Do I have a special or standard?

[Eaglechaser9999]

I am needing some help. I am trying to figure out whether or not I have a standard or a special. The title states the bike is a 78, and in everything I have looked up it says there was no special made in 78, but my bike has a serial number for a 78 as well. My problem is it also has the charecteristics of a special. It has the round headlight as well as the tear drop tank. Can anyone tell me if it is possible to take a standard and make it look like a special? Thanks

[mitch]

To Your left

Click on the Specifications in the list on the Left of this page and your serial number will tell you what you have .
Doug

[fredintoon]

Swap like Lego

"Can anyone tell me if it is possible to take a standard and make it look like a special?"
Hi Eagle,
buy enough parts and you can go either way. The frame, front wheel, motor & drive train are all the same. Swap the forks & tinware, bars, tank, seat, rear wheel, footpegs, headlight, signals, gages and doubtless a few other small bolt-on parts to turn either into the other. Just like Lego. Like Mitch sez, check the spec. list against your serial # to see what the bike originally was.

[bikerphil]

frame

The Special and Standard frames are different, but not by much. Easy way to tell them apart is to look at the rear brake lever. The Standard lever sits almost flush to the rear footpeg mount bracket. The Special lever sticks out about 1 inch from the bracket. HTH

[79XS11F]

If the bike is indeed a 1978 model it is a standard. The specials were released in 1979.
Rob

[mro]

has the charecteristics of a special

How about posting a couple pics?


mro
BTW, welcome to XS land

[Eaglechaser9999]

I will work on getting some pics so I can post. thanks

[tangopig]

Anythings possible! I thought I was buying an 81 special when I got mine...the more I looked at it I wondered...160 speedo, teardrop tank and square headlight. Checked the serial number and it starts 4R1 so that makes it a standard! I say who cares with these wonderful machines!!!

Josh

[DJinNH]

Re: Swap like Lego

Originally posted by fredintoon
"Can anyone tell me if it is possible to take a standard and make it look like a special?"

Hi Eagle,
buy enough parts and you can go either way.

That's the #1 reason why you gotta think twice about picking up a babe these days!

Don

[blue giant]

I have a standard, but it's special to me!

[MattWenrick]

Is it a 79 special made in late 78?

[Eaglechaser9999]

I am not sure of that. I would like to think it is a late 78 that made it thru as a special and it is a mistake. That would make it more special than it already is.

[John]

The model year usually begins in September of the year before. A 79 Special could have a production date of 9-78.

[Eaglechaser9999]

I am still checking into a few things. But I believe by the serial number cross refrencing it with the specs link, it was the 513th one made in 78. I am still trying to get a hold of a digital camera so I can post some pics. Maybe then yall will see why I am so confused. Thanks for all the responses tho, it is helping me to find different angles to look at.

[GNEPIG]

serial # chart:
http://www.xs11.com/specifications/serialno.shtml

If the first 3 digits of your serial # start with 3H3 you have a 79 Special. The numbers can be found stamped on the steering stem and stamped on the top of the transmission.