Are the 1979 and 1980 XS's the same?

[songs4sale07]

I have a 1980 XS1100 and have a chance to buy a 1979 XS1100 as a parts bike? are they close enough to being the same that I can do this or by buying the 79 am I wasting my money and time?

[tarzan]

Lots of parts are the same.
The carbs are a little different but can be swapped between the two.
I believe the cams are different also.
The rear wheels are different size.
The rest of the motors are the same.The transmissions are the same.
Middle drives and final drives are the same.
Frames are the same.
Side covers,gas tanks are different.
I dont remember everything else right now.If you can get it for a good price it is defintiely worth while to have for the big parts that you may eventually need.

[TopCatGr58]

The carbs can be swapped,but the individual parts most likely can NOT be swapped depending on if you have some of those odd bastardized 80 carbs, otherwise the jets, floats, vacuum slides, springs, are NOT the same and not interchangeable.

Also, depends on whether you're talking Special or Standard. IF one is a Special and the other a Standard, then there is less exact swappingability!

Cause you have round vs. square gauges, headlight buckets, turn signals. Also, the front brake calipers are totally different. The rear wheels are different, 16" special 17" standard. Gastanks are differerent, same with even just the sending units, the petcocks too!

T.C.

[fredintoon]

I have a 1980 XS1100 and have a chance to buy a 1979 XS1100 as a parts bike? are they close enough to being the same that I can do this or by buying the 79 am I wasting my money and time?

Hi Songs,
there are differences between the two especially if one is a Standard and t'other is a Special but almost all of it will interchange. Complete tank & complete front end will swap between any year Standard & Special. So will many other parts. You may end up with a Frankenbike but it will run.