More power out of "X"

I have way too much time on my hands (Spring hasn't sprung yet). I think I know the answer to this, but just for giggles, is there anything one can do to easily or cheaply (I know, I know) extract more power out of our XJ "X" bikes?

Headwork? Cams? Higher compression? Nitrous? Turbo? (the last two aren't cheap nor easy) I know the usual pods and exhaust won't work, and usually make them slower.

Ideas?

 

Proper tune-up.

 

^+1 only thing cheap is tune up plugs air filter, check carb sync. color tune.
"More power" are you looking for quicker or top end speed ?

You could convert ALL your lights to LED this will give you a little more HP by reducing the drag of the alternator.
install an air shifter this will improve your 1/4 mile by taking the human out of the shifting of the bike.

Yamaha did every thing they could to give you the best bike possible.

by X bikes do you mean XJ or Maxim X ?

you could spend some money balancing your motor equlizing the cylinders and head displacement porting and polishing intake and exhaust ports

you could spend many hours tuning the carbs by doing plug chops to find the best jets and shim height for the carbs
http://www.factorypro.com/tech_tuning_procedures/tuning_carbtune,CV,high_rpm_engines.html

 

It's an XJ750X. It's had all fluids changed, along with a valve adjustment. Within a microsecond of pressing the starter button, it fires up into a steady idle, and runs like a champ. As I suspected, unless one spends a cubic amount of money, Yamaha didn't leave many horses corralled....

 

you could look at weight issues Rider being the first one, if you can find out tire weights you may be able to shed a little weight there too

 

I am presently working on the weight issue. A mod that works on the CB400F too.

 

Aren't we all

 

My bike doesn't accelerate as fast as it did when I got it in 1985. It can't all be blamed on aging of the bike, the extra 80 lbs on the operator doesn't help. I've had to put more pre load on the rear springs over the years!

 

There are no real "Easy" ways to improve the performance of the X models.
If you start tinkering with stuff you can go the wrong way and potentially just get frustrated.

Tony

 

Some say Iridium spark plugs give a slightly better performance. Mine started more easily after I installed them.

 

I'll second the proper tune-up recommendation. I had my carbs cleaned, synced them, checked the plugs, etc. and there is a big difference between last year and today's first short ride.

 

As with most performance engines there is a tradeoff. Usually it's a matter of how much reliability you are willing to give up, and how much money you have to spend.
I think what you really need is advice from one of the FZ750 forums. They will have more experience with modifying the engine.

 

I have been using, and learning to use nitrous for a few years now,The one I thing have learned for sure is,it's a blast!! Fuel injection makes it real easy, carburetor,a little more work but the kits are really user friendly now.there is an article on sport rider.com by a guy named Don Smith that is a great read not overly technical the title is wet and dry systems.I have a small kit on my triumph, dry shot, about 45HP handlebar switch I only spray in high gear,you need good fuel and your timing has to be right, a rev limiter is a good idea till you get a feel for It.check into it,for less than a grand you can pick up 40or50hp get that kind of increase out of an engine build (if you can )would be a Lot more,And riding a beast everyday gets old quick.think sitting in traffic on a drag bike.with nox you have it only when you want it.so check it out I mean its called laughing gas how could that not be fun?Im editing this part.before I start an argument ..

Of course if your engine is not in good condition and running right Do Not Use NOX

 

Also if you like your license.......

 

Great point...my favorite saying is Cop didn't see it....then I didn't do it...

 

are NOS systems illegal or just the speed??

 

Just the speed in VA. I don't know about any other state.in general though,the government hates anything that might be fun or enjoyable.

 

NOS is a good way to end up driving over your crankshaft as it grenades out of the bottom of your engine case.......

 

kinda bad for the rear tire

 

Both the speed and the rate of acceleration. In most states displays of speed or showboating are tickatable, and in some they will get your bike impounded.

As Chacal, stated, adding a NOS system is something that takes a fair amount of planning if you want the engine to survive.

 

I won't be doing anything to it, as I don't have cubic amounts of money. This is a curiosity thing more than anything else. The hot setup for an FZ involves an FZR1000 motor swap. Might be a tight fit in the old Maxim.

 

It won't fit at all actually. Not the bottom end anyway.

 

Looks like the bottom line is if you want to go faster your way better off with a big block.
Small blocks are tons of fun but run out of wind between 80 to 100 mph. That really is where
the big displacement bikes take over. Ever one heard the term its much more fun to ride a
slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. Funny cause I have the choice and most days when the
riding is good I'm on the smaller more flickable bikes...... fun fun fun.
At the end of that really big stretch your buddy with the quickest bike really isn't that far ahead
and he won't have to wait :>)))

 

Just a little more,the most important word is system.buy one of those 175 dollar eBay kits basically a bottle and some hose,one size fits all nozzle,most don't even come with instructions....you get the idea.on the other hand call up a reputable company like NOS. Or nitrous express tell the tech what you have and what you want to do ...again you get the idea.there are 1000s of nitrous horror stories some absolutely true.But go to a drag strip or a track days event and you will have a hard time counting all the bottles.the reason being it works.but again it's just not for everybody.

 

Road ripper said... At the end of that really big stretch your buddy with the quickest bike really isn't that far ahead
and he won't have to wait :>)))[/QUOTE]


Dude.. I like the way you think.

 

kick it down a gear or two, and twist the wrist

 

Or just enjoy the ride. All going faster really gets you is more time in the hotel at the end of the day.

 

There was a guy in Ontario who grafted FZR1000 barrels and pistons onto a MaximX bottom end. If I remember correctly, the bore centers lined up with the X crank and he just had to do some relatively minor surgery to the bottom of the jugs to get them to mate up with the X crankcase. Not exactly a quick and easy mod but way easier than a turbo and it will definitely give a big hit of usable power across the rev range.

 

I always wondered if that could be done, and wonder how much of a HP/Torque gain it made?
But before I would do that kind of mod, I'd just go buy an FZR1000.

Reason is that I've enhanced and tweaked a bunch of things on mine, and have to say that I feel that even at stock power levels, the "X" models tend to be near the limits of the chassis and braking capabilities.

As Hogfiddles puts it, this is probably the best advise on how to enjoy a well tuned bike:

They're all fast if you do that.....

Tony

 

Very true. The most cost effective way to get more power out of an old bike is to trade it in on something bigger and/or newer. Or just enjoy what you've got.
But that doesn't solve the problem of "how does a gearhead keep himself out of trouble during a long New Brunswick winter?"

 

It's almost over; I think it's going to be ok. Just went out on a 19 hour road trip yesterday, to pick up a clean (not extra, just regular clean) '85 XJ750x, with 18000 miles, in blue--I think the red ones are faster, but I digress. Three '85 Maxim Xs in one square mile (mine, and my two cousins--they both each own Gold Wings also). Must be some sort of record, no?

 

Thought you already had one?

Sounds like a nice score finding one with 18K. Still have to go through it and update all the safety related items, and then perform all the needed maintenance. Most PO's will tell you it's all been done, but you'll have to verify that. After all, you'll be the one riding it.

How about some pics?

Tony

 

I have one, and so do two of my cousins (I'm the one who tracked them down, though). It's not mint, but I would probably call it "clean". Mine would be "extra clean", and the third one would also be "extra clean".

We had them out for a quick spin today. 38 degrees, very high windchill. Brrrrrrr!

 

All of my red bikes are faster than the ones that aren't.

I have three X's in one room ( none are complete, mostly still in boxes, and I'm hoping to make one into a 750x clone... Maybe that's a record.... Lol

..... And I have a '78 Goldwing----

Dave

 

Is the GOldwing in boxes too?

 

If you really want to stay with the xj series get a 900 or a 5 valves per cylinder 700. As I understand it the tariff back in the day and Yamaha engineering made the 700 faster than a 750.

Gary H.

 

The X was made in both 700x and 750x. USA only got the 700x, and we only got the 700 airhead, too.

As far as I know, the differences between the X engines are basically that the 750x is stroked version of the 700x. That's putting it simple.... But if you have a conversation with Len, he can fill you in more.

Regardless, the X is a fast enough ride.....but yeah, the 900 is darn fast, too---

 

O

Oh, you a funny guy.

No, it's not. Well, it's mostly not---- I just have to have the time to get back to working on it. Lol

 

I remember my buddies on 750x's blowing by me like I was stopped on my Maxim 1100 (granted it was the slowest of the 1100s). I had more torque--no downshifting required, but they had that heady top end, making power deep into the red zone.

The 7--x is a fast ride, even by today's standards, even more so when compared to the average "cruiser" styled bike.

 

Hogfiddles said:

Yes, that's correct, with the only exception is that the factory carb jetting was slightly different.

Either one is plenty fast for a "Cruiser" style bike and will surprise anyone that's not familiar with what it is.

Tony

 

Yes you Can, I have an 82 750 Maxim that Consistently Runs 0-60 in sub 4 second's, and gives my Buddy's 13 GSX-R 600 a real run for it's Money. My exact set up: Unmodified Mac 4 into 1 Exhaust with Pod's.. But I removed the Boot's from my Pod's and installed them onto the Boot's from the Factory Airbox, they fit perfectly. Then I jetted the Carbs out to #130, and spent a significant amount of time getting the Pilot Screw's Perfect. Then I had to install Heavier Clutch Spring's and new Disc's because it slipped like Hell when I replaced Disc's only.

 

Yes you can what? Nobody said you can’t..... but can’t what?

ok, so you have an ‘82 xj750 maxim.....
This forum was about the Maxim X.

I guess I’m a little fuzzy on what you’re trying to say.
dfox

 

The Guy asked if he can increase Power on an XJ, I said He Can. I guess i didn't Realize he was talking about the 5 Valve, but if I can find extra Power in a YICS 750 one would assume there would be a little more in a 5 Valve 700.

 

Also, the OP hasn’t been around for 6yrs......

 

My Response wasn't exclusively for Him, this is the Top Thread Google Directs you to if your Searching related Topic's. I was sent here myself a little over a Year ago. Had some Decent Result's with My Bike so I figured I'd share.