XJ Handlebars

[COOL TOM]

Does anyone know if XJ handlebars will fit a 78E from the tree up and still use the controls from the 78? If the controls won"t work can i use the controls off the XJ? Just need to know if the handlebars will fit i can probable make the rest work.

Thanks Tom

82 XJ DAILY RIDE
78 XS1100E FIXING UP
79 XS1100F PARTS BIKE
82 XJ IN THE ROUGH

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Tom,

The problem is mounting the XJ bars to the Standard TT! The XJ's as you know have this bolt the goes down into the TT. The Standards have the clamps molded into the TT. The Specials have the rubber mounted holes and bar clamps, so it would be easier to use a Special upper TT for the XJ bars! You may probably have to use a complete TT set, I don't know if the position for the fork tubes would allow a mixing of standard and special TT's?

The special TT's will give you a few less degrees of rake, which will make it a little easier to steer without really affecting it's stability!!

The cable length would be the only concern with the controls vs. the standard bars since you can get more pull back with the XJ bars!
T.C.

[John]

TC

Are the bars on your bike mounted in rubber grommets in the upper clamp? Both of my Specials have solid bar mounts cast into the upper clamp. I do know that the triples had rubber mounts. Any chance that yours may have gotten swapped out at some point?

[TopCatGr58]

Chalk up another one for Clymer's Errors!

Hey John,

Thanks for keeping me honest!! See, XScross442, I told you I do make mistakes!! I hadn't investigated mine that closely, was using the diagram from page 203 of the almighty Clymers for the Special TT's. Guess Clymer's got the 750's and 11's mixed up there!!

CC: to Clymer's errors thread!
T.C.

[TopCatGr58]

Okay, second approach!

Tom, you could use the 4 handlebar clamp holes and flat mating surface to fabricate and bolt a flat piece of metal over the clamp area, and then you should be able to bolt the XJ bars into that, just drill a pair of holes into that plate, that way you won't destroy the OEM TT clamps!?

I don't know if the 750 or 850 TT's would work like I thought the Special 11 would!? Pat Kelly has a Triple, he possibly could provide some measurements, like the size of upper fork tubes, the spacing of the fork tube holes, etc.!
T.C.

[John]

Hell, I've got an XJ11 with the bars and TT still attached. The upper tree may fit the XS. but I ain't taking mine apart to find out.

[Jerry]

The XJ forks will work on an XS if you get or have part #17 in this diagram:



10M-23442-00-98 Holder, Handle, Lower.

The XJ bars mount on splines, and these parts provide the splines.

Couple other differences. If your XS has 4-way flashers, you will find the switch on the XJ is on the right bar, not on the left. The XJ bars have a cable-operated choke which will need to be discarded. You would be better off using the XS master cylinder, as the XJ unit is smaller, having to only operate the front-right caliper due to the front-left being operated from the rear brake pedal. Also, the XJ front M/C has a fluid level sensor, which is no good for XS use. As far as I know, the throttle cables can be interchanged, so no special cabling is needed.

Anyway, you can get the XJ bars swapped onto an XS, but it is not a bolt-and-go operation; some tweaking will be needed.