XJ1100 handlebar swap?

[Howie]

Hey, everybody-

I just bought a junker '82 XJ1100. I'm planning on bringing it back from the dead with a few dollars and a lot of time...

Question: what does a guy have to do to swap out the stock cast bars for some traditional tubular bars? I'm looking to go to a flatter bar.

It looks like I'll need to swap triple trees for an XS (if they fit), or do some mods on the stock trees.

Any suggestions?

Thanks, -Howie

P.S.- I tried the "search" feature, but couldn't find what I was looking for...

[CHRISSER]

I don't see any problem as long as you're not binding up any cables or hoses with the change in length.

[Jerry]

Have not tried this, just looking at microfiche for the XJ and the XS. You are going to run into a few problems. Top of the XJ forks are splined for the XJ bars. This allows for the built-in width adjustments. You *might* be able to get by just swapping the top of the tripple-T to get the clamp style mounts used on the found XS bars. To adjust the stock bars, remove the cover over the ignition switch. There is an allen screw that holds the bars to the top of the fork tubes. Loosen or remove this screw, pull the bars off the splines, and rotate them 1 spline clockwise to 'spread' the bars, or one spline counter-clockwise to 'narrow' the bars.

You may run into clearance problems with the trim cover around the ignition switch, as it fits into the recess left by not having a continious bar between the fork tubes. The switch itself may need to be relocated for the same reason; it depends on the XJ's open space to get the key in and out.

I think the round parts of the XJ bars, where the controls mount, is the same as the XS diameter bars so there should not be a problem mounting the XJ controls on the XS bars.

Bear in mind that in addition to the splines that allow you to adjust the width (spread?) of the bars at the top of the tripple-t, you can adjust the up-down angle of the bar ends, which are also splined. There is a plastic cap at the top of the square part of the riser. Remove the cap and you will see an allen screw underneath. Loosen this screw. You can rotate the bar end up or down 1 spline, which doesn't sound like a lot but makes a noticeable difference. I run my XJ one spline wider than stock and 1 spline up from stock.

I would try adjusting the bars before I swap them for XS bars, but you should be able to make the swap with a few changes of hardware.

[Howie]

Thanks, Jerry-

Just the kind of info I'm looking for.

It'll be a while before the project is done, but I'll post some pictures when it's finished. Aiming for next spring, but that's what I said last winter!

Thanks, Chris Howe

[TopCatGr58]

A little more info.

Hey Jerry and Howie,

After recently working on an XJ, I found there are 2 allen screws you have to loosen to adjust the round sections, the one you mentioned under the plastic cap, but also one in the end of the square section that clamps the split square section tighter around the splined round section, you'll need to take that one out before you can pull out and then rotate the round section, then put it back in, and then the screw back in. Just an FYI!

T.C.

[Jerry]

Thanks, T.C. Been a while since I did my adjustment, memory isn't what it used to be. I find the XJ bars are a pretty goodfit for me with the adjustment noted earlier.