Gear linkage mod

[James England]

Hi Folks

This http://www.empressmcc.org.uk/mitiweb/Gearchange.htm is an excellent modification which I found on the Net. It of course only applies to those people who have the gear linkage system rather than the straight shifter, so probably Oz, NZ, UK, Germany etc, and imports into the US.

I did this modification this morning after buying LH and RH 6mm ball joints on eBay. I went for the slightly more expensive ones with bronze bushes, rather than nylon.

I noticed that the lever itself was a bit loose on the shaft. It has a bronze bush in it which must have done a zillion twists in its life. I used plumbers' PTFE tape and wound enough round the entire shaft to make the lever a far better fit.

As it says in the mod. the play on my gear lever was over 5mm and the lower ball joint was the worst.

I used allen bolts to hold the ball joints on and cut about 5mm off each end off the threaded rod because the OEM ball joints aren't as long. I wanted to keep the angles all the same throughout the linkage.

I tested the bike today and it really is an excellent modification. Total cost was about $20. The gearchange is really crisp and precise and the bike definitely changes gear far better. It's one of these little, low-cost mods that make a big difference.

[DGXSER]

Interesting, your footpegs must sit well behind the US model position. That is alot of linkage for something that is simply a lever that slides onto the shaft on the US models.

[James England]

Yes, they do sit further back. Your US brake lever is much longer than the ones here. The European riding position is legs slightly back and a lean forward, sort of thing. The US one is more 'Easy Rider'-esque with the foot pegs further forward. Without the linkage, we'd have to have large feet and move one of them through quite an arc to get enough movement on the gearchange shaft.

The linkage is, as it says in the tip, slack at the best of times. I really hadn't realised how sloppy the gearchange was until I did the mod. It really is such a difference! I took my old ball joints apart and they were badly worn/rusty/pitted etc. The new ones have no slack wahstoever. I suppose the result is a gearchange that feels like your US ones....

[motoman]

A heim-joint.........good idea and very commonly available.........were used on the Lakewood traction bars I used on my 64GTO which has the trailing arm coil supension in rear........interesting .......

[CatatonicBug]

I had no idea that the shift linkage was different overseas! Is the Aussie (RH) model that way too? Can you get some pics with a bit wider view? I'm curious how the footpegs attach, and where. What about the brake lever? Is it different too?

[James England]

I had no idea that the shift linkage was different overseas! Is the Aussie (RH) model that way too? Can you get some pics with a bit wider view? I'm curious how the footpegs attach, and where. What about the brake lever? Is it different too?

I think you'll find the Oz model doesn't have a RH gearchange. All the European XS1100's were like this:



The footrests are further back to produce a leaning forward posture (slightly, but not like a modern bike). It's the same fixing points on the frame. I think it's the footrests themselves that differ. Yes, the brake pedal is shorter here.

[CatatonicBug]

I think you'll find the Oz model doesn't have a RH gearchange.

The Aussie, or Oceana model IS the RH (XS1100RH). I wasn't referring to Right-handed, if that's what you meant. I'm just curious if the RH has the same linkage as your picture. Still interesting either way though!

[WMarshy]

I want pegs and shifter linkage/brake lever like the euro model!!! Got an extra set kicking around to sell? How much would something like that cost ya think? Foot pegs, rear brake lever, shifter linkage, and of course the engine cover with the pivot stud...

[James England]

I want pegs and shifter linkage/brake lever like the euro model!!! Got an extra set kicking around to sell? How much would something like that cost ya think? Foot pegs, rear brake lever, shifter linkage, and of course the engine cover with the pivot stud...

Wouldn't cost much. I did have two complete sets off donor bikes and had a problem selling them. I gave them away in the end! There are loads of the bits available

[James England]

The Aussie, or Oceana model IS the RH (XS1100RH). I wasn't referring to Right-handed, if that's what you meant. I'm just curious if the RH has the same linkage as your picture. Still interesting either way though!

I realised later but too late to edit my post. I wondered if they'd done something like Triumph with the Bonnevilles and modified to make a gearchange on the other side of the bike! Nice to know they didn't....... It'll be the same setup on the Oz models

[James England]

I want pegs and shifter linkage/brake lever like the euro model!!! Got an extra set kicking around to sell? How much would something like that cost ya think? Foot pegs, rear brake lever, shifter linkage, and of course the engine cover with the pivot stud...

Germany is full of European XS1100's and they have thousand of parts available. Go on to www.ebay.de and have a look.

Basically, the US models have different footpegs. It's the same frame and mounting points but your footpegs bend forward a lot. So the US bikes need longer brake pedal.

Here's pix of my footpegs:

[oldyam80sg]

Stupid question but does that linkage change the gear position?I used to have some Raask rearsets and instead of 1 down neutral 2,3,4,5 it was 1 up and neutral then 2,3,4,5.Took some time getting used to!

[James England]

Stupid question but does that linkage change the gear position?I used to have some Raask rearsets and instead of 1 down neutral 2,3,4,5 it was 1 up and neutral then 2,3,4,5.Took some time getting used to!

No, it stays the same. 1 down, neutral then 4 up......

[oldyam80sg]

Gotcha-The Raask rearsets were cool looking but think they went out of business.I used to know a guy who worked at StarCycle in CA and lived in Japan so he had access to good things.

[WMarshy]

Wouldn't cost much. I did have two complete sets off donor bikes and had a problem selling them. I gave them away in the end! There are loads of the bits available

Damn! I want a set like that bad! I will have a set by the time I put my FJ forks on with clip-ons!

Germany is full of European XS1100's and they have thousand of parts available. Go on to www.ebay.de and have a look.

Basically, the US models have different footpegs. It's the same frame and mounting points but your footpegs bend forward a lot. So the US bikes need longer brake pedal.

Here's pix of my footpegs:

I will check out the site, my guess is it will probably be cost prohibitive with shipping costs...Idk. I just put new clutch springs in my 'F' and in order to remove the case cover we have to loosen the rear engine mount bolt that goes through the foot peg so it can be rotated out of the way. Looks like you guys don't have a problem with that at all!