What are your prime XJ likes & dislikes?

I suppose the majority of members only have one model, but if you have several, please specify what qualities you are particularly happy with and unhappy with for each.

Although I no longer own an XJ, I vividly remember my 1983 XJ750 Seca. So here goes, most important ones in bold:

PROS
Durable engine and drive-train
Low maintenance shaft final drive
Strong braking performance
Narrow engine
Incredibly flexible power supply
Easy general maintenance
Anti-dive fork
Drum rear brake
Strong braking performance
Twin rear shocks with adjustability
Looks

CONS
Hand-numbing engine vibrations
Severe shaft drive torque reactions
Wire + hydraulic front brake operation
Narrow rims lacking correct tubeless bead design
Too eager low fuel level warning light
Restrictive riding position
Relatively harsh suspension
Poor paint finish on engine and frame
Ugly plastic cover over handlebars and top triple clamp
Could have used a bit more cornering clearance

 

It's been about 11 years since I've ridden my '81 Seca (hopefully this fall!), but my list would be pretty similar to yours other than:
Mine has crash bars with highway pegs, which opens up a couple different riding positions.
The triple-tree cover doesn't so much bother me aside from it making farkling difficult.

One con I'll add (again, it's been a while) is I remember the front suspension being VERY prone to wobble if the fork was at all out whack (different air pressures in the tubes, leaking seals, old oil, etc.). NEVER considered riding her no-hands.

After riding my Yam. WR250R pretty exclusively for the last decade+, I'm curious what getting back on the heavier, more powerful, less-agile, shaft-driven Seca will do to my head. Once upon a time, I was so tuned into those drive shaft quirks, and rev range, that switching between the two was a mental exercise/re-calibration.

I'm also looking forward to hearing 'that sound' again. Assuming the exhaust system is still good - the one thing I haven't been able to inspect/test/check/break down yet.

 

Front end wobble is often due to bad/loose steering stem bearings, but can also be a result of swing-arm bearings, too...... check them.

 

PRO
- XJ's are like Meccano building sets, easy to mix and match parts

CONS
- thinking about mixing and matching shit keeps me up at night

 

May need to get it pulled and do a valve job......

 

I love my Seca so much I built another. I have had several bikes over the years , by far the Seca is my favorite, I can ride all day and not feel like stopping every 25 miles . When you have your carbs right, starter clutch is not slipping ( I have replaced two starter clutch in two separate engines) I upgraded mine with spin on oil filter conversion, caged roller head bearings, stainless steel braided brake lines, AMG sealed battery. I added the Yamaha hard luggage, and the sport fairing.

 

Pros:
Shafty
Economical - can easily get 45mpg on a spirited run around the back roads and more if I put my mind to it.
Powerful enough - reputed 98bhp is enough for me.
The fairing - at about 90mph the fairing, which looks too small to be of much use, suddenly acts like it's a bigger unit and diverts air above and around the rider.
Tyres are available in easy and cheap-ish sizes.
24L tank - can go for a long time if being driven sensibly.
Servicing - shims easy, cheap air filter, most other parts not too bad in price.
Spin-on oil filter conversion suddenly turns a messy and awkward job into a breeze.

Cons:
Original headlight is a bit crap - an LED kicked that into a new dimension.
OEM pipes and aftermarket pipes don't last long and Delkevic don't make any.

 

I rode the 550 more than any other.

Pros:

It's a very "right size" bike.
Great power for size and weight.
After the initial round of repairs, very reliable.
Fairly easy to work on, most things are pretty accessible.
Parts availability is amazing for something that old.

Cons:

Carburetors are a right pain in the ass to get right. Also annoying to remove/replace.
US-spec single-disc brake could be better.

 

82 xj550 seca and 81 xj750 seca. The 550 I built from the frame up so I can't really say as to any cons of 550 because I made everything the way I wanted anyways. Now the 750 I have some problems with. The anti dive on the front suspension is unnecessary and just adds weight, shaft drive shaft drive shaft drive Gd shaft drive, why. My opinion is it's a very ugly bike. I'm not a fan of the swirl rims or the way the seat mates into the tank it needs to be a lot lower give the tank more definition in the profile. The tire selection is limited, LED conversions are needed, the service manual is a dirty liar. No change driven 6 gears other than the 550 model.

Pros: I have an 81 Suzuki gs750 and a 79 Honda CB750 and of the three xjs fastest.

 

Geared for a time when the speed limit was 55 so now that it's 70 or 75 she's up on the pipe a bit

 

But it doesnt bother the bike one bit.....

 

1983 XJ 650 Maxim

Pro
SMOOTH running engine (when its running)
Comfortable handle bars
Plush seat
Alloy and not spoke rims
CHEAP OIL CHANGE! $17 / Gallon Rotella T4 at Walmart
XJ4ever is a savior for hard to get parts found no where else
Low seat height, low center of gravity (ok, comparing to my Harley Sportster which is top heavy)

Con
Petcock fuel line to carb path does not lend itself easy to add a filter w/o running line with a vertical hump to trap air.
Foot pegs a bit close to seat making my knees bend more. Added highway pegs to engine guard.
Adjusting idle screws on inside 2 carbs painful unless you remove / raise tank.
Unlike some other older bikes that are more popular, not a good aftermarket parts. Many of what is sold does not fit, is crap or just worse than original.


RE: Removing carbs. I guess i've pulled/replaced them so many times I find it not so bad. Heat up the rubber with heat gun enough to get hot but not melt and I can push them into or pull from intake boots just fine. I can pull tank, remove carbs in about 15 mins. Putting back in is about 20 mins.

 

A big con I have is the gas tanks my X only comes with around 140 miles of range. Wish I had 5 or 6 gallons....

 

XJ700N

Pros: Pretty much what everyone else has said.
Love the power and response--even though I've never been close to red-line.

Con: Wish it had a 6th gear for cruising
Would like a slightly larger fuel tank
Problem finding the correct spark plugs
Not a big fan of shims for adjusting the valves