Xs360 to keep it or not to keep it

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kliton

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Hello everybody,

Well, I'm new to the forum so be patient and read few lines of intro and then e few question to which I hope to find the answers.

I'm 29, and recently came up with the idea to ride again, and by riding I don't mean commuting but touring, some daily and maybe longer journeys, something like 200-500km/day. At first thought about a BMW K75, but because of license restrictions I changed and began thinking about e Varadero 125...
BUT lastly fate came to me in the shape of a Yamaha XS360, pretty much identical to the one in the attached pic.

I read a bit about it and the idea I got is that this is a pretty good bike, not like K75 and the Varadero, but still very interesting.
The one i got looks in a good shape, starts in a cold winter night first time, but as the previous owner says needs lots of fuel to run and that's bad, but i think I can fix if it can be done in some way.

And finally to come to the questions:
1. Is this the proper bike for my purpose?
2. Is it worth to try fixing its problem with the fuel consumption?
3. If I keep it is it worth to plan trying some cheap overhauling as I can do my on mechanics, at least few, or just fix the necessary to run and go?
4. Is this bike appropriate to tour, does it break down frequently, can it be fixed on the way?
5. Has anyone tried to tour with it, how long, how far, did it break down to the point of ruining the trip and forcing to turn home?

I look in a big need of help, do I :)

Looking forward to your replies,

BR
Kliton
 

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Wlcome to the forum Kilton!

1. These kinds of bikes are a lot of fun to ride around. They're light, not very complicated, and supposed to be great on gas. However, not great if you're looking to set a land speed record on the freeway. You can more than likely made it more comfortable with a few easy alterations to the handlebars, pegs, seat etc. Nothing too complicated.

2. These bikes should be getting somewhere in the 50-65 mpg range depending on your set up, so either there's a fuel leak or you have to mess with the carbs and lean them out.

3. I think it's always worth it to keep it and try your best to change it to suit your needs. Online stores and other owners are great ways to get the parts that you need. If you look closely at the forum a ton of people do write-ups and explain where to find a ton of parts that will fit on the XS.

4. You get out what you put in with these bikes. They're reliable if they've been treated to proper maintenance. The bikes would be sold with small tool bags, so keeping a set similar to it is always better than not having it and needing it. There should be a picture in one of the threads of an original tool set. 'Course, these bikes weren't meant to tour but I'm sure that if you put some time into making it comfy you can pull it off.

5. Hoping someone will be able to chime in on the last one.

Hope that helps. I'd be interested to see someone make a successful small touring bike out of this. I'd like to tour, but I'm really not interested in a big GL1100 or Harley.
 
I love the XS360/400 for local riding. I would not suggest it for sustained high speed riding. Most of my cruising is below 55 mph. I have not ridden more than 1 hour's distance and found the bike to be fine for that time but much longer would not be comfortable but I am much older than you so youth would tolerate more.

I have ridden mine for almost two years and average 55 mpg. My area is not flat and involves lots of up and down shifting and speeds of 45-55 mph. Flat land cruising would give a few more mpgs.

These are dependable bikes and, with proper care, will be reliable. The only time mine quit was when I ran out of gas not long after getting the bike as I wasn't used to not having a gas gauge. Now I know I can depend on 150 miles from a full tank and still have a safe reserve.
 
I have a 1977 XS360 and I got it in 1987. It has over 25,000 miles on it. I change the oil every 1000 miles. It does not leak oil and it does not use oil or smoke. I add gas every 100 miles if it needs or not, about 2 gallons or so. Two times the carbs got gummed up because I left the gas for over six months and once the master cylinder and once the front caliper got gummed with brake fluid because you need to change brake fluid every year. It a great bike to go the store and go the mall. I like it.

They say this year we will looking at $5.00 a gallon gas.............

Robert
 
fun bike for sure. how big of a guy are you. like others said they are a blast to cruise around but any kind of long trips especially @ highway speeds won't be fun imo.
 
robertmcw said:
I live in the Houston area and today the average price for gas is $3.263 (US).
Click to expand...

We are at $3.59.9/U.S. gal regular with predictions to be at or near $4.00 in the near future. But, you know how predictions go! :laugh: Problem is, we have lots of folks who commute long distances and even .40 cent/gal. increase can be a hardship. At this point in life, I only use my cycle for fun and errands in decent riding weather. In the Winter I sure miss the 55 mpg it gets on regular. Our other Winter "errand" vehicle does all of 16-17 mpg regular but it doesn't make economic sense to replace it. Even though retired, we still do 15-18K miles/year and don't really go anywhere. No long distance trips! Everything we need is at least a couple "hollers" away.
 
Side by side pistons with a petcock diafram rules

Its like driving a Independed rear suspension while loving each bump.

when you go champion you will never ngk

brb kinda excited need to go to garage and play with my toys... hehe get it toys?

going to light a fire first... then i'm just going to sit there and look at it.
 
girl at work has a trans-am and she walks to work this week as no money for fuel till pay day, that's the first I've know that!
 
JARichmond said:
Wlcome to the forum Kilton!

1. These kinds of bikes are a lot of fun to ride around. They're light, not very complicated, and supposed to be great on gas. However, not great if you're looking to set a land speed record on the freeway. You can more than likely made it more comfortable with a few easy alterations to the handlebars, pegs, seat etc. Nothing too complicated.

2. These bikes should be getting somewhere in the 50-65 mpg range depending on your set up, so either there's a fuel leak or you have to mess with the carbs and lean them out.

3. I think it's always worth it to keep it and try your best to change it to suit your needs. Online stores and other owners are great ways to get the parts that you need. If you look closely at the forum a ton of people do write-ups and explain where to find a ton of parts that will fit on the XS.

4. You get out what you put in with these bikes. They're reliable if they've been treated to proper maintenance. The bikes would be sold with small tool bags, so keeping a set similar to it is always better than not having it and needing it. There should be a picture in one of the threads of an original tool set. 'Course, these bikes weren't meant to tour but I'm sure that if you put some time into making it comfy you can pull it off.

5. Hoping someone will be able to chime in on the last one.

Hope that helps. I'd be interested to see someone make a successful small touring bike out of this. I'd like to tour, but I'm really not interested in a big GL1100 or Harley.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have a leak somewhere.Maybe floats are sticking and petcock is leaking
 
In 1970 or so, I decided my 1969 Yamaha 350 YRC Scrambler (two cycle motor) from to Houston to San Antonio about 400 miles around trip. I was in the early 20’s then. I was going in the 70’s miles an hour on the road. I made about 90 miles from Houston and went back home. The vibrations from the bike and the road were so bad you hands hurt. I have a XS360 (a 1977) today. About 1992 I drove to Galveston and that is a 90 mile one trip and I did it but I won’t do it again. I don’t think a stock touring XS360 or an XS400 is really made to make long trips for going 70 miles an hour. If you re-do the tires, the seat, the shocks, get a windshield and fix the forks so you can hold it for hours on hour and fix the vibrations then maybe is a new story and the top speed would in the 55 or so you won’t burn out the motor but you mileage would suffer.

I am now in my 60’s and I think at this time of my life, that bike is great from short hops but not for a long trip.

My two cents, Robert.
 
robertmcw said:
In 1970 or so, I decided my 1969 Yamaha 350 YRC Scrambler (two cycle motor) from to Houston to San Antonio about 400 miles around trip. I was in the early 20’s then. I was going in the 70’s miles an hour on the road. I made about 90 miles from Houston and went back home. The vibrations from the bike and the road were so bad you hands hurt. I have a XS360 (a 1977) today. About 1992 I drove to Galveston and that is a 90 mile one trip and I did it but I won’t do it again. I don’t think a stock touring XS360 or an XS400 is really made to make long trips for going 70 miles an hour. If you re-do the tires, the seat, the shocks, get a windshield and fix the forks so you can hold it for hours on hour and fix the vibrations then maybe is a new story and the top speed would in the 55 or so you won’t burn out the motor but you mileage would suffer.

I am now in my 60’s and I think at this time of my life, that bike is great from short hops but not for a long trip.

My two cents, Robert.
Click to expand...
if you have vibes you need to check timing @ 70 - 80 my bike is really smooth. I have a little fly screen on mine which makes a lot of difference to comfort. I did 650miles in two days, 11 hour ride back and I was ok (apart from the rain)
 
These are smooth engines when tuned well. But if you want to ride like your in a cadillac then get a goldwing:wink2:
 
drewpy said:
if you have vibes you need to check timing @ 70 - 80 my bike is really smooth. I have a little fly screen on mine which makes a lot of difference to comfort. I did 650miles in two days, 11 hour ride back and I was ok (apart from the rain)
Click to expand...

Doing my math, 650 miles in 11 hours means averages 59 miles an hour. I can see that.

Robert.
 
xschris said:
These are smooth engines when tuned well. But if you want to ride like your in a cadillac then get a goldwing:wink2:
Click to expand...

Unless your goldwing is red and named christine.mine tried to catch me on fire the first day i owned it.the carbs were so dirty the floats were stuck and it wasn"t getting any gas.the kid i got it from took out the air filter and was pouring gas in it to get it to run.when i got it home i hit it with a little starting fluid and it bacxkfired trough the carbs and shot a 2 foot flame out the airbox, so i named it christine.:yikes:lost half my beard
 
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