? about speedo's

[LiteFiter]

I got my 79 SF about 2 months ago. Everything on it appears to be stock. Speedometer reads 18,000+ miles. This was a two owner bike, and the last one bought it in 2001 and only put 1400 miles on it (from what I can tell on the title) before putting it into storage for years. My question is about the speedometer. I have read several posts on this site (and have seen pix.) that referance speedometers that have 160mph on the face. Mine only goes to 80mph. Was this correct for the model and year? Or has there been a change out that might cause me to question if the miles indicated are accurate? Thanks, Jon

[DCII]

From everything I have read or seen the 79 SF came from Yamaha with the 160mph speedometer. They switched to the 85mph unit in 1980.

[DGXSER]

Check your VIN number for the first three identifiers, the one on the steering neck. See if it starts with 3H3 or 3J6. 3H3 is for the 79 Special, 3J6 was the 80 Special. It is not uncommon for a bike mfg in the late part of 79, which would be a 3J6, to be titled as a 79.

More direct answer to your question is that the 79 models got the 160 MPH speedo, it was not until the 80 models that they switched to the 85 MPH speedos. If yours is an 80 titled as a 79, it has the stock speedo. If it is a 3H3, well...not so much stock.

[LiteFiter]

Thanks

Thanks guys, I will check this evening. Jon

[jetmechmarty]

The bike pictured in the top photo has a 160 mph speedometer. The bike in the lower photo has a 85 mph speedometer. If you have the XS1100SF pictured in the top photo, your speedometer is not original to the bike.

[LiteFiter]

Oh well,

Looks like bike has had a speedo swap, ID starts with 3H3.... Not much I can do about it now, it looks and runs like a mid milage bike so I will continue to believe milage is close. But thanks to all of you for you knowledge and assistance. BTW, anybody have a spare 160mph speedo? Just for the coolness factor if for no other reason? Thanks again, Jon

[DGXSER]

The round 160 MPH speedos are out there, but you would need to be quick to get one.

[motoman]

Looks like bike has had a speedo swap, ID starts with 3H3.... Not much I can do about it now, it looks and runs like a mid milage bike so I will continue to believe milage is close. But thanks to all of you for you knowledge and assistance. BTW, anybody have a spare 160mph speedo? Just for the coolness factor if for no other reason? Thanks again, Jon

My 85mph speedo helps keep bike in check. Out west here, south of me in N.M. parts of I-40 and I-10 across Texas are 80mph speed limits and much above that will get you a 'performance' award anyway. Above that, tach calculates it out anyways.

[BA80]

I have an 80 special that came with the 85 MPH speedo which is a bit rediculous for ba 125-130 MPH bike. As was stated the 160 swpeedos are getting difficult to find so I use the speedo fron a 79 XS750. It goes to 140, enough for me, and is just as inaccurate as our stock speedos.

The 750 uses the same front wheel we do. There are 2 different design speedometers though so you gotta pay attention. There is one with a green face and large white numbers that is ugly and doesn't match the tach. You don't want that one. The one you nwant is black faced with small white numbers and inside them is yellow numbers reading in KPH.

You can get one of those on fleabay for $30-$60 usually.

[gryphon51]

The bike pictured in the top photo has a 160 mph speedometer. The bike in the lower photo has a 85 mph speedometer. If you have the XS1100SF pictured in the top photo, your speedometer is not original to the bike.

the question I have is this..... If I have the bike on the top. how hard is it to put on the seat and tail from the bike on the bottom, I like the 2 level seat, grab rest and taillight on that one much more...

[BA80]

You have to change the seat, grab bar, tai light, and rear fender.

If you do that swap I would be interested in the seat and grab bar that you remove.

[jetmechmarty]

You have to change the seat, grab bar, tai light, and rear fender.

The side covers won't fit either. You need SG/SH side covers. Those side covers will not mount to your bike. I don't believe the grab rail will mount either. All, or at least many of the mounting tabs for the SG stuff need to be fabricated.

[natemoen]

Yeah, that 85 speedo is worthless! I was passing some people on the freeway today and looked down and the speedo was up near 120! Probably more like 112-113 though since the speedos are not super accurate.

[BA80]

Hmmmmmm....the seat, bar, and fender on my SG are from an SF and everything bolted right up except I had to make a spacer for the rear mount on the bar.

Sorry, the best pic I've got to illustrate.

[jetmechmarty]

I don't have the two bikes to look at. I'm guessing the SG accepts SF better than the other way around. The SG has a steeper seat angle. Luggage racks don't cross between the two bikes, either. It's really only a guess for me.