Seat question

[N0JRS]

I own a 1979 XS11 Special. The seat is a one piece type with a padded sissy bar and chrome tubular brace. I always figured that it was an aftermarket seat, or that someone had taken a stock seat and re-worked it. Yesterday I got a picture of a 79 XS 11 Special with the same seat. Did Yamaha sell that bike with a sissy bar/seat in 79?

[CatatonicBug]

AFAIK, that is an aftermarket seat that was made specifically for that bike. IMO, it's got to be the ugliest seat ever created...

[N0JRS]

Oh, yes! it is awful. I am looking for a good seat for the bike. Mine has the old familiar 2nd gear problem, but I really like the bike just the same. I have been reading some of your other posts. Thank you for the time and expertise that you add to the forum.

[CatatonicBug]

Oh, yes! it is awful. I am looking for a good seat for the bike. Mine has the old familiar 2nd gear problem, but I really like the bike just the same.

Well, you may be in luck. There are a few folks who actually LIKE that seat , and might be willing to trade. The hard part is that the '79 had a unique seat pan, and won't easilly swap with other years without modification. The 2nd gear fix is easy to do, so take care of that over a Saturday afternoon, and move on to bigger and better things.

[bikerphil]

Just to let you know, an 80-81 Special seat (easier to find) will work on a 79 Special, I can testify to that. You will need to put some type of plate over the back (for asthetic purposes) to cover the indent for the 80-81 grab rail mounted tail lite. The 79 Special seat is a one year only, one bike only seat. The seat below is off an 80 Special...

[fredintoon]

Just to let you know, an 80-81 Special seat (easier to find) will work on a 79 Special, I can testify to that. You will need to put some type of plate over the back (for asthetic purposes) to cover the indent for the 80-81 grab rail mounted tail lite. The 79 Special seat is a one year only, one bike only seat. - - -

Hi Phil,
will the '80-'81 cast grab rail also fit on the '79?
If so, the lugs that the tombstone rear light bolt to will make a dandy strongpoint for a luggage rack.
I was thinking of getting an earlier model fender-mounted tail light & bracket so I could use the lugs on my '80's grab rail for that purpose.

[xs11lover]

This big old high back seat was a factory option from Yamaha, along with the sissy bar that fit the top of the seat and stuck out on the sides a little. I had one. It was nice to ride on but really big and looked like a gaint lizzard. In good shape.....They are worth alot to the right person.
Is this what you have? It's the only pic of it I could find. My coat covers part of it..it was really tall.

[N0JRS]

Yes, that is what I have. I want to ride the bike as a street bike at least at first. I really appreciate the help. I was also really interested in the comment that the 2nd gear fix was an afternoon rebuild. I need to really study up on how to do it. I have only ridden the XS11 two times and it would be a really fun bike if it was running right. Thanks for the encouragement. I thought that the 2nd gear fix meant taking the bike completely apart. Can you direct me to the location of the instructions?

[cywelchjr]

Yes, that is what I have. I want to ride the bike as a street bike at least at first. I really appreciate the help. I was also really interested in the comment that the 2nd gear fix was an afternoon rebuild. I need to really study up on how to do it. I have only ridden the XS11 two times and it would be a really fun bike if it was running right. Thanks for the encouragement. I thought that the 2nd gear fix meant taking the bike completely apart. Can you direct me to the location of the instructions?

Psycoreefer told me that he did his by standing it on it's tail (hung it from the garage rafters by the front end) and that it went pretty easy that way. I can see how that could work as he said he could sit on a bar stool to work on it that way.

[trbig]

Psycoreefer told me that he did his by standing it on it's tail (hung it from the garage rafters by the front end) and that it went pretty easy that way. I can see how that could work as he said he could sit on a bar stool to work on it that way.
__________________

And just like that, he hits a thousand!

Congrats to the newest Guru Cy.

*And now back to your regularly scheduled thread topic... lol.


Tod

[jmnjrpa]

Have you got a pic of your seat?

Want to sell it?

[rover]

79-80 seats

If you put an 80 spec seat on a 79 spec, part of the seat will contact the side covers. I did this, but I trimmed the part that touches the covers. It is quite easy to loosen part of the cover, peel it back, and cut the bottom of the seat pan almost flat, then re-attach the cover. Mine was an 80 midnight spec seat, and is MUCH nicer than the original on the 79 SF. The standards CAN be used, but you have to relocate the TCI, and change the rear fender. The Std's have the TCI located partly behind the seat pan, with an extra tail piece behind the seat. If the TCI is left in it's original location, the seat pan will rest on it, as there is a relief in the spec seat to clear the TCI, but the relief is not in the standard pan.

[psycoreefer]

Yes, that is what I have. I want to ride the bike as a street bike at least at first. I really appreciate the help. I was also really interested in the comment that the 2nd gear fix was an afternoon rebuild. I need to really study up on how to do it. I have only ridden the XS11 two times and it would be a really fun bike if it was running right. Thanks for the encouragement. I thought that the 2nd gear fix meant taking the bike completely apart. Can you direct me to the location of the instructions?

here is the link to the second gear fix instructions. From the main forum page scroll down past the lounge and xs discussion, you'll see some sections about maintenance, repairs, and modifications. A lot of the most common stuff is very well written up and most even have pictures to explain.

As cy mentioned I did mine a bit different, looked like this...

Didn't have to remove all the top stuff to flip it and I didn't have to lay on the cold floor the whole time either.

[xs11lover]

Here is a nice 79 xs11 special seat and grab bar. Auction ends today!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...NA:MOTORS:1123

[mro]

Hi Brian

Seeing a garage without a load of cra... stuff in it makes one wonder if your "normal".

mro
BTW, looks like a neat way to work on the bottom.
Sure miss my shop and forklift