Rear end ratio

[wildbill]

Used to a person could change the rear end on a gold wing and would make the bike lower speeded{higher rpm at a given speed}.I`am talking about changing the third member or something like that.Did anything like the above ever come out for a xs or xj?Thanks keep the rubberside down.

[Jerry]

Collective wisdon of the list is no, the XS 11 / XJ 11 all use the same rear ratio. Has been some discusion about swapping in a different rear end, or gears, from Yamaha 750 - 850 tripples or other doner bikes, turns out the rear gears are different and won't interchange between housings. Might be possible if you have acces to a well-equipped machine shop, but not for the do-it-yourselfer. This leads to the recurring chain drive conversion threads that pop up, as there have been a couple of these coversions done. Easier to get and change gears in a chain drive, plus the drive itself transfers power more efficiently than a shaftie. Again, not a conversion for the faint-hearted, but can be done.

[ricoc]

You can use the rear wheel from the Special. It's a 16" instead of 17". The entire diff assembly from an XS750 won't bolt on?

[John]

Are they both the same gear ratio? I used to own a 79 XS750SF, but I have no idea what the ratio is. Seemes to me it was a low gear, because the thing was quick, but ran out of leg around 100-110 mph.

[wildbill]

Well there is proably a way but this stuff would cost more than its worth.I would say if its not broke don`t fix it.Nice to wish and suppose.Take care and keep the rubberside down.