New rider on a great bike

[natemoen]

I may have found a parts bike, but it's a 1980 LG Midnight Special.

Would I be able to replace the front fork? Or better yet the entire front end if it's in good shape?

exactly the same except the fork lowers are going to be painted black.

[DGXSER]

Yep, Fork lowers, and fender will be painted black or black chrome, front wheel will be painted gold where yours is black. Mechanically they will be identical though.

[Cuda 69]

looks like your off to a good start,good luck and welcome to the mad house. As others have said,make sure you clean out the grove inside the calipers real well,I had rust in mine and the calipers leaked.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Theivel,

Congrats on your bike.

Now to sorta hijack the thread. Steve, you mentioned using JB Weld on the fork pits. This got me wondering about whether it would work to use it on the Special brake pistons, or would brake fluid break down the JB weld???

Or, just not recommended doing this type of "repair" for such an important functional part as the brakes...vs. the forks!?

12 years ago the forks I got from Frank were about $250.00 a pair, probably closer to $300.00 or more now due to inflation, metal and machining prices,etc!

T.C.

[crazy steve]

Now to sorta hijack the thread. Steve, you mentioned using JB Weld on the fork pits. This got me wondering about whether it would work to use it on the Special brake pistons, or would brake fluid break down the JB weld???

That was Marty that suggested that, not me. I'm not sure how that would work; you'd have to get every last bit of rust out or the JBWeld would pop back out...

[jetmechmarty]

I wouldn't use it on brake calipers as I don't know if it will tolerate brake fluid. It will certainly fill small pits on a fork. I'm filling pits in the bead area of a wheel. I have done my best to remove all of the corrosion first.

[Thievel]

Back from the grave, necro-post!

Still haven't replaced the front forks... but I'm back at it now. I ended up buying a 2000 Honda Magna in the spring while I (slowly) work on the XS. I'm truly well bitten by the bug. Ride every day!

Once again I may have the chance to grab some front forks, from the same 1980 midnight special, or possible a 1979 special... Would the '79 special forks fit on an '80 SG?

As for the brakes, I started with the front brake system. I took apart the calipers and brake pads, and thoroughly cleaned the all of the pieces. I cleaned the cylinder (rotor?) as best as possible without removing the front wheel. I put everything back together, bled the lines, new fluid, new brake pads... but the brakes are still terrible... I suspect the cylinder will need to be replaced or at least removed and properly degreased. Would the cylinders on the 79 or 80 special work as well? I assume so.

Thanks again for the excellent help, I hope everyone had a great summer riding!

[natemoen]

You talking about the big round flat thing that the pads clamp onto? If so those are indeed the rotors. And yes any XS 11 or XJ11 rotors will work, but some late '80 special and all '81+ rotors have slots in the rotors. So they look different but still work the same.

[bikerphil]

Once again I may have the chance to grab some front forks, from the same 1980 midnight special, or possible a 1979 special... Would the '79 special forks fit on an '80 SG?

Yes they will, all Special forks are the same fit with the exception of the 81 Midnight Special, they are by themselves.