seat trim and rear turn signals

[jeffro1954]

Did Yamaha ever produce 1978 XS1100's with rear turn signals mounted on the brake light/license plate bracket? And sell bikes with king and queen style seats with the standard looking trim along the bottom of the seat? I suppose someone can transfer the trim. Saw a bike that looked like it came that way.

[crazy steve]

Not in the US (and I don't think in Canada either), but they did sell versions with the rear turns mounted at the taillight bracket elsewhere (Europe for sure). If you hunt around, you can find '78 taillight brackets that have two rubber plugs just in front of the license plate bracket; there's a couple of clamps in there for the euro-type turns, but they weren't used here. Not all US-model '78s had the clamps, and later models almost never did.

As far as the K/Q seats, those were all aftermarket. Several seat outfits (Corbin and K&S to name two) offered replacement K/Q seats that could accept the OEM trim for a 'factory' look. Yamaha offered a plusher 'touring' seat for the early XS standards, but it was a conventional type. The only 'factory' K/Q seat I'm aware of is the one fitted to the '81 standard, but that won't retrofit back to the early bikes.

[natemoen]

Ok I am curious as to what the signal lights/mounts looked like for these euro XS's.

There is also the oem signal light bar that came with the baggers.

[jeffro1954]

I'm looking to buy one with those turn signals mounted in the wrong place in my mind. must be a corbin or K & S seat. I was surprised to see the trim on it, wondered if the seat was too wide to keep the turn signals in the normal place. Vin is a fairly low number 2H7-008847. I mis spoke, it's not a K/Q it is more of a touring seat.

[jeffro1954]

The lights are square so I thought they were stock at first. The posts are really wide.

[skids]

Did Yamaha ever produce 1978 XS1100's with rear turn signals mounted on the brake light/license plate bracket? And sell bikes with king and queen style seats with the standard looking trim along the bottom of the seat? I suppose someone can transfer the trim. Saw a bike that looked like it came that way.

You are right. There was a bar than mounted to the license plate with a passthrough for the wires. At least on the standards, there are wires ready to go for this purpose right behind the taillight assembly. They put the lights wide and sort of funny looking with you don't have bags. I narrowed a bar for the use of "leather" bags on one of my bikes which involves cutting and notching (maybe more, I don't remember).

[DAVINCI]

There is such a thing, they come up on ebay quite often.

[James England]

The European version didn't look like the photo above though. The rear turn signal stems (there were two of them) went through round holes in the tail light bracket and were held in place by individual clamps behind the licence plate holder (which was bigger than the US version). There wasn't a long bar as in the pic above..... On the European version, the rear fender is longer too

[jeffro1954]

from looking at the photos (wish I could post them, I've tried but no success yet. Have to read the instructions). looks to me that the touring seat is sitting a little lower over the frame and fender, and or the luggage rack is sitting about where the turn signals are usually mounted so where the stock turn signals would mount there isn't room so they rigged something right below the tail light. I see the holes where the stem would slide through as shown in James photos, but he didn't run them through those holes. Can't see from the pics how they are fastened. Like usual side covers are missing - darn it anyway. Hope to go see it later this week. It's a 1978.

[ManagerMike]

I relocated the TS lamps to my tail lamp/licsence plate braket to accomodate bags on my 78 some time ago. the knockouts and wiring exists therein...
2h7006021, u.s. sold yes?
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/...5/DSCN1553.jpg

Just recently added an LED automotive center high mount stop lamp to the tail light/plate bracket as well, HOLY STOP LIGHTS BATMAN! that thing is bright!

[James England]

I see the holes where the stem would slide through as shown in James photos, but he didn't run them through those holes. Can't see from the pics how they are fastened. .

They are fastened inside the tail light bracket by circular clamps which are tightened with small bolts. You may find that these clamps are missing on the US tail light units, even if they have the holes for the stems.

[petejw]

the aussie versions have them welded
behind the tail light on the bracket, same or
similar to the euro bikes, they pop up occassionaly
on aussie ebay but i havent seen any in a while.

[natemoen]

My '78 has those holes as well as the clamps inside the tail light housing. I was trying to think of a way to mount my turn signals though those holes.

[crazy steve]

...You may find that these clamps are missing on the US tail light units, even if they have the holes for the stems.

All of the taillight mounts I've seen here with the holes also have the clamps, but I've never seen them used as this style was never offered in the US. You need the special stanchions these used with the 'stepped' diameter as the clamps in the housings are quite a bit smaller than the turn housing holes.

[fredintoon]

The European version didn't look like the photo above though. The rear turn signal stems (there were two of them) went through round holes in the tail light bracket and were held in place by individual clamps behind the licence plate holder (which was bigger than the US version). There wasn't a long bar as in the pic above..... On the European version, the rear fender is longer too

Hi James,
I've been so long away I'd forgotten about those big as a bedsheet UK number plates.
Is the EuroXS plate bracket signal mount an option or are they all like that?
I wondered if the Euro frame also has the big ugly rear signal mounting loops or did they leave them off?