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Whats your top speed and feel at top speed...?

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by cassidy.patrick, Sep 24, 2010.

  1. cassidy.patrick

    cassidy.patrick Member

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    Ok so I have my xj650 hard tailed bobber and I'm wondering if the speed is correct for the bike and my weight or if I'm losing power some where. I know the spedo is true + or - 1mph. My top speed on the bike is around 80... and that's pushing it.. its more comfortable around 70. I'm 6'2 250 so I'm wondering if this what i should expect or if I'm losing power somewhere....cuz I used to own an R6 (I know Big difference) but I NEVER had a problem with the speed factor. Actually that's why I went to a cruiser style. If this speed ratio is correct then could i expect the same result from a newer, stock 600cc cruiser? Thanks everyone.
     
  2. jeffcoslacker

    jeffcoslacker Member

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    My '83 XJ650 has a huge speedo error, but winds past 85 (indicated) easily, will run in excess of the speedo's top easily.

    I weigh 300 pounds, so I'm quite a load for it. I think you have some issue.

    The top of the speedo is a joke for mine.

    What rpm's are you turning at 75 mph? I'm around 5500 I think?
     
  3. TIMEtoRIDE

    TIMEtoRIDE Active Member

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    You could see 115 with everything running right, but I saw your "apes" which make it hard to lay flat for top speed.

    You're looking at carb fine tuning, I believe.
     
  4. cassidy.patrick

    cassidy.patrick Member

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    yeha Jeff my tach is......none. So I'm not sure where its at.

    Time to ride I had a feeling that was the case, I bought it with the pods on it and the straight pipes... well cutoffs after the mid collector. I'm not worried about the apes with speed, but I know I wont get the "areo" help for speed. I was hoping it wasn't carb adjustment cuz I have no clue when it comes to them. FML. The bike starts fine, idles fine, and runs great around town. No issue with lag, other than the fact that is a carbed bike. So I guess Ill have to start learning. My scariest part is the fact that its not stock so I'm not sure if everything I'm working on is correct/oem. Some one wanna point me in the direction of a carb clinic? or a sticky post? How much you think a Yami shop will charge to look it over, and can I trust them with a yamaha motor but choped style?

    Thanks again guys.
     
  5. iwingameover

    iwingameover Active Member

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    Trust no one but yourself to work on your carbs.

    Make sure the carbs are clean. Plenty of info on here.

    Then Cheapest thing to try, shim the needle 4mm washers I belive. These go on top of the needle and move the taper up allowing more fuel.

    Next after that is bigger jets.

    I went +2 (iirc) main jet and one shim with my new exhaust. World of difference.

    Mine will do, and has done, the ton with my 300+ lbs on it. I quit on the top speed long before it does.
     
  6. Cmccully04

    Cmccully04 Member

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    +1 with what Iwin says. I quit long before my bike does. I did add a speedo that goes upto 160 so I can see how fast im going but at 105 It's pretty scary on a hardtail. and the fact that I weigh in around 350.
     
  7. cassidy.patrick

    cassidy.patrick Member

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    Damn I am pissed now lol. I wanna be able to keep up with my buddies and even if I look like a ape on a circus bike Id be able to cruise at a decent clip if I wanted to. Would kinda shake my feeling that im too big for the bike.
     
  8. Ravenz07

    Ravenz07 Member

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    Since the Maxim has a speedo that only goes to 80, I really have no idea. Going past it definitely is not hard. The bike actually does pretty well at high speeds for me, no wobbling or shaking. But when you know longer know how fast you are going and you realize in your head how fast you think you might be going, you start to think about a rock in the road.....
     
  9. Cmccully04

    Cmccully04 Member

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    your not to big for the bike man. Like I said I have my bobbed so it looks tiny, and then I get on it all 5'10, 350lbs of me.
     
  10. bhikku

    bhikku Member

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    speedometer only goes to 80 or so, but i think i've had it upward of 95 or so. i need a new cluster. :/
     
  11. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    I'm 6'5" (almost 6'6") and right at 200lb. Both of my 550 Secas will pull redline in 6th gear, which is an indicated 115 or so on my 150mph speedo; on the bike with the stock speedo, who knows? ( I think it's really around 108-112.)

    I think you have some carb work to do, "apes" or not.

    Is this bike perhaps fitted with 'pod' filters, a modified exhaust, or anything else we need to know? A properly tuned XJ with everything working right should be able to come darn close to redline in top gear, which I believe on the 650 should be around 127mph.
     
  12. cassidy.patrick

    cassidy.patrick Member

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    yes has pod filters an open pipe exhaust after the collector. All from the PO.
     
  13. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Well, sorry to say but that's probably where your performance went.

    Quick but not necessarily inexpensive fix? Return to stock or close to it.

    Cheaper but more effort fix? Clean, sync and tune/rejet carbs until you get the hammer back. These bikes scream when properly tuned. Pods and the open pipe make it more difficult, not impossible.

    Both avenues should start with a valve check and adjust, and a compression test.
     
  14. snowwy66

    snowwy66 Member

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    how's your compression? weak compression won't get you very fast.

    i'm 6 ft. 240 lbs. my top speed was 88. measured with gps. my compression was 140. i know another bike that does much better mine. but he installed new pistons and rings.
     
  15. waldo

    waldo Member

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    Do you know how to do a plug chop? Checked for dragging brakes broken springs on the shoes? What about taking it to a shop with a dyno
     
  16. cassidy.patrick

    cassidy.patrick Member

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    I don't know what a plug chop is..? What is it? And i have no clue on how to check compression...
     
  17. iwingameover

    iwingameover Active Member

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    A plug chop is done by running the engine at the speed/rpm where you're having issues then reach over and hit the kill switch and pull in the clutch at the same time. Then coast to a stop and pull the plugs to look at them. I don't know if I'd want to do that from 80 mph! You want the insulator lunch bag brown. White=lean, black=rich, white with silver specks=lean enough to be melting aluminum.

    Compression is checked with a compression gauge. You can get one at your local autoparts store. Some rent them. I bought mine for $15 IIRC.

    To do a compression check Make sure your battery is charged, take all your plugs out, unplug your TCI, put the tester fitting in one of the spark plug holes, hold the throttle wide open, crank the motor over until the gauge stops rising, write down the number, repeat for each cylinder.

    If your numbers are low (less than 120psi) then put a tea spoon of motor oil in the cylinder through the plug hole and try again. A higher number with the oil in the cylinder is bad rings, no change is valves.

    I checked the compression on mine when I was having spark issues and they were within a couple psi of 155psi across the board.

    How long ago were your valves checked?

    Once we know all this information we can get you sorted out, or atleast pointed in the right direction.

    I suspect you're leaning out at the upper RPM's and not making enough power to overcome the drag at that speed.
     
  18. cassidy.patrick

    cassidy.patrick Member

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    WOW lots of information thanks iwin
    Ill have to look into that this week. Valves were never checked that I know of...
    I'll try and do some stuff this week but I don't know if I'l get to it my dog is pretty sick and its taking a large bit of my budget.
     
  19. snowwy66

    snowwy66 Member

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    you'd be able to feel dragging brakes just by rolling the bike back and forth. bike should roll real easy.
     
  20. jonrms

    jonrms Member

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    I have proof that mine went to 115 mph! and its a hardtail... Scary as Duck.. but I wont go there.. and there was plenty more pull.... its a 700 maxim.. I think there good for a tad bit more.. so I am told.
     
  21. cassidy.patrick

    cassidy.patrick Member

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    Yeah I do notice mine has a hard time rolling around sometimes... but it free wheels easy like when letting the clutch in and rolling to a light or something.
     
  22. snowwy66

    snowwy66 Member

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    the internet posts specs of 115 for the xj650. but i've seens lots of different specs depending on the bike.

    problem is. those bikes were discontinued LONG before the household internet was invented. so i don't put much faith in specs for bikes that old.
     
  23. waldo

    waldo Member

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    Did you ever resolve the problem
     

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