Shuriken
Well-Known Member
All of the bikes I have owned over the years basically started as piles of junk. I'd buy them for cheap and bring them back to life. See my VMax saga here: http://www.vmaxforum.net/showthread.php?t=3410
While my repairs have gotten them all back on the road, none of the bikes I have brought back to life seem to have the factory pep in them. I think a lot of it is the altitude (5700ft) but I also think a lot of it is just many little things wearing down over time that eventually rob power. I haven't rebuilt the engines (pistons, rings, valves, etc.) on any of my bikes (except 2 dirt bikes).
My question is, what do you guys think are the highest contributing factors to performance loss over time on these older bikes (meaning 1980-2000)?
For example, do you think it's the carbs wearing out / getting misadjusted over time? Or is it overall piston/rings wear, or misadjusted valves? Obviously, all of it causes loss, but what do you think causes the most loss?
I'd like to hear from some of you wrench-heads who have been working on bikes for awhile or who have been into enough bike engines through the years to know.
I'm going to guess elevation, then piston/ring wear, then carb issues?
One of my old XS11 bikes measured as low as 90psi on one cylinder and the rest were like 110 cold. That bike smoked and it had obvious top-end wear. The next XS I got measured like 130psi compression (and it was faster) and this Max I have is maybe 150ish with a bit of oil? (have to dig up the numbers...)
So it seems most of the bikes I get have top end wear. Combine that with elevation issues (carb / jetting) and I'd guess I lose at the least %25 percent performance vs. what you guys are getting out of your bikes. Yeah my bike is fast and powerful but it isn't nasty. I've managed to pop a small (6") wheelie in 1st with a good launch at an intersection and I can burn the tire as well but there is no worry that this bike will loop it in 2nd when boost kicks in... On my XL500r dirt bike, I rejetted a bunch leaner and it will stand up easy in 1st with throttle and in 2nd throttle only with a good yank.
So it's always bothered me to hear people riding a Max at sea level and all the sudden the 145 ponies are lofting the tire in 2nd with ease. I want that kind of performance but I wonder how much of it is really to be had on an '85 Max with ~40k miles at my elevation? If I were to buy the newest Gen1 I could find, would it "put the caffeine in the coffee," or would I still be at a loss at this elevation?
While my repairs have gotten them all back on the road, none of the bikes I have brought back to life seem to have the factory pep in them. I think a lot of it is the altitude (5700ft) but I also think a lot of it is just many little things wearing down over time that eventually rob power. I haven't rebuilt the engines (pistons, rings, valves, etc.) on any of my bikes (except 2 dirt bikes).
My question is, what do you guys think are the highest contributing factors to performance loss over time on these older bikes (meaning 1980-2000)?
For example, do you think it's the carbs wearing out / getting misadjusted over time? Or is it overall piston/rings wear, or misadjusted valves? Obviously, all of it causes loss, but what do you think causes the most loss?
I'd like to hear from some of you wrench-heads who have been working on bikes for awhile or who have been into enough bike engines through the years to know.
I'm going to guess elevation, then piston/ring wear, then carb issues?
One of my old XS11 bikes measured as low as 90psi on one cylinder and the rest were like 110 cold. That bike smoked and it had obvious top-end wear. The next XS I got measured like 130psi compression (and it was faster) and this Max I have is maybe 150ish with a bit of oil? (have to dig up the numbers...)
So it seems most of the bikes I get have top end wear. Combine that with elevation issues (carb / jetting) and I'd guess I lose at the least %25 percent performance vs. what you guys are getting out of your bikes. Yeah my bike is fast and powerful but it isn't nasty. I've managed to pop a small (6") wheelie in 1st with a good launch at an intersection and I can burn the tire as well but there is no worry that this bike will loop it in 2nd when boost kicks in... On my XL500r dirt bike, I rejetted a bunch leaner and it will stand up easy in 1st with throttle and in 2nd throttle only with a good yank.
So it's always bothered me to hear people riding a Max at sea level and all the sudden the 145 ponies are lofting the tire in 2nd with ease. I want that kind of performance but I wonder how much of it is really to be had on an '85 Max with ~40k miles at my elevation? If I were to buy the newest Gen1 I could find, would it "put the caffeine in the coffee," or would I still be at a loss at this elevation?
