XS1100 vs FJ1200

[QTreiber]

...
#2, you get a real comfortable, good handling sport touring motorcycle with a nice fairing and great egros.  Downside is that pesky 2nd gear issue, which I understand the XS1100 shares with the 87 and younger FJs.
...
CraigO

Please confirm which FJ1200 years had the issue with the 2nd gear.  87 and older FJ's?

Thank you,
Armin

[craigo]

Sorry about that.  Yeah, the 84-87 USA models had problems with the 2nd gear.  When you really twisted the throttle on her in second with out a firm input, it may pop out of gear.  So the sad story goes, at least.  I have never owned anything but 1990 FJs and never had a problem.  Just going by what I overheard.

Any of you pre 89 owners want to chirp in here?

[RichBaker]

The FJ was over-shadowed some by the big Suzy, which was released at the same time. This is a shame really, this may have been the beginning of the motorcycle mags raving about [largely-unusable] top-end power, that got those high[er] numbers, at the expense of mid-range [usable] torque -something the FJ has in buckets, and a trade-off that Yamaha engineers made intentionally, seems to me.  [Alternatively, perhaps it was the introduction of liquid cooling, and then fuel injection that caused, or at least fostered the irrational race to the highest top end power...]

Dan

'84 FJ was Motorcyclist Mags Fastest Bike of the Year....... and was also the last FOBY.

[SlowOldGuy]

IIRC, the FJ was the only bike that could pull redline in top gear during the high speed test.

DavidR.

[motohorseman]

I've got a friend doing a chain conversion on a XS1100 -

http://motohorseman.forumotion.com/t43-xs1100-chain-conversion

He is still making progress, lots of hurdles.

[Flying Scotsman]

Chain drive is the way to go.

[Flying Scotsman]

Sorry about that.  Yeah, the 84-87 USA models had problems with the 2nd gear.  When you really twisted the throttle on her in second with out a firm input, it may pop out of gear.  So the sad story goes, at least.  I have never owned anything but 1990 FJs and never had a problem.  Just going by what I overheard.

Any of you pre 89 owners want to chirp in here?

My 1990 and my 1985 needed the trans fixed.

[Mark Olson]

my 86 has no trans problem yet at 30k , I have owned it since 15k miles. 

being aware of the problem and careful shifting and you will never develop the pop out issue.

[Pat Conlon]

I thought Randy mentioned that the upgraded shifting forks came out on the 3rd gen 92's ?

[andyb]

You can break second gear on nearly any Yamaha trans of the period.  The earlier bikes are simply more likely to have problems, poorer design and generally more mileage.

My 90 had the old style forks when I pulled it apart.

[craigo]

You know, me thinks the reason all the older FJs have not suffered the dreaded 2nd gear issue is that we all love the 3rd and 4th gear kookaloo..  

Think about it, where is it that the kookaloo zone is?  For me, it's 3rd and 4th gear on the wide sweepers.  The old gal is just too heavy for the dive into the corners in second and pin the throttle.  

It's the flow, not the stuff it in and go that makes the kookaloo glow.  Unless it's on a little 2 stroke made in the 70's.  

CraigO  

[Knuckles]

I owned an XS11 for some years. Mine was the 1981 model. Really nice bike. I never had to do anything to her apart from servicing. She was however very heavy on oil. Plus mine used 10kays to a liter, whereas the FJ returns 17.
In comparison with the FJ, they do not compare. The FJ handles and goes and does everything just so much better.
I did longish distances on the XS11 (450 km one way every 2nd weekend and then the same distance back). It handles that very well and was very comfortable, it is just that the FJ is so much better in all respects.

[QTreiber]

Thanks again for your insights!

The FJ1200 engine produces quite a bit of extra horsepower compared to the XS1100 engine.  The slightly larger displacement cannot contribute a whole lot of extra power.

Is the power band shifted towards higher rpm's with the FJ1200? 

Another question I have is related to the gear ratio.  Does the FJ run a lower rev's at any given speed compared to the XS1100?   With my XS I am always trying to shift into 6th gear at freeway speeds.

Cheers,
Armin

[Knuckles]

I have forgotten the revs on the XS11. Try the website www.xs11.com. If I remember correctly they have a spreadsheet which lists the revs at certain speeds. I used that when the XS decided that the speedo shows 120kmph instead of the 155 I was caught at.