Any opinions/tips for what to do next on my 79 Special?

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  • crazy steve
    XS-XJ Guru MODERATOR
    • Jan 2009
    • 7932
    • Beautiful outer Yelm, WA

    #16
    Originally posted by tom clisham
    Re the law: I'm a retired cop & never heard of a law requiring grab bars. Some of the current HD seats you see will accomadate 2 people & don't have any grab bars from the factory. Some state might have a law like that, but really, not many..
    I went and looked, and that has apparently been dropped off the list of required equipment; I know at one time there was one (at least in my state). And there wasn't a 'grab rail' requirement per se, but a requirement for a passenger 'handhold', whether it's a rail, handles, or a strap. The '78-79 standards lacked the rail, but both had a strap across the seat. If you look, you'll still find that almost every street bike out there with a dedicated passenger seat has either a strap across the seat or some sort of handhold for the passenger. I don't know if that's just a holdover from past practice, or if they're still required in some places...
    Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

    '78E original owner - resto project
    '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
    '82 XJ rebuild project
    '80SG restified, red SOLD
    '79F parts...
    '81H more parts...

    Other current bikes:
    '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
    '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
    '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
    Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
    Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

    Comment

    • JeremyL
      Truly XSive
      • Jun 2011
      • 152
      • Oneida, TN

      #17
      Originally posted by natemoen
      I would say that a gel insert under a dark cover is a bad idea. The gel will heat up pretty hot if left out in the sun and if you think getting on a dark covered seat is bad enough, imagine that HOT gel under your cheeks for the next 20 min or so until it cools off!
      I never considered that just read your post made me give it a second thought lol




      Originally posted by tom clisham
      Jeremy: Whatever you do, save the grab bar. It's a 79 special only item & kinda hard to find. Sell it ir keep it, but don't waste it.

      Re the law: I'm a retired cop & never heard of a law requiring grab bars. Some of the current HD seats you see will accomadate 2 people & don't have any grab bars from the factory. Some stae might have a law like that, but really, not many. It might be one of those word of mouth laws that never was, like driving without shoes.
      Oh wow I never realized that about the grab bar. I may pull it just to see what it looks like but at least now I won't just toss it in the trash.
      1979 Special with 1980 motor and 1979 carbs

      Comment

      • xs11lover
        XS-XJ Guru
        • Apr 2008
        • 1433
        • Montoursville Pa

        #18
        How about this. It's a stock seat.
        79 XS11 Special (Lazarus)
        80 XS850 Special (Old Faithful)
        80 XS11 Standard sorta stock (Beatrice)
        79 DT 100

        Comment

        • xs11lover
          XS-XJ Guru
          • Apr 2008
          • 1433
          • Montoursville Pa

          #19
          Here are some that I made fit, but nothing fits better than stock.





          In the last pic I used another seat on a stock pan. The factory pan has teeth on the bottom and is pretty easy to recover.
          79 XS11 Special (Lazarus)
          80 XS850 Special (Old Faithful)
          80 XS11 Standard sorta stock (Beatrice)
          79 DT 100

          Comment

          • tom clisham
            XSive Maximus
            • Sep 2010
            • 627
            • Northern Illinois

            #20
            Great rack!

            Originally posted by xs11lover
            how about this. It's a stock seat.
            nuff said>
            Tom Clisham

            Age is relative YOU WON"T GET OLD TIL YOU SELL THE BIKE
            _____________________________________________

            '78xs1100E ,all stock & original GONE TO WISCONSIN

            '80 SG Vetter fairing,hard bags,trunk,fork brace,
            stock headers with fishtail mufflers,black & beautiful GONE TO ARIZONA

            79SF lowered,jardine 4/2 exhaust,pod filters,drilled rotors,fork brace, bar hopper

            79SF 1 owner,8000 miles, restoring to completely original ( I hope) GONE TO FRANCE

            Comment

            • JeremyL
              Truly XSive
              • Jun 2011
              • 152
              • Oneida, TN

              #21
              Originally posted by xs11lover
              How about this. It's a stock seat.

              That's exactly what I need right there...
              1979 Special with 1980 motor and 1979 carbs

              Comment

              • JeremyL
                Truly XSive
                • Jun 2011
                • 152
                • Oneida, TN

                #22
                Originally posted by xs11lover
                Here are some that I made fit, but nothing fits better than stock.
                In the last pic I used another seat on a stock pan. The factory pan has teeth on the bottom and is pretty easy to recover.

                I really like the way the seat looks on the red XS but I just don't have the time, knowledge, tools, or garage to do anything like that, as sharp as it looks. I think I'm going to recover my stock seat. I saw a pic of a 79 Special with a stock seat and no grab bar and I liked the looks so I think I'm going to try that.

                Now I have another problem.... I found a set of turnouts (look like Macs) on eBay but they don't have any baffles. I had to run my 4-1 megaphone without a baffle for a week or two while one was being shipped and it was too loud for me. It was fun but I couldn't enjoy riding in town because it was way too loud... when I passed people they rolled their windows up...

                I don't suppose anyone has any ideas on how to quiet down a set of turnouts with no baffles? I definitely don't want to lose back pressure either, my bike ran awful with that open 4-1.
                1979 Special with 1980 motor and 1979 carbs

                Comment

                • fredintoon
                  Master of XSology
                  • Mar 2004
                  • 6795
                  • Saskatoon SK

                  #23
                  Originally posted by JeremyL
                  - - - I just don't have the time, knowledge, tools, or garage to do anything like that, - - - I don't suppose anyone has any ideas on how to quiet down a set of turnouts with no baffles? I definitely don't want to lose back pressure either, my bike ran awful with that open 4-1.
                  Hi Jer,
                  from your first sentence, I think you are SOL on baffling the turnouts unless you get tech help.
                  The only way I see to get baffles into turnouts is to hacksaw the turnoff sweeps off for access, make a set of baffles to shove down the straight part then weld the
                  turnouts back on if you can live with the weld seam or pop-rivet them back on using a strip of stainless steel sheetmetal as a joiner.
                  If you can accept leaving the turnout ends off, it gets easier to do.
                  Yes, it changes the look but it avoids the ugly seam.
                  Last edited by fredintoon; 02-06-2012, 02:33 PM.
                  Fred Hill, S'toon
                  XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
                  "The Flying Pumpkin"

                  Comment

                  • JasonRedbeard
                    Truly XSive
                    • Dec 2011
                    • 109
                    • Tuscaloosa, AL

                    #24
                    Another option is to chop the mufflers off in FRONT of the straight section, just behind where the primary tubes come together. Stuff the baffles in from the front, then weld/clamp the mufflers back onto the headers.
                    My Special is as old as I am.

                    Comment

                    • XS1100_OEM4ME
                      XS-XJ Guru
                      • Mar 2009
                      • 1619
                      • Fort Myers, Florida

                      #25
                      Cool

                      Like them all, love the top bike
                      Very cool, still screams XS1100 Special, but cleaned up lines

                      Originally posted by xs11lover
                      Here are some that I made fit, but nothing fits better than stock.





                      In the last pic I used another seat on a stock pan. The factory pan has teeth on the bottom and is pretty easy to recover.
                      1979 XS1100 Special (Mad Max, OEM) Current
                      1980 XS1100 Special
                      1990 V Max
                      1982 KZ750 LTD Twin
                      1986 700 FZR Yamaha Fazer (faster then expected)
                      1979 XS750 Special (my 1st Special)
                      1974 CB750-Four



                      Past/pres Car's
                      1961 Catalina 389/1970 Torino GT 351/1967GTO 12to1 comp./ Roller cam/ T-10/ 456 gear/Tri-power/1967 GTO 400, 1969 Camaro, 1968 Z28, 2001 BMW M Roadster 0 to 60 in 4.5 sec. Jaguar XK8

                      Comment

                      • Joab
                        XStremely XSive
                        • Aug 2010
                        • 472
                        • Ozark, Alabama

                        #26
                        I hate this thread. I can't seem to concentrate much past the pic of the lovely lady on the XS...
                        Joab

                        "If nothing else, it will be interesting..."
                        ______________________________________________
                        1979 XS1100SF
                        1972 XS2 650
                        ______________________________________________
                        Ozark, Alabama

                        Comment

                        • JasonRedbeard
                          Truly XSive
                          • Dec 2011
                          • 109
                          • Tuscaloosa, AL

                          #27
                          There's a bike in that pic?!?
                          My Special is as old as I am.

                          Comment

                          • James England
                            XS-XJ Super Guru
                            • Oct 2010
                            • 3039
                            • North of England

                            #28
                            Originally posted by Joab
                            I hate this thread. I can't seem to concentrate much past the pic of the lovely lady on the XS...
                            I don't see what she has to do with motorbikes. Pix like that tend to encourage others to do the same (and more) and, before you know it, the forum's turned into a pornfest. I wish people would stick to bikes. Everything has its place
                            XS1100F 1980 European model. Standard. Dyna coils. Iridium plugs. XS750 final drive (sometimes). Micron fork brace. Progressive front springs. Geezer regulator/rectifier. Stainless 4 into 2 exhaust. Auto CCT (Venturer 1300) SOLD. New project now on the go. 1980 European model.

                            Comment

                            • jetmechmarty
                              Master of XSology
                              • Nov 2003
                              • 7768
                              • Coldwater, Mississippi

                              #29
                              I don't see what she has to do with motorbikes.
                              Agreed. If I want to look at that stuff, I know where to find it. Please refrain from posting it here. Thanx.
                              Marty (in Mississippi)
                              XS1100SG
                              XS650SK
                              XS650SH
                              XS650G
                              XS6502F
                              XS650E

                              Comment

                              • fredintoon
                                Master of XSology
                                • Mar 2004
                                • 6795
                                • Saskatoon SK

                                #30
                                Not a safety poster

                                Hi James, Marty,
                                I've seen porno and that certainly isn't it.
                                It's a visual pun, a seat on an XS11 seat.
                                Mind you, the lady should be wearing a helmet and if she falls off while
                                only wearing that hot weather gear she'll get real nasty gravel rash.
                                Let me suggest that you guys' proper riding gear should include a stuffed shirt?
                                Last edited by fredintoon; 02-07-2012, 10:46 PM.
                                Fred Hill, S'toon
                                XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
                                "The Flying Pumpkin"

                                Comment

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