What SEATS from other XS bikes can I put on my XS11 GS?

[jshepard935]

what all is compatible? i'm thinking of getting a new seat, but would like to know how many options i have first.. don't want to restrict myself to GS seats and find out later that they're all the same.. also, do seats for the 650, 850, etc. fit on the XS11? someone please let me know what all I can use..

[tinman905]

Do you mean SG ? No ,a seat from a 650 or 850 will not fit a SG . Is your cover shot or are you looking for a seatpan for a SG?

[jshepard935]

Do you mean SG ? No ,a seat from a 650 or 850 will not fit a SG . Is your cover shot or are you looking for a seatpan for a SG?

the cover is ripped, and I don't like the original seat to begin with, so I'm looking for a new seat altogether.. something to complement my drag bars and saddlebags, may a king/queen combo.. but I'd like to buy used if possible, so if I can find out what seats will fit on my bike, I won't be so short of options.. would XJ11, XS11 Standard, and all other year XS11 Special seats fit on my bike? thanks for the swift reply...

[thecamelman79]

I heard this one is still avaiable.



Sorry I could resist.
But I do know a XS pan will not fit an XJ. I checked.

[jshepard935]

I heard this one is still avaiable.



Sorry I could resist.
But I do know a XS pan will not fit an XJ. I checked.

lol.. so what about SF, SH, SI (etc.) seats on the SG? And will XS Standard seats fit on the special?

[CatatonicBug]

The seatpans from an SG, SH, LG or LG ('80 or '81 Specials or Midnight Specials) will fit your bike. No others, without modification. The '79 Special is unique to that particular bike (fits NOTHING else, and NOTHING else fits on the SF), and the Standards don't fit Specials.

lol.. so what about SF, SH, SI (etc.) seats on the SG? And will XS Standard seats fit on the special?

Where are you getting these strage letter designations? SI??

It starts with '78 = E
'79 Standard = F
'79 Special = SF
'80 Standard = G
'80 Special = SG
'80 Midnight Special = LG
'81 Standard = H
'81 Special = SH
'81 Midnight Special = LH

The XJ, in '82, is only listed as J.

[jshepard935]

The seatpans from an SG, SH, LG or LG ('80 or '81 Specials or Midnight Specials) will fit your bike. No others, without modification.

thanks much.. answers all my questions .. for this thread at least..

[tinman905]

I wouldn't think a King/Queen combo will be your best choice with drag bars but that's just me . There are a few place you can buy covers for a SG . Maybe someone can mention where ,I can't remember at the moment .

[CatatonicBug]

I wouldn't think a King/Queen combo will be your best choice with drag bars but that's just me . There are a few place you can buy covers for a SG . Maybe someone can mention where ,I can't remember at the moment .

Lots of places for covers, but I got mine from B&H Specialties.

[jshepard935]

I wouldn't think a King/Queen combo will be your best choice with drag bars but that's just me . There are a few place you can buy covers for a SG . Maybe someone can mention where ,I can't remember at the moment .

found a store on eBay that sell covers, but they're not much cheaper than new seats.. and maybe I don't mean king/queen combo.. it's the one that's more elevated in the rear, maybe three inches higher than the driver's portion of the seat..

[CatatonicBug]

it's the one that's more elevated in the rear, maybe three inches higher than the driver's portion of the seat..

That's how all the '80-'81 Special seats are.

[jshepard935]

That's how all the '80-'81 Special seats are.

it's a sharp inclination, as opposed to the smooth inclination on my bike...

here's mine:

here's what i'm talking about:

please do not think me a fool, sir..

[CatatonicBug]

The first picture you show is a '79 Special - note the non-slotted brake rotors and the thin grab bar behind the seat. The second picture is an '80 Midnight Special. In '80 and '81, both the Specials and Midnight Specials had the same seat construction (and grab bar), with slightly different stitching on the cover for the Midnights.

If what you have is the first picture, you have an SF, NOT an SG, and you will be searching for a new seat pan for a while! They only fit that one bike, and are VERY hard to come by.

[crazy steve]

...and I don't like the original seat to begin with, so I'm looking for a new seat altogether...

You won't find any 'new' seats for one of these; nobody is currently making any complete reproductions or custom seats except for a supplier in England, and they only make repos for standard models (the Special wasn't sold there...). So if you want something 'different', you'll have to find/adapt one yourself or alter your original.

You might look at Harley take-off seats; you'll find like-new OEM HD seats on eBay from guys who upgrade to an aftermarket seat, and sometimes pretty cheap if you shop. Harley uses a plastic seat pan, so they can be 'reshaped' with heat if you're careful. Look at either Sportster or Dyna seats, as these will be closest to fitting the XS frame. Several people here have adapted these.

[rb240tuner]

I noticed that problem with my 79 Special when I tried to get a seat from an 81 Special. That's why I am having a seat custom made for my bike. At least a custom solo seat made for my old pride and joy. I don't even have the original seat for it.

Although, I would love a Midnight Special. I'm not really keen on the King and Queen seat that is on it when I bought it.