Front Forks

[Roy Bean]

I have a 1982 XJ1100 that needs front fork tubes/sliders. Mine are pitted badly. Andreashweiss has a complete front from a 1978XS1100E. I have tried to find out if this is a direct swap and am having no luck. If the calipers and fender will bolt up direct it would save me a lot of work.
Also,does anyone know what kind of bearings are in the stearing head? Tapered or ball bearing? Thanks.

[AlanB]

Hi Roy,

Head bearings are all tapered on the whole range.

Forks and brakes are not the same between XS11Es and the XJs; E is "conventional", with axle under leg, the XJ has the axle in front. This leads to differences in both calipers and fender,

The COMPLETE front end would interchange, but that would give issues with the brakes, (XJ is linked, XS is not) and possibly wiring/instruments.

XS Special (SG,SF etc) is a lot closer; Forks are also leading axle, and calipers are similar, Fender will fit.

Sorry!

AlanB

[Roy Bean]

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping for a straight swap out. My tubes are rusted down low and i will have to find some.

[mro]

I not sure of the name (might be "forks by frank")
TC and a few others have got new ones and sounded happy with the results.


mro

[Roy Bean]

I looked into that. I am going to my local junk yard and check for a complete front end. The old gentleman that owns it gives me good prices. I might luck out.
I paid around $85.00 for the bike and have spent another $50.00 so far and i want to see if i can get the bike on the road for $500.00.
The last bike i put on the road i had to spend $150.00 for K+N air filters. They were the only aftermarket brand manufactured for that bike. (pods)The next week i bought a new set of the exact filters off eBay for $18.00 delivered so i have learned to wait.
Thanks for the reply.I need all the help i can get!

[SFerinTEXAS]

I got some xj air shocks on Ebay a few weeks ago from a complete bike . They were in pretty good shap and the seller gets a positive rating from me. He may have good forks but you can ask him. The e mail is klad12@msn.com

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Roy,

After a little research on the XS-XJ cdrom and the microfiche, there are some other differences in the fork tubes that will possibly cause you trouble.

The XJ uses air for preload adjustments, but the fittings are on the SIDE of the upper fork tube, not in the end caps!

Secondly, the XJ's front brakes are NOT the same as the 81/80 Specials, they are unique to themselves. The lowers have the dual mounting bolt holes/flange like the standards, but uses different calipers than either model.

So....you might be able to swap out the upper tubes from an earlier SPECIAL.....you'll want to use a special since they are longer, similar to the XJ's since both use the leading axle design vs the bottom axle standard. But, you'll be using the end cap air valves which are separated, vs. the XJ's linked front fork air control valve/tubes system!

But.....I can't determine from the fiche whether the upper tubes will otherwise bolt into the XJ's lowers although the design is very similar to the special!?

Folks have looked into rechroming, it's just about as cost prohibitive as the price of the replacement ones from Franks Forks!

If you do find a Special front end complete with calipers, you "might" be able to use the Special's calipers/entire fork tube but again not sure if the disc rotor and front wheel are the same dimensions, but I do know that folks have swapped out the swirly XJ rims onto their specials....ie. JOHN, so I think they are plug and play and will work with your XJ RIM!

Good Luck! T.C.

[Roy Bean]

Thanks for the email addy SFern and thanks for all the research TopCatGr58. Life can get complicated can't it.
I'll shoot off a email and see what i can come up with on the forks.
I truly would like to keep this bike stock down to the air box. (and i don't like air boxes)
On another note. I hauled off all the alunimun motorcycle parts that would not sell on ebay and got $112.05. I filled my truck up with gas and that cost $91.50. Change left over. Better than Mc Donalds!Thanks again. Roy

[Roy Bean]

SFerin, The guy wrote back and he has a set of forks. He insist on sending some pics so i will get a look at them before i buy. Thanks again.
I am leaving for Pennsylvania so it will be Tuesday before i get a look.

[Roy Bean]

$50.00 plus shipping for the forks! Can't beat that with a stick.