 xs 1100 special.

My seca has 34000
xs1100 has 24000
Good condition. Check the pic.

 

My first bike was an XS11, monster bike. The 1st/2nd gear issue can actually be fixed without splitting the case! Last time I checked, the shaft for the gears in question can be removed sideways while the bike is in 4th, allowing the gears to drop out of the oil pan. A quick undercut later, bike is better than stock. Personally, I'm liking my XJ750, but if you have a reason to want the power (passenger, luggage, etc) the 1100s are pretty good. Good luck!