what parts to switch from air to no air forks

[mason79]

i guess i'm going the progressive springs in the fork and don't want to deal with the air cap messiness on the bike with the fittings and dials, etc...

i know i can keep them but looks are important to me,

i would like to know for a 1979 standard, what pieces do i need to be able to convert it back, i saw a fork exploded view and there are lots of little pieces,

i also have read the other years and models may have some adjustment, maybe this is not true

[TopCatGr58]

Air apparent!

Hey Mason,

There are lots of parts, but the only parts for the Air Forks are the Upper caps, and the Special Sliders. Air forks were only on the Specials, not the Standards! So...IF you have a 79 Standard, then how did you end up with Air Caps? Is your axle on the bottom of the fork tube lowers, or mounted on the leading edge a few inches above the bottom?

Your bike may have been in a front ender, and someone may have put Special forks on a Standard??

So...just swap out the air caps for Standard Caps!
T.C.

[Dennyz]

I have seen air caps on Standard forks. Either they where aftermarket or somewhere, sometime the Standards came with them (maybe Euro).

Anyway, all that is needed to covert back is a set of Standard caps.

As T.C. wrote, make sure of the type of forks you actually have.

FYI: Special and Standard fork caps are not interchangable (different threads).

[mason79]

hello topcat how are ya?

well i neglected to say these were aftermarket, and are bulky items with balance hoses and a pressure gauge, hmmm....

so if the po didn't tamper with the innards then lose a few pieces then my search for standard bolt begins! thanks again sir!

I'm 5' 7" 135, do you think the progressives are going to be too stiff and that i'm better off leaving it the way it is and just service the forks with some 15wt oil?

[Dennyz]

The advantage of the Progressive springs is that they provide a softer ride, yet get firmer as the forks compress. I found them to be a significant improvement over the sock spring for both ride and handling. Go with them!

[TopCatGr58]

Denny,

The problem he seemed to report in another thread was with what he called the REBOUND dampening being non-existent? The compression damping seems to be okay, but they extend too quickly or too easily!?

Sounds like he may want to go up in fork oil viscosity? It will make it a tad more stiffer in the compression aspect as well, but should provide the increased valving/dampening affect he's looking for so that they don't extend quite so quickly!?

I hope I interpreted his comments correctly? The different oil is a quick and relative cheaper experiment than new fork springs!
T.C.

[Dennyz]

There is an article somewhere about drilling out the damping piston to improve the damping action of the XS front fork, particularly in reference to rebound. I did the modification years ago when I installed my Progressive springs. I believe it to be a good modification.

I think it may still be on the Yahoo site. I will look around for it.

[Dennyz]

Here it is - good reading

How to make the Yamaha XS11 Handle

[Dennyz]

Well, that is not the article I was thining it was. I am still looking.

[motoman]

I know the airforks came standard on the 81 Venturer, as mine has them. They are individual valves with the chrome caps and are not the leading front axle forks. They came on Specials only(leading axle).

[mason79]

yes, i'm trying to interpret what behavior my beast is manifesting with me and my riding.

and to address the negative aspect of those performances

topcat is correct in understanding my assessment, and factoring my weight; light, will i have a zone of tuneablity with progressive springs as maybe they are bias towards payload (read) full dress type bike like the XS vs. how far off am i actually, with the getup, i now possess. cost dependent.

btw, i'm try the picture thing andhope it shows up tada![IMG][/IMG]


you mean this right dennyz

http://www.xs11.com/stories/handling.shtml

[motoman]

Picture looks good Mason.........nice example of a 79Standard!

[JWSanders]

Originally posted by mason79
btw, i'm try the picture thing andhope it shows up tada!

Wow, nice looking bike! Very clean looking. Pretty sure those are standard forks since the clamps are on the ends.

[mason79]

Wow, nice looking bike! Very clean looking. Pretty sure those are standard forks since the clamps are on the ends.

thanks, pictures lie, not bad for a 27 year old, still gonna need your pipes, did you get the ones you bought from ebay?

[GNEPIG]

Dennyz How to make the Yamaha XS11 Handle

.. this is the story i read in 03 on this web site, i followed the updated version and except for a good fork brace and drilling the damper rods, this is what i have done to my special and it handles real good. the steering feels way lighter than a 575 lb bike should.
.. the fork springs are 65 bucks and are way worth it
there will be far less front end dive and you will notice far less rebound action.. the original springs are 30 years old on a bike that weighs almost 600 lbs, the springs are sacked