saddle bags for 81 xs eleven special

[cdwl7]

I have been searching the site in answer to this question, and may have overlooked it,....Will saddle bags and the mounting hardware off a 80 straight eleven bolt to an 81 model eleven special?

[CatatonicBug]

Welcome to the forum! By "Straight", I assume you mean a "Standard". If that is the case, the answer is no. However, with a little fabrication, you could probably make it work. The mounting points on a Standard are different from a Special. What bags are you looking to swap? The factory ones have a top-opening lid, or there are a few others that have been used.

I noticed you're in OKC. There are a few other members in your area, so you might want to look them up if you need some hands-on assistance with anything.

[cdwl7]

factory bags

There is a midnight blue set on ebay, poster says they are on a 80 eleven special, however the tank on the bike looks to be a standard eleven, I have a brand new set of hard factory yamaha bags, burgundy in color but no mounting hardware, was just trying to get an idea of how hard it would be before i go nuts bidding on them.. thank you for the welcome

[crazy steve]

The only difference between the standard and the special as far as bag fit is the location of the rear footpegs, which is the lower attachment point for the front bracket. The special has the pegs up higher (due to it's slanting-up exhaust), so if you can fab a bracket to bridge the gap, all the other mounting points are the same.

This is for the factory bags; I can't say if the Vetters or others would be the same.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey CDWL7,

Take a closer look at the seller's bike. Lots of folks put Standard tanks on specials for longer cruising capacity. Check the front forks for the leading axle design and round headlight and gauges, you might be able to discern if it's a Special with just a standard tank, then the bags will probably fit your special since they are already on a special??
T.C.

[cdwl7]

81 bags

Thank you guys, I did go ahead and bid on them and got them so in a couple of weeks i'll be mounting them.

[Nubian]

The only difference between the standard and the special as far as bag fit is the location of the rear footpegs, which is the lower attachment point for the front bracket. The special has the pegs up higher (due to it's slanting-up exhaust), so if you can fab a bracket to bridge the gap, all the other mounting points are the same.

This is for the factory bags; I can't say if the Vetters or others would be the same.

Where does that leave me? As I understand it my 11H comes with a special exhaust, so which hard saddlebags fit my xs1100h standard or special?

[crazy steve]

...As I understand it my 11H comes with a special exhaust, so which hard saddlebags fit my xs1100h standard or special?

You want 'special' bags for a direct bolt-on, but keep in mind that the only difference is that one front mounting point. Again, if you're willing to fab a small 'bridge' bracket, either will fit.

[Nubian]

You want 'special' bags for a direct bolt-on, but keep in mind that the only difference is that one front mounting point. Again, if you're willing to fab a small 'bridge' bracket, either will fit.

Different mounts, ok. but what about the bags themselves are they the same, will they fit either mounts?

[cywelchjr]

If your talking Vetter bags, they are the same, if your talking the Yamaha bags, there are bags made specifically made for them, but the bags don't matter it's the mounts that matter, once you adapt the mounts it doesn't matter.

[crazy steve]

You need to be careful mixing and matching bags and mounts. I'm reasonable sure that the factory bags will interchange, even though there's minor differences between the various years/models (mostly having to do with the lid design). But if you're trying to swap parts between different brands of bags, I think you'll have issues. The aftermarket bags such as Vetter or Bates came with their own mounting systems, and usually had their own distinctive shape/size that would prevent mounting with 'other' mounts. Not saying it can't be done, but it may get rather involved.

A few other things to look out for if looking at aftermarket bag sets; if the bags use an integrated luggage rack as part of the mount. The luggage racks do not interchange between the standard and the specials, so this combo would require surgury on the rack to fit. Same thing goes for mounting points on any aftermarket bags. The factory bags mount at the top shock studs, the turn signal mounts on the frame, and the rear footpegs (with only the latter being slightly different). If any other bags you look at don't use these mounting points, specifically the turn mounts, they'll probably be model-specific (standard or special), so be aware.

[Nubian]

If your talking Vetter bags, they are the same, if your talking the Yamaha bags, there are bags made specifically made for them, but the bags don't matter it's the mounts that matter, once you adapt the mounts it doesn't matter.

Yes, talking Yamaha bags, thats means the mounting holes on the bags are the same, right?

[Nubian]

You need to be careful mixing and matching bags and mounts. I'm reasonable sure that the factory bags will interchange, even though there's minor differences between the various years/models (mostly having to do with the lid design). But if you're trying to swap parts between different brands of bags, I think you'll have issues. The aftermarket bags such as Vetter or Bates came with their own mounting systems, and usually had their own distinctive shape/size that would prevent mounting with 'other' mounts. Not saying it can't be done, but it may get rather involved.

A few other things to look out for if looking at aftermarket bag sets; if the bags use an integrated luggage rack as part of the mount. The luggage racks do not interchange between the standard and the specials, so this combo would require surgury on the rack to fit. Same thing goes for mounting points on any aftermarket bags. The factory bags mount at the top shock studs, the turn signal mounts on the frame, and the rear footpegs (with only the latter being slightly different). If any other bags you look at don't use these mounting points, specifically the turn mounts, they'll probably be model-specific (standard or special), so be aware.

Thanks Steve, no mix match here, talking strictly Yamaha bags.
I think I picked the wrong XS to fall in love with. I guess my model has a mix a parts from standard and specials.

[crazy steve]

Yes, talking Yamaha bags, thats means the mounting holes on the bags are the same, right?

I'm pretty sure they're all the same size, but if you mix early/late bags/brackets, there may be a hole or two that may need to be drilled/plugged. But AFAIK all the factory bags are essentially the same, with just minor detail differences...

[crazy steve]

...I think I picked the wrong XS to fall in love with. I guess my model has a mix of parts from standard and specials.

Not that many parts... the big thing is the Special exhaust. This also changes the footpeg mounts, both stands (center and side), rear brake pedal and linkage to 'special' parts. The rest of the bike is 'normal' standard, with just the year-to-year differences. Probably the hardest part to find for a '81 is the one-year-only TCI box...