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

[crazy steve]

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...

[JeremyL]

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

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.

[xs11lover]

How about this. It's a stock seat.

[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.

[tom clisham]

Great rack!

how about this. It's a stock seat.

nuff said>

[JeremyL]

How about this. It's a stock seat.

That's exactly what I need right there...

[JeremyL]

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.

[fredintoon]

- - - 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.

[JasonRedbeard]

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.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Cool

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

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.

[Joab]

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

[JasonRedbeard]

There's a bike in that pic?!?

[James England]

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

[jetmechmarty]

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.

[fredintoon]

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?